Leadership Florida’s Post

Growing up in Ferguson, MO, I was blessed with a community of family, neighbors and friends that fostered my development and shaped my perspectives. This neighborhood, vivid in my memory for its warmth and camaraderie, was thrust into the national spotlight in August 2014 during the Ferguson riots—a pivotal moment that underscored the urgent need for community engagement and social justice everywhere. As I reflect, I am incredibly proud to share a recent development that resonates deeply with my personal and professional journey. On April 25, a significant announcement was made by the Urban League of Metro St. Louis and Centene Corporation. Centene has donated its Ferguson claims center—a facility erected in the aftermath of 2014's events—to the Urban League. This building will now serve as the Urban League Centene Connected Community Center. How dope is that? This 45,000-square-foot facility, now in the hands of the National Urban League symbolizes a profound commitment to the community. This partnership created 250 jobs and represented a $25 million investment in Ferguson.  The transition of this space into a hub for vital community services like Head Start, workforce development, and more, marks a continuation of that investment—a legacy of empowerment and positive change. Shawn’s Thoughts: You can truly judge the character of a company by how it responds in times of uncertainty; it's in these moments that values are tested and true commitment to community and employees is revealed. If we are keeping it real, we all know that there are tons of companies and organizations running as far as they can away from places like my hometown, especially surrounding DEI, social justice and community investment. Feels good to suit up daily, doing what I love, for an organization that doesn’t run when difficulty arises. I’ve been asked plenty times, “why do you love community work?” My answer is simple: for me, it’s more than just business; it's about nurturing the environments that shape and continue to shape lives—much like Ferguson shaped mine. #CommunityDevelopment #DEI #Ferguson #Centene #UrbanLeague #SocialJustice #Community #StLouis

If you are curious about what we do at Patriot Angels, sign up for our live webinar hosted by Angel Frazier. She has a vast amount knowledge regarding the Aid and Attendance Benefit! If you have questions, I am sure we will have the answer.

Hi Morgan No we are not Proud of Mayor Lucas. Repealing NEW ORDINANCE TO CODE BOOKS ORDINANCE NO. 230401 Amending Chapter 3, Code of Ordinances, by repealing Section 3-431, “Setting Goals for Individual Contracts” and enacting in lieu thereof a new section of like number and subject matter regulating the application of numeric MBE/WBE goals on certain projects leased for development or receiving economic development incentives or tax abatement. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY: 2. Ignoring the letter from The Kcmo Fairness Board Chairman & Fairness Committee regarding Civil Rights violations ? Harrasment of minority contractors ? inadequate reporting from Kcmo CREO department ? No Disparity report for 9 years and more ? 2016 Disparity Report below: Department of I think 1.2 minority [participation] and 2.5 WBE [participation], when there was adequate availability of minority and women contractors to meet the City’s standard kind of goal of 15 [percent] and 7 [percent]. They’re diluting the opportunity for minority and women contractors when it comes through the statutory business development organizations, all of whom have different sets of rules..… There ought to be a uniform code that is incorporated in all the development agreements which people in our community never see.… There’s a disconnect. And I realize they’re trying to change some of that now but the insulting part of it was there was more money spent through statutory agencies last year for contracting activities than there were through City departments.… It’s obviously developer driven. By the time we see it the development agreement has already been executed. Caused lack of capital for Jackson County schools and libraries. Mayor Lucas and Insult to African Americans everywhere?

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

Today, Brooklyn Org (BKO) and The Center for an Urban Future(CUF) are proud to release a new report that provides a roadmap for creating a stronger and more equitable Brooklyn, featuring concrete policy ideas from 50 Brooklyn-based leaders. “50 Ideas for a Stronger and More Equitable Brooklyn” presents policy ideas that would help more Brooklyn residents access affordable housing, quality health care, well-paying jobs, and bolster neighborhoods across the borough. The report includes ideas from a diverse mix of community leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, artists, faith leaders, nonprofit executives, and public health experts. 📰 Read the report today: brooklyn.org/50ideas #50IdeasForBrooklyn #PublicPolicy

