Looking Glass Community Services’ Post

Nonprofits need board members, y'all. I'm serious - it's one of the top needs I hear when I meet with our nonprofit members. You don't need deep pockets or specialized skills to be an effective board member. You need a few hours a month, passion for the cause, and the ability to work with others to accomplish goals. If you want training, I Live Here I Give Here hosts a robust full day training event every fall, and Mission Capital hosts more frequent board essentials training. What are some of the benefits you might get through board service? Networking, new friends, a sense of accomplishment, giving back to your community, learning new professional skills, boosting your resume, spending time doing something you enjoy...did I miss anything?

On this Labor Day, more often than not, we are continuing to grapple with shoestring resources that typically accrue for community organizing and capacity building efforts within public agency led processes. All in service of improving and strengthening our cities and regions: better access to food, homes, transit, parks, schools and jobs, stronger adaptation and resilience preparation to the ill effects of climate change and other emergent community needs. It doesn’t have to be this way. As novel examples illustrate well across several community constellations in California alone—Allensworth Progressive Association in Allensworth, 40 x 40 Council in Oakland, Santa Ana Shared Financing Collective in Santa Ana and others—communities are flipping the script and orchestrating the future of their own neighborhoods. When we as communities assert power and articulate our collective visions we can attract resources in abundance. This is no mirage! This is a snapshot of an alternate reality that can be true for more communities and must be a reason to not mourn but celebrate today—the promise held within community’s collective labor. #CommunityVision #CommunityPower #AbundantResources #LaborDay

Since the beginning, the Thriving Communities Program has recognized and continues to witness the power and impact of connecting communities to federal agencies, philanthropy, nonprofits, and other external stakeholders. At the #DOTThrivingCommunities convening, four communities highlighted progress they’ve made to date and how connection and coordination with partners have provided them the key to unlocking new opportunities, resources, and federal funding:  McAlester, Oklahoma highlighted their placemaking efforts to revitalize and connect Downtown McAlester and its Old Town Antiques District alongside capacity builder team member Project for Public Spaces and the National Endowment for the Arts, whose placemaking grants and technical assistance are changing the game for communities who want to integrate arts, culture, and design into local efforts that strengthen communities long-term. Rexburg, Idaho spoke on their experience connecting and collaborating with community partners on improving and expanding Rexburg’s multimodal network, and the positive impact U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets for All and Reconnecting Communities Grant will make for the city.  Brownsville, Texas discussed progress to date in creating wealth-building opportunities in the community alongside GSA, who is supporting the Brownsville-Gateway Land Port of Entry Project.  Cleveland, Ohio will elevate its experience in maintaining, improving, and transforming infrastructure to meet the community’s needs and better residential and economic development opportunities alongside U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as highlight how USDOT's Safe Streets for All Grant is a gamechanger for the city.  

Really enjoyed attending "The Power of Purpose: Exploring the Basics of Business Community Engagement" hosted by Richmond Chamber of Commerce, InUnison, United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg, and Community Foundation yesterday. My key takeaways: 1) Business Community Engagement has so many positive ripple effects on the company, volunteers/employees, and community. Engagement begets more engagement which begets even more engagement and small actions add up. 2) The business case for Community Engagement is strong. From retention to recruiting to marketing, it's also a great financial investment. For all my L+D friends, it was also a great reminder that the best learning is often very simple. The handout was a series of easy reflection questions that broke down the process into easy, actionable steps and a helpful resource I will continue to use. #communityengagement, #unitedway, #richmond, #simplelearning GIF Description: Erika's nametag for the event with a smiling and dancing cartoon whose face is the planet earth.

We’re honored to support the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in launching $40.7 million in CDBG-DR Workforce Development grants for communities rebuilding after the 2018 wildfires. These investments create critical opportunities, including: - Training residents for construction and healthcare careers through Paradise RISE - Wildfire resilience and healthcare workforce development programs in Lake and Ventura Counties - Initiatives in Los Angeles and Shasta Counties opening pathways in trades, emergency response, and more. As HCD's grants management partner, Civix is proud to help design and implement these critical programs supporting economic recovery and community resilience. 🔗 Read more about these initiatives https://hubs.ly/Q02_NMc00

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?

Are you engaged in your community? 🤔 In 2023, Serve Virginia and the Virginia Service Foundation introduced the Virginia Community Engagement Index (VCEI). This groundbreaking study aims to understand the current state of service, volunteerism, and civic action in Virginia, as well as to identify the community's top priorities. Take a look at some of the interesting highlights such as, "Why we serve," "Where we serve," "how we serve," and more! https://lnkd.in/eQszbxnE

This month, in our series of interviews with CCI alums who are creatively experimenting with systems change, we talk to Donovan Duncan, one of our first Field Catalysts. Donovan is the Executive Vice President for Urban Strategies, Inc, a national nonprofit leader and transformative force in community development. Urban Strategies, Inc. has its own CDFI, which represents another approach to the paradigm shift described in “A New Blueprint for Financing Community Development.” In the interview, Donovan discusses how he and Urban Strategies Inc. support ecosystems of opportunity and partner authentically with communities. https://lnkd.in/e9wBvD8f

Congrats Shane Butler on this effort! We are proud to partner with you and the other ST8 counties on your strategic planning efforts through funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). Strategic planning is more than a roadmap—it’s a foundation for growth and stability. In community and economic development, we know that success doesn’t happen by chance. It requires a clear, actionable strategy that aligns local priorities with long-term opportunities. For regions like ours, strategic planning isn’t just important—it’s essential. It ensures we’re not just responding to challenges, but shaping our future with purpose. Here’s why strategic planning is critical: Maximizes resources: By identifying shared goals, we focus investments where they have the most impact. Drives collaboration: Strategic plans unite stakeholders—businesses, governments, and communities—around a common vision Builds stability: Thoughtful planning strengthens infrastructure, workforce, and housing, laying the groundwork for economic growth. Anticipates change: In an evolving economy, a strong strategy helps communities adapt and thrive. #StrategicPlanning #EconomicDevelopment #CommunityGrowth #PlaceDrivenDevelopment #southerntier Jen Gregory Kyle Wilber

When trying to assess where resources are needed in North Texas, community organizations often look at a variety of data sets and have their own language around the social barriers to well-being in Dallas-Fort Worth. It can make collaboration between nonprofits, the public sector, and businesses tricky. A new data-building initiative by United Way Metropolitan Dallas and Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation allows partnering groups to visualize community vulnerability by block groups across 26 clinical and socio-economic indicators with the goal of leveraging that data to drive more impact in advancing racial equity across Dallas, Rockwall, Collin and southern Denton counties. By Arcelia Martin #nonprofits #unitedway #parklandcenter #racialequity #equity