Greeley-Weld Habitat for Humanity’s Post

On this Labor Day, more often than not, we are continuing to grapple with shoestring resources that typically accrue for community organizing and capacity building efforts within public agency led processes. All in service of improving and strengthening our cities and regions: better access to food, homes, transit, parks, schools and jobs, stronger adaptation and resilience preparation to the ill effects of climate change and other emergent community needs. It doesn’t have to be this way. As novel examples illustrate well across several community constellations in California alone—Allensworth Progressive Association in Allensworth, 40 x 40 Council in Oakland, Santa Ana Shared Financing Collective in Santa Ana and others—communities are flipping the script and orchestrating the future of their own neighborhoods. When we as communities assert power and articulate our collective visions we can attract resources in abundance. This is no mirage! This is a snapshot of an alternate reality that can be true for more communities and must be a reason to not mourn but celebrate today—the promise held within community’s collective labor. #CommunityVision #CommunityPower #AbundantResources #LaborDay

🌟 Exciting News Alert! 🌟 As we move forward into the future, it's evident that Florida Realtors are an integral part of fostering community support and recovery efforts. President Gia Arvin's recent statement highlights the crucial role that members play in shaping the community's trajectory. ✨ The future is bright: Florida Realtors will continue to lead the way in building resilient communities. ✨ By actively engaging in recovery efforts, members are not just selling houses, they're shaping the future of the communities they serve. ✨ President Gia Arvin's vision emphasizes the pivotal role of Florida Realtors in driving positive change and fostering unity. 🔮 Prediction: 🎯 • In the coming years, we can expect Florida Realtors to spearhead innovative initiatives that will strengthen community bonds and accelerate recovery efforts. • With a steadfast commitment to building strong communities, Florida Realtors will set new benchmarks for community engagement and social impact. Let's support and applaud the efforts of Florida Realtors as they continue to make a lasting difference in the communities they serve. Together, we can create a future where community support and recovery efforts thrive, setting a shining example for others to follow. #FloridaRealtors #CommunitySupport #RecoveryEfforts #FutureLeadership #Innovation #PositiveChange #Unity

How do you protect vulnerable neighborhoods during rapid growth? As the population of Nashville continues to surge, the risk of displacement to longtime residents grows. At Reinvestment Fund, we believe that establishing a data-driven baseline is a crucial step to making more effective policy decisions. In 2023, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County partnered with our research team to conduct a Market Value Analysis (MVA) and displacement risk study to inform its housing strategies in the face of its booming population. The MVA is an analytic tool created by Reinvestment Fund that can inform community revitalization and manage neighborhood change. Last month, Reinvestment Fund's Emily Dowdall moderated a panel at the #InvestHealthNashville Convening joined by Kaycee Ensign, a representative from the Nashville Metropolitan Planning Department, to discuss the importance of data in driving equitable development solutions. You can read more about how the MVA is helping local officials make better-informed decisions and guiding neighborhood investment strategies here: https://lnkd.in/eGPWcSDy

𝔼𝕞𝕡𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕆𝕦𝕣 ℂ𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕦𝕟𝕚𝕥𝕪: 𝔸 ℂ𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕥𝕠 𝔸𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕄𝕖𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕗𝕦𝕝 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖 Supporting your local community means showing up in meaningful ways. In Boise, 𝗡𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲 continues to make a tremendous impact through its efforts, such as 𝗥𝗮𝗸𝗲-𝗨𝗽 𝗕𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲 and the 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝘂𝗯 program. In my time at ACS, the team has come together to help residents rake up fall leaves for those who could use a hand. The labor-intensive teamwork lifts our spirits as we see the leaves pile up and watch kids enjoying themselves by jumping into the leaf piles. It's a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community works together!! Programs like 𝗥𝗮𝗸𝗲-𝗨𝗽 𝗕𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲 capture this spirit of cooperation, and it's heartening to witness our efforts' immediate, visible impact. Beyond that, NeighborWorks Boise is also making a difference with their 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝘂𝗯 initiative, helping solve the housing crunch that affects so many, including our adult children. By connecting homeowners with those in need of housing, they're creating solutions for a problem that touches families across the city. As NeighborWorks Boise states, "𝙒𝙚'𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙧𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙨." There are countless ways to lend a hand, from participating in seasonal efforts like Rake-Up Boise to finding more lasting solutions through programs like the HomeShare Hub. Where do you see a gap in your community that you could help fill? Whether it's offering your time, skills, or resources, there's always an opportunity to make an impact. We aim to provide custom, complete, and easy-to-use systems—so you can focus on what matters most. The same philosophy applies when supporting your community: efficient, thoughtful action makes all the difference. #CommunitySupport #Philanthropy #HousingSolutions #JonathanFrank

