Ren’s Post

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

this is a wonderful program for smaller municipalities to engage their communities in proactive planning. We are so focused on community and economic development, but who are we developing for? Without key input from the folks who call your community home, how can you plan for a future that includes everyone? That also means ensuring everyone as a voice at the table, which also means taking your engagement activities to meet people where they are. Don't underestimate the power of reaching out to someone at a neighborhood block party, weekly coffee at the local church, or during Friday Night Lights at the local high school. those are often the most powerful connections a community planner can make. #communitydevelopment #communityengagement #planning #communityplanner

While families continue to struggle with rising rents and home prices, costs associated with housing like supportive services, energy, and transportation continue to spike. Here at Navigate, we approach housing and community development holistically, tackling housing costs while also ensuring that residents are financially stable and on a path to homeownership. As part of our holistic community development approach, we recently announced a scaled-up commitment of $3.7 million to local organizations providing for critical needs. The 2023 #NavigateGivesBack program supported organizations providing clothing, food assistance, disaster relief, and more. More: https://prn.to/476JrIb

Helping Latino families create generational wealth is our goal!

🌳 Doylestown Township Parks Improvement Project! 🌳 Join us on an exciting journey as we embark on a transformative mission to enhance our beloved Central Park! This video provides an look at the Doylestown Township Capital Campaign, a dedicated effort to improve Central Park for everyone to enjoy. 🔹 What's Included in the Project? - Community Recreation Center: Indoor Recreation and Gathering Spaces. - New Outdoor Sports Courts: Basketball, Bocce, Pickleball, and Tennis Courts. - Permanent & Accessible Restrooms near the Amphitheater and Kids Castle. 🔹 Why Your Support Matters: The success of this campaign relies on the support of our community. Your contributions will help us create a more vibrant and welcoming environment for everyone to enjoy. Every donation, big or small, brings us one step closer to making this vision a reality. 🔹 Play a Part at Central Park: Be a Donor, Be a Sponsor, Leave Your Legacy, Help Build the CRC - Donate: Learn how you can contribute to the campaign. - Volunteer: Discover volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved. - Spread the Word: Share this video with friends and family to raise awareness. 🌟 Thank You for Your Support! 🌟 Together, we can improve Central Park and continue its legacy for generations to come.

Indeed, in all our work, we are pushing for funds to take land off the speculative market and increase the number of units in land trusts—this is a way to maintain community ownership and prevent displacement even as new development occurs. This is what we mean by pursuing “development without displacement.” Land trusts, especially through community ownership of scattered sites and smaller buildings, are a key tool that can contain displacement and gentrification.

🌟 Community Engagement Spotlight for #EconDevWeek 🌟 The PCDC has funded $250,000 in community engagement grants for Parks and Recreation improvements! 🌳 Shade structures at Black Locust Park and Pflugerville Heights Park help extend playtime, protect children from UV rays, and keep playgrounds cooler. With these upgrades, 25 citywide playgrounds now have shade. 🌤️ Improvements to Royal Pointe Park, including new shades, an upgraded basketball court, new swings, and hardware, rejuvenate the park system, lowering the average age of equipment to just 7.7 years! ❓Why are these upgrades important? Enhanced parks and recreation facilities attract families, increase property values, and promote health and wellness—key elements that boost community engagement and economic development. #PflugervilleGrows #ParkImprovements #InvestInProgress #CommunityDevelopment#pflugerville #PflugervilleTX #EconDevWeek #InvestInProgress #EconDevWeek2024 #EcoDevWeek #EDWeek2024 #EconomicInnovation #CommunityDevelopment #EconomicDevelopmentHeroes #IEDC #PCDC