Responding to rising crime, Chicago's civic leaders, including Hyatt Hotels, have stepped up efforts to curb violence through a $66M 'Scaling Community Violence Intervention' campaign. With backing from the Pritzker Foundation and Crown Family, the initiative is set to enhance existing grassroots programs over the next decade. The hospitality industry has a vested interest in supporting safer cities. As demonstrated by Hyatt, businesses can make an impact through social responsibility efforts addressing localized needs. Wise investors seeking a return on investment (ROI) understand that community health is directly tied to economic health. Collaborative efforts like these underscore the power of public-private partnerships to drive progressive change. Chicago sets an example for other cities struggling with violence, encouraging them to pursue coordinated action plans backed by unified funding. #socialimpact #csr #community

Let’s Go Birds!! Comment below a fun tradition you have for game days!

Responding to rising crime, Chicago's civic leaders, including Hyatt Hotels, have stepped up efforts to curb violence through a $66M 'Scaling Community Violence Intervention' campaign. With backing from the Pritzker Foundation and Crown Family, the initiative is set to enhance existing grassroots programs over the next decade. The hospitality industry has a vested interest in supporting safer cities. As demonstrated by Hyatt, businesses can make an impact through social responsibility efforts addressing localized needs. Wise investors seeking a return on investment (ROI) understand that community health is directly tied to economic health. Collaborative efforts like these underscore the power of public-private partnerships to drive progressive change. Chicago sets an example for other cities struggling with violence, encouraging them to pursue coordinated action plans backed by unified funding. #socialimpact #csr #community

We're passionate about making a positive impact in our community through our various projects at the Windsor Park LifeCare Trust! Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve introduced you to just a few of these; the incredible PowerUp Program for young children, 24-7 Youthwork in local schools, Haven and the Family Law Clinic. Yes, there’s even more to share over the coming weeks! The Trust works to provide support and services to those in need. But we can't do it alone! We invite you to join us in our efforts to empower and uplift individuals and families in our community. There are countless ways to get involved, from volunteering your time and skills, to making a financial contribution, however humble this may be. Reach out to us today to learn more about how you can make a difference and get involved with our projects. Together, we can create a brighter future for our community! And don't forget to follow us here on LinkedIn so you'll stay updated on our latest projects, events, and opportunities for engagement.   #WindsorParkLifeCareTrust #CommunityImpact #GetInvolved #VolunteerOpportunities #SupportLocalCauses #FollowUsOnLinkedIn#Bettertogether #CommunityEmpowerment #StrongerTogether #CommunitySupport #VolunteerYouth #EmpowerYoungMinds #VolunteerImpact #YouthEngagement #VolunteerOpportunity#MakeADifference

California Community Reinvestment Corporation (CCRC) was proud to sponsor San Gabriel Valley Consortium on Homelessness’s 2024 Housing Summit: "A New Season: Making Space For Affordable Housing" in San Dimas, CA! In addition to supporting the facilitation of this event, the Summit was also attended in-person by CCRC Relationship Manager Ting Xiao, who canvassed with other housing advocates to understand the implications of public policy on housing in the state of California. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s first Executive Directive, which streamlines affordable housing permitting, was a pertinent topic of discussion, as well as progress towards housing on faith-based organizations’ land and the future of the YIGBY (Yes In God’s Backyard) movement. Additionally, event attendees discussed methods of destigmatizing affordable housing within communities who oppose further developments. This advocacy work is indispensable to reversing decades of destructive narratives on affordable housing, which hurt the effort to guarantee stability and shelter to all Americans. The data on these important frameworks was made available by University of California, Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation, Alliant Strategic Development, City of Pomona and National Community Renaissance. Creative legislative and advocacy solutions continue to move the needle on the housing crisis, and events like the 2024 Housing Summit are key to understanding how best to navigate a constantly changing housing landscape. CCRC is honored to continue fighting for affordable housing alongside other leaders in the industry. #affordablehousing #SGVConsortiumonHomelessness #ExecutiveDirective1 #ED1 #YIGBY