Montgomery County Green Bank’s Post

Isaac Yablo is Senior Advisor for Community Safety for the City of Boston. He moves seamlessly across scales, from city-wide strategy to on-scene response. In his work, we watched how well Isaac sees people, where they are coming from, and the structures that surround them: the not visible things that are driving visible behaviors. Isaac has shown us what it can mean to be seen. Read our 2023 Year of Stories here: https://lnkd.in/gGt_nfRn The project: We worked with Isaac in co-designing an updated protocol for the city’s response to incidents of community violence. Read about some of Isaac’s work here: https://lnkd.in/e7snpWXV #communitysafety #strategy #codesign

THE HISTORY AND PRESENT STATE OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IN AMERICA CAN BE SUMMED UP IN ONE WORD: BROKEN #HOMELESSNESS IS THE RESULT OF DECADES OF THE FAILURE TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL. DON'T BE FOOLED BY SLICK PROMOTIONAL POSTS THAT MAKE IT SEEM LIKE YOUR LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS ARE SOLVING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS. WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE PUBLIC AND TAXPAYERS MUST ASK: AT WHAT COST TO THE TAXPAYERS AND HOW LONG IS THE AFFORDABILITY PERIOD? EVERY TAXPAYER SHOULD BE ASKING THEIR ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: 1. How much local, state, and federal funding, tax credits, density bonus increase, waivers of impact fees, or other government benefit or incentive did the project receive? 2. What is the affordability period for each project and, if the affordability period is not in perpetuity or permanent, WHY NOT? 3. What guarantees exist that tenants in the affordable housing units will not be displaced after an "affordability period expires? Any LOCAL, STATE or FEDERAL official that does not MANDATE "permanent" affordability periods or affordability "IN PERPETUITY" for any project receiving some government benefit is commiting MALFEASANCE and should quit, be removed from office or be terminated. IN MOST CASES WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, the public and taxpayer are being fooled into thinking their elected and appointed officials are solving problems, when in fact, all hey have done is "KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD" to burden a future generation with the same problem or crisis!

Together, we can tackle our most challenging problems. This week I was inspired not by the lofty goals, illuminating research or the theory of change but by the practical, tactical, gritty commitment to get it done. Thanks to the City and partners for hosting the first affordable housing week at city hall and to so many partners in other rooms working on policy change at the state level. A few reflections in the blog linked below.

#BlackHistoryMonth #raceandhousing #housingdisparities #FairHousing #EqualityInHousing #closethewealthgap #housingforall #equityinhousing #noracisminhousine #historyofhousing #fairlending #nomoreredlining Thanks Habitat for Humanity for this historical overview of Race and Housing in the 20th Century in the United States of America. View it here: https://lnkd.in/eEhFYVX3 Capital for Change (C4C) was intentionally designed to address and work to correct systemic racism in community lending and community development. C4C is committed to reaching out to and providing fair and equitable financing opportunities in Black and Brown communities, to combat and correct years of disregard and biased rejection.

Interested in the critical *narrative infrastructure* required to support new narratives for a transformed economic system? Definitely read Trevor Smith's latest in NPQ! "We must start investing in our narrative and social infrastructure, which is maintained by a set of relational and cultural systems, in the same way that we invest and sustain our physical one. At the core, that would mean building the capacity and ability within movements to study the theories behind narrative and culture change, conduct the type of psychographic segmentation that allows us to better understand our audiences beyond race and gender, and create beautiful articulations of the vision of the world we are trying to create. Doing this would allow for the durable progressive policy change for which we so desperately fight."

Impact finance has become so important to solving for many of our most pressing challenges, from affordable housing to climate to racial equity. This is a great platform and a great person to lead it. #Day1 #impactfinance #affordablehousing #climatesolutions

 As we close out Small Business Month, Donna Gambrell, CEO of Appalachian Community Capital, is featured this week in a Forbes article by Lenwood V Long Sr, discussing the critical role Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) play in supporting Black-owned businesses. "Small businesses and entrepreneurs become the anchors of so many communities," says Gambrell. With a high-touch approach, CDFIs like Appalachian Community Capital are essential in providing the financial services and support that historically underbanked communities need to thrive. Read more about the impact of CDFIs and the importance of closing the racial wealth gap in the full article below: #SmallBusinessMonth #BlackOwnedBusiness #EconomicGrowth #CDFI #AppalachianCommunityCapital https://lnkd.in/eY5ZndZF

In this interview with Chicago radio station WVON 1690 AM, NJCC President and CEO Bernel Hall discusses the impact of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). Bernel shares his passion for empowering underserved communities through sustainable economic development and provides valuable insights into the world of CDFIs. Watch the full video to learn: - The Real Purpose of CDFIs: Discover how CDFIs bridge the gap in access to capital left by traditional banks, focusing on social and economic impact over profit. - Bernel Hall’s Personal Journey: Hear Bernel's inspiring story of rising from a single-parent household to leading NJCC, driven by a mission to help black communities achieve wealth creation. - Commercial Real Estate as a Wealth Builder: Understand the benefits of commercial property ownership and how NJCC supports black and brown business owners in acquiring income-generating properties. Don't miss out on this conversation that highlights the critical role of CDFIs in fostering financial inclusion and economic empowerment. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/e6SeBXB #CommunityDevelopment #CDFI #WealthCreation #FinancialInclusion

This guy is a true professional.

🔍 Making Strides: Wilmington Street Team's Impact Unveiled 📊 The latest report showcases progress in Wilmington's anti-violence initiative, with decreases in crime across targeted districts. Led by nonprofits like the Center for Structural Equity, Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. , and Network Connect, the Street Team is reshaping community safety. As highlighted by Wilmington Community Public Safety Initiative Coordinator, Debra Mason, this initial success marks a pivotal moment. With decreases in crime, including shooting incidents and theft, it's clear that community engagement and proactive interventions are driving change. Notably, Districts 11 and 13, covered by the Street Team, saw significant improvements. This translates to fewer police dispatch calls, underscoring the program's effectiveness. As we delve deeper into the data, the Street Team's impact becomes clearer. With comparisons across seasons and rigorous assessments, we're charting a path toward sustained progress. Stay tuned as we continue our journey towards safer streets and stronger communities. #WilmingtonStreetTeam #CommunitySafety #CrimeReduction Read Full Article : https://lnkd.in/dMcbpcV7