FCS - Focused Community Strategies’ Post

About 10 days ago we got racked by more than 13” of rain within a 36 hour window. In our home in Swannanoa, NC, we experienced flooding–both in the basement and from the roof–but were lucky in that we had no trees come down on us. That said, we lost the holy trinity of modern amenities–power, internet, & water–and none of the 3 have yet to be restored. We’re told that it could take weeks to restore the water systems. In the wake of this natural disaster, many people have been asking us if there’s anything we need. Mostly, we’re ok, but there are a few important levels at which you could support “us”: 1. Personal Gifts On top of the flooding damage to our home, living through a natural disaster also has lots of negative 2nd order effects, mostly to do with lost time and perpetual overwhelm. Receiving some financial support has helped to cushion the blow from some of these 2nd order effects, so we’ll continue to do that. Here is where you can send me/us a personal gift, if you feel moved: Venmo: @Vincent-Horn Cashapp: $vincefhorn 2. The Asheville Community We were relatively lucky. Many people in our local community were not as lucky. I had both an Uncle and an Aunt end up with trees on their roofs, and many people lost their homes, and even their lives. If you’re able to support the surrounding area of Asheville, as we rebuild, I’d suggest donating to this wonderful local organization, Beloved Asheville: https://lnkd.in/ezeXTrKM 3. Palestinians in Gaza Finally, throughout this entire disaster, I have not stopped thinking of my brothers & sisters in Gaza, who are living under far more dangerous conditions than even we are, and have been doing so for a full year. If you can provide any additional aid, please consider giving it to the UN Crisis Relief for Gazans - https://lnkd.in/ezZJtMsg 4. Beings Everywhere Expanding further out, I can reach out and touch the collective community of all beings everywhere. At this cosmic level, I try to remain apocoloptimistic. I know that even as planets are dying, new conditions for life are emerging, as evolution continues its endless dance from formlessness to emerging form… May all beings be well. May all beings be happy. May all beings live with open hearts.

Like the archetypal stories, a rites-of-passage requires the individual to return to their community, bringing with them the gifts and codes they’ve learned along the way. For those born in inner-city neighborhoods, "making it out" is a common phrase describing the desire to escape one's surroundings for the idealistic ‘white picket fence and lush lawn’. But what about those still within the community? What about the journey of return? Like the stories of Jack and the Beanstalk, the protagonist in The Golden Goose, or Ali Baba in The Forty Thieves, we have a duty to use our gifts, voice, and resources in service to others. If those who have found success never return to their community to give others a taste of it, to share their story, and offer mentorship and guidance (and not cheap platitudes), how else will a community hold onto visions of different pathways? How else will children come to understand that their dreams are achievable, and not something there to tease them? Growing up in the most impoverished area in the City of Southampton, what saddened me was hearing the trimmed ‘success stories’ of individuals in tailored suits and nice cars on a fly-by visit without taking the time to utilise the change. Sometimes children don’t need to be told what to do, but need mentors, who have done the work, to guide them in helping them achieve it. The closure of youth-centres, the lack of agricultural spaces, ‘food deserts’ and dense urban housing are a few of the systemic disadvantages within a inner-city neighbourhood. These are deep-rooted issues that cannot be resolved by simply wishing harder. That is why we have a duty of returning to our village, after finding the gold (be that financial or experiential wealth) and distributing it to the community. Ron Finley and Stormzy are a few individuals who come to mind who have leveraged their wealth, voice and resources in bettering their communities.

A house is not just a roof over our heads, it is a safe, secure place to grow and learn. It is about having the stability to go to school consistently, to not have to move around from place to place or to drop out of formal education to go to work. Housing is the building block from which our lives flourish. The key to breaking the cycle of poverty and to empowering the next generation of change-makers. Through supporting Habitat for Humanity, you're not just helping us build shelters, you're supporting us in building futures.

💧Water, Legacy, and the Power of Community: The Story of Seneca Village and Tanner’s Spring at Central Park ⛲️🌳 NYC What does water represent to a community? For the residents of Seneca Village in the early 1800s, it was far more than a resource—it symbolised survival, freedom, and growth. Established by free African Americans escaping the harsh realities of lower Manhattan, Seneca Village blossomed into a thriving community, built on resilience and hope. Homes, schools, churches—places that fostered unity and belonging in a city that often excluded them. By 1880, the story shifted to Tanner’s Spring. Dr Henry Samuel Tanner’s famous 40-day fast, sustained solely by the spring’s “pure” water, captivated the nation 🇺🇸 The spring became synonymous with health and wellbeing drawing people to its life-giving promise. These histories pose a profound question: How does water shape not only the land but also the identities and futures of those who gather around it? #WaterAndCommunity #SenecaVillage #CentralPark #tannersspring #hydratetheimagination #findaspring

We developed a greenspace priority index to provide a starting point for deeper community assessment and engagement for neighborhoods needing more greenspace development and prioritization. See what we learned. https://bit.ly/3IWOx0x

We developed a greenspace priority index to provide a starting point for deeper community assessment and engagement for neighborhoods needing more greenspace development and prioritization. See what we learned. https://bit.ly/3IWOx0x

From Jan 28 2019... "Community Wealth is all the monetary and non-monetary capital (relationships, respect, trust, environmental, energy, knowledge, etc.) that create the basis of shared experiences leading to wisdom, empathy and community. It is these capital elements which transform a neighborhood from a collection of individual families sharing a ZIP code to a real community in which every member understands the purpose of Community is to produce the individual and mutual wellbeing of all the participants, in an ongoing way." ~ Cornerstones of Community Wealth https://lnkd.in/gd5bfttr

Friday Fast Facts Peconic Bay Region Community Preservation Form Upda All deeds for conveyances occurring after May 31, 2024 requiring the Peconic Bay Region Community Preservation form must use and complete the most recent form (version 12/12/2023). The old form will no longer be acceptable. The form is now available on our website. Please see below for the link to the form:   All deeds for conveyances occurring after May 31, 2024 requiring the Peconic Bay Region Community Preservation form must use and complete the most recent form (version 12/12/2023). The old form will no longer be acceptable. The form is now available on our website. Please see below for the link to the form:   All deeds for conveyances occurring after May 31, 2024 requiring the Peconic Bay Region Community Preservation form must use and complete the most recent form (version 12/12/2023). The old form will no longer be acceptable. The form is now available on our website. Please see below for the link to the form:

Ready to unlock the secrets of successful business strategies designed specifically for church growth? ✨ Join us on a journey of discovery as we reveal the proven tactics and innovative approaches that will propel your church to new heights! 🔑 From strategic planning to community engagement, we'll explore the essential elements that fuel expansion and impact. Don't miss out on this opportunity to revolutionize your ministry and reach more souls than ever before! Let's embark on this exciting adventure together! #ChurchExpansion #BusinessStrategies #GrowWithPurpose

Remembering 9/11: Resilience, Unity, and Commitment to Building a Better Tomorrow Today marks 23 years since a day that changed our world forever. As we reflect on the tragedy of September 11, 2001, we also remember the remarkable resilience that followed. In our industry of commercial real estate development, we often speak of building for the future. But today, we pause to reflect on something even more foundational—the importance of community, relationships and shared strength. As we continue to shape the landscapes around us, let's also honor those who came together in the aftermath of 9/11—proving that unity and collaboration are the true cornerstones of progress. To the first responders, the survivors, and the families who endured unimaginable loss, your courage and resilience continue to inspire us. We remain committed to building not just spaces but stronger, more connected communities—ones that reflect the spirit of unity we saw in the days following 9/11. #NeverForget #Resilience #Community #BuildingForTheFuture