SATURDAY MORNING (APRIL 20TH) at 10:30 AM our amazing Who I Am Foundation volunteers in #Albuquerque will be having our next Community Clean-Up (ABQ)! For this Community Clean-Up our volunteers will meet up at, and clean the neighborhood around Mesa Verde Community Center located at 7900 Marquette NE Albuquerque NM 87108 NO OPEN-TOED SHOES Cleaning up loose trash is one of the best ways to pitch in for your community and the environment. Volunteering as a means to help conserve and protect the environment has a lot of upsides. Of course, the first is that you’ll be taking care of our planet, and it badly needs a little love given the myriad ways in which we’ve become adept at destroying it. But beyond that, volunteering for a cause you care about is a great way to meet like-minded people, make friends, and pull yourself out of the blues that sometimes accompany caring a lot about something important – especially if you feel alone in your endeavors. None of us like the sight of litter. Litter spoils the look of where we live but that’s not the only reason for picking up litter. There are a number of benefits from picking up litter that you may not have considered before. Volunteer-led projects such as these are one of the quickest, simplest, and least expensive ways to inspire more community spirit and civic action. A visually appealing community increases property values, attracts businesses, and improves the neighborhood's image. Beauty is one of the three most influential factors in community attachment, which means loyalty, to your particular town or city. Some research even shows that a nice-looking neighborhood promotes good behavior. Join us in keeping your community clean! For more information: https://lnkd.in/g2ByASKE #TeamWhoIAm_Albuquerque

🌞🚚 Sunday Vinnies Soup Van Run Update 🚚🌞 Braving Melbourne's scorching summer heat, our Inner City Vinnies Soup Van team embarked on the usual Sunday run yesterday. It was a tough one, I'd have to say. The demand for food hampers was exceptionally high, leaving us without supply for our last two stops – a stark reminder of the pressing need in our community. I had never seen that before. Have you thought about it? For many of us, summer and the heat bring unique challenges and some additional ones for people experiencing homelessness: How do you store your medication in extreme heat? I was reminded of that when seeing someone with prescribed medications next to them yesterday.☀ Where do you seek refuge when temperatures soar above 35 degrees and it’s hot even in the shade? Our dedicated volunteers hit the streets daily, seeing the challenges and providing crucial support as best as possible, because, well, homelessness doesn't take a heat break. To combat heat and dehydration, we distributed special summer hampers with essentials like sunscreen, deodorant, insect repellent, caps, and extra water bottles. Socks, a year-round necessity, were also in high demand. We never seem to have enough, regardless of the seasons. I am truly privileged and humbled to be part of this impactful movement - to work with Vinnies Vic, as St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria is lovingly called, but also to be a volunteer, and I really admire those who have been so much longer than myself: During the day or the week, they juggle roles as civil engineers, school principals, electricians, carpenters. They work on international ad campaigns; they are students, mums, dads, sons, and daughters, all trying to make someone else's life who needs support just that little bit better. If you feel inspired to contribute, here's a link https://lnkd.in/gfghfdiv. It's worth it. 🤝❤️ #Volunteering #socialimpact #givingback #homelessness #donateforchange #changemakers

SATURDAY MORNING (APRIL 20TH) at 10:30 AM our amazing Who I Am Foundation volunteers in #Albuquerque will be having our next Community Clean-Up (ABQ)! For this Community Clean-Up our volunteers will meet up at, and clean the neighborhood around Mesa Verde Community Center located at 7900 Marquette NE Albuquerque NM 87108 NO OPEN-TOED SHOES Cleaning up loose trash is one of the best ways to pitch in for your community and the environment. Volunteering as a means to help conserve and protect the environment has a lot of upsides. Of course, the first is that you’ll be taking care of our planet, and it badly needs a little love given the myriad ways in which we’ve become adept at destroying it. But beyond that, volunteering for a cause you care about is a great way to meet like-minded people, make friends, and pull yourself out of the blues that sometimes accompany caring a lot about something important – especially if you feel alone in your endeavors. None of us like the sight of litter. Litter spoils the look of where we live but that’s not the only reason for picking up litter. There are a number of benefits from picking up litter that you may not have considered before. Volunteer-led projects such as these are one of the quickest, simplest, and least expensive ways to inspire more community spirit and civic action. A visually appealing community increases property values, attracts businesses, and improves the neighborhood's image. Beauty is one of the three most influential factors in community attachment, which means loyalty, to your particular town or city. Some research even shows that a nice-looking neighborhood promotes good behavior. Join us in keeping your community clean! For more information: https://lnkd.in/g2ByASKE #TeamWhoIAm_Albuquerque