Ismail Samad’s Post

As a consortium, we believe partnerships are vital. By pooling resources, sharing expertise, and expanding the reach of our programs, we can make a bigger impact. We proudly support impactful and innovative organizations working to advance racial and economic equity. Member Spotlight! Rondo Community Land Trust (Rondo CLT) MCCD member, Rondo CLT stands out for their innovation. Rondo CLT is part of a growing movement aiming to redefine community development. Named after and based in the historic predominately African American neighborhood of Saint Paul, MN, Rondo CLT is developing tools and frameworks for a more human-centered and eco-friendly economy. Rondo CLT believes that to make a real difference, we need to rethink our approach and create new paths that prioritize healing and fairness. Recognizing that capitalism often prioritizes profits over people and the planet is crucial for real equity. Like us, Rondo CLT relies on partnerships with like-minded organizations. They are a member of MCCD and part of the Saint Paul Shared Ownership Collaborative, which includes West Side Community Organization, Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers, and Model Cities Saint Paul. Together, they promote shared ownership in housing and business while building community power. Read more about Rondo's reparative economic development framework, which reflects their best (and constantly evolving) thinking and practice. Written by: Rondo CLT's Deputy Director, E. Coco https://lnkd.in/g37vYDbT

One of the pivotal insights gleaned from ThirdSpace Action Lab research on anti-racist community development was the understanding that equitable community development transcends individual actions; it's a comprehensive framework guiding every aspect of a #CBDO's operations, from governance structures to hiring practices, real estate management, and resident participation. In ThirdSpace Action Lab latest report, resident leaders echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that equity practices should permeate all facets of CBDO activities and policies. They offered tangible examples illustrating what equitable community development entails, or could entail with adequate support. Explore the key insights derived from residents' perspectives in this narrative, especially pertinent for leaders in community development organizations. Join the conversation—your insights are invaluable! https://bit.ly/3QIUPVm #ResidentSurvey #NonprofitResearch #CommunityDevelopment #SocialImpact #UndertheLens

Check out this article our Deputy Director E. Coco authored for the Nonprofit Quarterly about the reparative economic development framework guiding our work! “Community economic development approaches have lost their way. Many solutions to social and economic challenges focus on how to expand access to a system from which communities have been intentionally and systematically excluded. These “solutions” may pay lip service to root causes but fail to acknowledge that for certain communities to amass wealth in a capitalist framework requires the harm and exploitation of others along class, race, and gender lines. As practitioners, to remedy this, it is our job to find our way back, or better yet, forge a new, more powerful path that centers “repair.” Unless we recognize that racialized capitalism’s primary concern is maximizing profits at all costs, we aren’t doing much to sustain equity with, by, and for our people and planet. A growing number of practitioners and organizations, backed by a robust field of study and ancestral practice, instead believe that economic systems can produce everything our communities need and desire without destroying the cultural, social, and economic wellbeing of others.” #landjustice #economicjustice #communitylandtrust

The profound impact of community projects, like the one shared in our recent post, underscores their ability to forge lasting connections and unite communities. If you're scrolling through LinkedIn today, consider following our page to join the conversation on how we can all be catalysts for positive change in our communities. #CommunityEngagement #PositiveChange

This article articulates why generating social capital with physical infrastructure and places is important, and the positive flow on effects for community and individual resilience. It also reminds us to engage with and protect those places, so that they’re there when we need them.

In #publichealth, there has been much emphasis on focusing on individuals-- education and people-based strategies. However, #placebased strategies provide a complementary approach that influences behaviors in the context of where people are. Therefore, place-based partnerships leverage resources that not only understand the context of where people are, but can identify gaps and opportunities that bridge change toward #equity.

Explore how place-based partnerships are becoming a driving force in the fight for equity. Our latest article on Inside Philanthropy delves into the significance of these localized collaborations and their impact on community development and social justice. Jennifer Splansky Juster, Monique Miles and Cindy Santos, Guest Contributors report: The role of place-based partnerships in advancing equity Successful examples and case studies Strategies for building effective local collaborations Join the discussion on how localized efforts can drive meaningful change in communities. Tagging Fearless Fund Collective Impact Forum The Aspen Institute Los Angeles Opportunity Youth Collaborative #PlaceBasedPartnerships #Equity #CommunityDevelopment #SocialJustice #InsidePhilanthropy #CommunityDriven #LocalCollaboration #SystemicChange #EquitableDevelopment #CommunityEmpowerment #Resilience #SustainableProgress #Philanthropy

In the world of community development, small Community Development Corporations (CDCs) often fly under the radar. However, Bill Taft, a veteran with over three decades of experience in the field, argues that these organizations are the backbone of effective neighborhood revitalization. As we grapple with issues like the affordable housing crisis and the need for inclusive economic growth, Taft contends that small CDCs should be at the center of our strategies, not on the sidelines. Read the full article to gain insights into why supporting small CDCs is crucial for achieving equitable and sustainable community development: https://bit.ly/4egBunR #CommunityDevelopment #CDCs #NeighborhoodRevitalization

"Across all interviews it was clear that, as important as CBDOs were to their communities, CBDOs could not function without residents. There is a symbiotic relationship between the two dating back to the origins of the sector. It was residents who formed the first CBDOs to organize around structural issues facing their communities, and this often remains true in place-based community development work." Dive into the piece today to discover residents' perspectives about community development organizations: https://bit.ly/3QIUPVm #CommunityDevelopment #UndertheLens #SocialImpact #CBDO #Memphis #Tennessee

In community development, size matters—but not always as you might expect. Bill Taft's recent Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) article highlights the critical role of small Community Development Corporations (CDCs) and their unique funding challenges. Small CDCs struggle with limited project capacity and complex funding requirements, yet excel in local connections and resource efficiency. Large CDCs, while better resourced, often lack the deep community ties that make small CDCs so effective. Taft argues that supporting these smaller organizations is crucial for achieving truly equitable and impactful community development. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4egBunR #CommunityDevelopment #CDCs #SocialImpact