LISC DC

Yesterday, I had the honor of participating and speaking at the Tracking Equity event hosted by the University of Maryland National Center for Smart Growth . It was an incredible opportunity to discuss equitable transit-oriented development along Maryland’s Purple and Blue lines. A huge thank you to Kathryn Howell and the team at the National Center for Smart Growth for hosting this important conversation. Special thanks to staff at LISC DC and Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP), including Judy Estey, Eva Dillon, CFRE, Bryan Franklin, and Chris Gillis for their partnership in organizing the event. Thank you to the speakers and panelists including Ramon Jacobson, Rob Hartman, Sheila Somashekhar, Chelsea Allinger, Reemberto Rodriguez, Brittney Drakeford, AICP, Jazz Lewis, and Carlos Perozo, for your thoughtful contributions to the conversation. At Wells Fargo, we recognize the importance of this collective work and are committed to supporting initiatives that drive equitable development and community impact. Thank you Paul Rachetta, Madiha Amir, and Kenrick Thomas for your support and participation at the event. Let's continue to work together to create a more equitable future for all! #TrackingEquity #CommunityImpact #EquitableDevelopment #WellsFargo #LISCDC #MontgomeryHousingPartnership #LISC #SmallBusinessGrowth #HousingAffordability #TransitOrientedDevelopment

Thank you to everyone who attended the Tracking Equity event hosted by Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP), Wells Fargo, National Center for Smart Growth , and LISC. This event focused on equitable transit-oriented development along Maryland's Blue/Silver and Purple Lines. It featured two lightning talks from Sheila Hosagrahara Somashekhar, Director of the Purple Line Corridor Coalition and Brittney Drakeford, AICP, co-founder of The Capital Market. The panel featured LISC DC Executive Director Ramon Jacobson, Maryland State Delegate Jazz Lewis, President of MHP Robert Goldman, Reemberto Rodriguez former Director of Silver Spring Regional Center, and Carlos Perozo, small business owner in Long Branch. Panelists compared and contrasted ToD along the Blue/Silver and Purple Lines and noted that funding and support for local small businesses and community needs need to be factored in at the outset in order to have equitable outcomes. They also emphasized the need for collective will on the local, county, and state levels as well as from community members and community-based organizations. We're grateful for our partners in this work as well as our co-hosts. A special thank you to Wells Fargo for their generous support of LISC's equitable transit-oriented development initiatives, our work would not be possible without it. Some photos courtesy of Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP)

Congratulations to So Others Might Eat (SOME) on the grand opening of the Father John Adams Resource Center! Our team enjoyed the ribbon cutting event and fitting tribute to Father John's decades of dedication to DC communities. LISC is proud to have supported this center with early-stage grant dollars through HUD Section 4's Capacity Building program. We are excited to see how this dignified space will make a difference for our neighbors in Ward 5 and beyond.

MacKenzie Scott and her organization, Yield Giving, are setting a new LISC record! Scott has generously gifted our #CDFI $65 million in unrestricted funding, which will enable LISC and our local partners to be more innovative, creative, and sustainable in our community work + impact nationwide. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eB-ftHAf This contribution builds on a $40 million gift from Scott in 2020, which LISC used to seed programs that narrow gaps in health, wealth and opportunity, particularly for communities of color. We are grateful for the continued partnership!

Happening next week! There is still time to RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/eX-22_zv

Check out this new LISC case study highlighting the power of arts and culture! We'd especially love to uplift the work of our partners, the Anacostia Business Improvement District and the 11th Street Bridge Park, who are both featured in this report for their amazing arts, culture, and placekeeping efforts east of the river in Washington, DC.

We want equitable transit oriented development throughout our MD suburbs, but how can we achieve it? Join us for Tracking Equity, a live panel discussion on November 19, from 10 am - Noon. This event will bring together community development practitioners, investors, researchers, residents, and funders to explore equitable, transit oriented development around Maryland’s Purple and Blue/Silver Lines. Speakers will highlight the contrast of the current states of the Blue/Silver Line — a 40 year old line that has not experienced the type of investment other regional metro stops have — and the Purple Line, which is currently under construction. We will explore how we can pursue an equitable future for both, while uncovering best practices and key challenges across different facets of equitable development including housing, support for communities and small businesses, placemaking and more. The event is free but RSVP is required. https://lnkd.in/eX-22_zv Wells Fargo; Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP); National Center for Smart Growth

Last night, we joined Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development (CNHED) and many of our partners to celebrate CNHED's 25th Anniversary! We had an amazing time reflecting and celebrating all of the strides the coalition has made. We heard from Chairman Phil Mendelson, CM McDuffie, Deputy Mayor Nina Albert, and more. It was particularly special to see Marty Mellett honored with the 2024 Bob Pohlman Lifetime Achievement Award. Marty was a fierce leader and partner at Jubilee Housing before he retired recently. Marty also served LISC DC for 16 years as a Senior Program Officer. Despite the challenges our industry is facing, we know we are stronger together. Thank you CNHED for all you do and congratulations on your Silver Jubilee! #CNHEDsilverjubilee

We had a wonderful time attending Housing Up's annual Living in the City event last night! Housing Up, a long-time LISC partner, is one of the only nonprofits in DC that works to end family homelessness through supportive services and affordable housing. We look forward to continued partnership with Housing Up! Their auction will remain open until the end of the week, consider donating: https://lnkd.in/eyzjbcv7

Environmental justice grant opportunity for local #DC nonprofits! 🌳 Join NCRC and Green & Healthy Homes Initiatives next week to learn more about EPA Region 3 Thriving Communities Grants. These grants will provide $150,000-$350,000 for small organizations addressing #environmentaljustice at the local level.