Building forever homes, one "now" at a time 💖 Every decision counts in real estate. From choosing the right location to adding personal touches, each "now" shapes the timeless haven we call home. Emily Dickinson's insight reminds us that every present moment contributes to our future, especially when it comes to creating spaces filled with warmth and memories 🏡 What are some of your favorite "nows?" For me, it's spending time with my kids and volunteering with organizations that make a real difference. #homesellers #whoyouhirematters #HousingMarket #inspirationalquotes #quoteoftheday #motivationalquote #successmindset #sellyourhomenow #listwithme #sellertip

I read in Bridge Magazine online today that northern Michigan saw an increase in population in 2023 for the first time in years. While the growth was not significant, growth is growth. 🙂 Did you know that owners of many of the homes on lake shores above Gaylord are in fact second homes for people that made their wealth in lower Michigan, specifically SE Michigan and Grand Rapids. As the middle class continues to shrink, the ability to have a "get-away" cottage up north is declining or out of reach. I find it interesting that many people who made their wealth in SE Michigan invest only in nonprofit land trusts near their summer homes up north, but don't see the need to protect more at-risk sensitive ecosystems in SE Michigan. Protected land in SE Michigan is more accessible to those who have no option of even a weeks cottage rental cost on a Great Lake or inland lake. Shouldn't the workers who live in SE Michigan who have made it possible for someone to own a second house up north also enjoy nature? For truly equitable access to nature, and for everyone to have the ability to enjoy the healing properties associated with a walk in the woods, or a visit to a clean lake, more people and foundations should consider supporting nonprofits protecting sensitive ecosystems, lakes, and forests in SE Michigan. Justice, inclusion, accessibility, diversity and equitable access to nature should belong to everyone. #legacylandconservancy, #SEMichiganprotectedland, #nature, #wellbeing

Congrats to our friend Rocket on his Ted Talk "Vermont: The Value of Hardship" for TEDx Hartland Hill's series, The Art of Living! What a refreshing take on the inherent BENEFITS of hardship: innovation, accountability, and cooperation - these are KEY qualities of Vermont living! Here at BRIC in Springfield, we're acutely and continuously aware of the myriad of challenges that rural life presents in the face of our community development efforts. If we're being honest, the list of obstacles and setbacks we encounter day to day often feels endless - like pushing a boulder up hill (both ways!) in the snow. Anyone boots on the ground doing this type of work knows it's not for the faint of heart, and in fact we often joke that you have to be a certain sort of glutton for punishment in order to ever actually make any progress. We know what we're doing is difficult, and that we're pushing against the odds with the things we're trying to accomplish - and somehow this awareness actually BOLSTERS our determination. The spirit of resilience and ingenuity is STRONG in Vermont. It's an inherent part of our identity. Whether it's snowstorms, early frosts, catastrophic flooding, workforce and housing shortages, food insecurity, busted leaking pipes - whatever the hurdle, Vermonters SHOW UP. We imagine possibilities, we work together, and we GET SHIT DONE. In spite of the challenges, there's nowhere we'd rather be! We believe in the power of our communities, we root for the underdog, and we WILL prevail. Thanks for the food for thought, Rocket! And for all that you're doing to help affect positive change here in Vermont! Check it out: https://lnkd.in/egRhvQgW #vermont #tedx #tedxhartlandhill #rurallife #ruralinnovation #community #CommunityDevelopment

“They get treated like trash in a lot of ways. But they’re not trash.” As someone who calls this community home, it’s heartbreaking, but frankly unsurprising, to learn that residents here live, on average, 15-20 years less than those in more affluent parts of Toronto. These numbers reflect the deep-rooted challenges many people in Moss Park face every day: poverty, homelessness, racism, mental illness, toxic supply, and limited access to healthcare and social supports. These realities make it harder to thrive and, in some cases, even survive. Health is about more than doctors’ visits, it’s about safe housing, stable income, supervised consumption sites, access to nutritious food, and feeling connected to community. When those supports are missing, life expectancy drops. Change begins with recognizing that everyone, regardless of where they live, deserves a fair chance at a healthy, meaningful life. We can do better. We must do better. How many people need to die before we decide it’s time to do better? #HealthEquity #MossPark #CommunityHealth #Toronto https://lnkd.in/e7P2rfb8

A part of my job that I love is sharing the amazing work of Community Action Association of Pennsylvania's members like Westmoreland Community Action. They created the Recovery FARM - a groundbreaking initiative that will revolutionize long-term recovery support in Westmoreland County. The Recovery FARM will serve as a beacon of hope, providing a supportive community where individuals can thrive after completing detox and residential rehabilitation. Thanks to a generous grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), they're able to develop a feasibility study and implementation plan to expand their current recovery-to-work ecosystem. Their goal is simple yet profound: to offer a safe and nurturing environment for individuals in recovery, significantly reducing the risk of relapse and fostering long-term success. Studies have shown that such supportive environments can decrease the chance of relapse from 80% to 40% within two years, with even more promising results over time. To ensure the success of this project, Westmoreland Community Action will assemble an advisory committee comprised of experts, workforce development organizations, employers, agencies, and dedicated community servants. This initiative is part of a larger effort by the Appalachian Regional Commission's Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) Initiative, which recently announced nearly $14 million in investments to address substance use disorder crises and strengthen recovery services. To read more about this project in Westmoreland County, click here 🌐 https://bit.ly/48UVwkP #RecoveryFARM #WestmorelandCommunityAction #InspireInitiative #SubstanceUseRecovery #CommunitySupport

Day 4 of a #sharednarrative for #Plymouth: A city at the edge. We believe that viewing Plymouth as a city on the edge allows us to embrace our past, bringing it forward in a positive manner and tapping into the potential found in the transitional #liminal spaces - amidst our dialogue, between people, and between organisations. Exciting! At the edge geographically, at the edge of the ocean, the edge of the county, in the far south west of the country. Practically, at the edge of power and on the edge (including the forefront) of practice. At the edge of intersecting communities, it holds the strengths and tensions and benefits of being a military, university, and working class city all at once. Historically, it has been a valued friend to #power (see its naval history), a neglected friend (see the Plymouth blitz and its silencing) and also a rebellious enemy (see the Siege of Plymouth) of power. A city of many neighbourhoods, it hosts both prosperity and deprivation in differing forms - indeed, where there may not be material wealth there is often community wealth. Welcomeness, civic action, determination, grit and mutual support are a key part of the city’s social character. This is seen in POP’s membership of 380 active and diverse groups and that 26% of adult residents in Plymouth volunteer at least once per month. Full Plymouth Octopus(POP) narrative: https://buff.ly/4dQZbD1 POP learning and thinking: https://buff.ly/4fZAcPG Dark Matter Labs @Annette https://buff.ly/3YSF4Ac Sky Space Team Development Cic @Jen https://buff.ly/3yMsPK #BEMOREPLYMOUTH #fairer #greener #futurism #regenerativefutures #learning #sharednarrative #plymouth #systemconvening #community #grassroots #funding #grantmaking #collaboration