AES Ohio’s Post

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.

In 2022, we discussed ways for residents to get more actively involved in Sustainability, Housing and Neighborhood Preservation, Community Safety, and Civic Engagement. In 2023, we talked about Our Public Schools, Traveling Around Town, Building Community with Renters and Landlords, and Planning and Development in the Heights. WHAT will be our topics for Crowdsourced Conversations 2024??? That’s where you come in. When you click the link below, you’ll find a list of topics nominated by past Crowdsourced Conversations forum attendees. You are welcome to vote for as many topics as you’d like — but we recommend focusing on the Top 4 that you want to see in next year’s series. Voting is LIVE until the end of the day on Friday, January 5, 2024. The Top 4 vote-getters will become our 2024 Crowdsourced Conversations forum series. 2024 topics will be announced early in the new year. Any questions, connect with Sarah – swolf@futureheights.org. VOTE HERE: https://lnkd.in/eHMPTi-a

How cool to be featured in BusinessWest's BusinessTalk podcast with Joe Bednar! Want to learn more about how the Franklin County Community Development Corporation can help your business? Listen in!

💡 Interested in making meaningful and lasting change towards advancing equity in your community? ✋ Our updated and expanded Equitable Community Planning Toolkit includes information on how communities across the United States are rising to meet the equity imperative, as well as tools to apply promising practices and system change processes in your community. The Toolkit is designed to help civic leaders, community organizers, non profit leaders, and others implement equitable community planning practices by taking a holistic approach to understanding opportunities and issues. To learn more and download the Toolkit, visit: https://lnkd.in/e9ZkXM7V #equitytoolkit #equitableplanning

The "Ladder of Participation" is a framework that always fires people up in my Inclusive Planning and Responsive Strategy workshop - this brilliant tool draws on the Ladder and deepens, updates, and details the different ways communities can have power (or not) in decision making. Such a great way to think about how organizations can shift power and decision making to those most impacted.

To build affordable, age- and ability-friendly communities for all people, the processes by which we plan, design, and implement our transportation and land use infrastructure, services, and policies must be equitable and just. Because of the compounding of past injustices have never been fully redressed, and racial and social inequalities continue to widen, our community engagement efforts must seek to be more equitable than ever. That's why Snotrac has published its "Equitable Community Engagement Best Practices" guide for public agencies in Snohomish County, reflecting best practices and the federal, state, and regional requirements. https://lnkd.in/gp_yi-4G

In 2019, the Freedom West Board, representing 382 shareholders and approximately 1,000 residents, participated in a visioning session facilitated by the Institute of the Future to develop a set of Guiding Principles that serve as our roadmap plan to achieve the community driven Freedom West 2.0 plan to: Rebuild: All 382 existing units at Freedom West co-op units with brand new units at no additional monthly housing costs to the residents. Empower: The nonprofit co-op with a 40+ year economic self-sustainable engine including additional sources of real estate ownership income and profit participation in the market rate development. Involve: Freedom West Homes’ input in the design of the replacement units, the overall site plan, and community benefits. #sanfranciscorealestate #affordablehousing

Check out our first of many webinars supporting Family Engagement!

The major challenges facing our organization, include: 1. **Maintaining Engagement and Participation**: Keeping members engaged and active in community activities can be challenging, especially with competing commitments and distractions in people's lives. 2. **Funding and Resource Allocation**: Securing financial resources and proper allocation for various outreach programs and events can be difficult, particularly for smaller groups. 3. **Adapting to Digital Transformation**: Effectively utilizing digital platforms to reach a wider audience, especially in a world increasingly dependent on virtual connections. 4. **Volunteer Management**: Recruiting, training, and retaining dedicated volunteers who align with the group's mission and values. 5. **Addressing Diverse Needs**: Catering to the spiritual and practical needs of a diverse community while maintaining a unified mission and message. 6. **Building Community Relationships**: Establishing and nurturing relationships with other local organizations, churches, and the broader community to enhance impact. 7. **Navigating Social and Cultural Challenges**: Addressing contemporary social issues and cultural changes while staying true to the group's core Christian values. 8. **Measuring Impact**: Developing metrics and methods to assess the effectiveness and impact of their initiatives in fostering spiritual growth and community support. These challenges require strategic planning, adaptability, and continuous community engagement to overcome.

Dear Professional Community, I am thrilled to share with you the launch of a very special project that has been a labor of love for me - the Onyx Cares Foundation. Our Mission: Inspired by the need to make a meaningful difference, the Onyx Cares Foundation is dedicated to uplifting communities through targeted initiatives. Our mission is grounded in the belief that with the right support and resources, we can catalyze lasting positive change. Learn more about our initiatives at https://onyxcares.org/ Get Involved: To provide deeper insight into the challenges we aim to address and the communities we wish to support, we have shared an interview conducted at Roxbury Correctional Institute. This conversation sheds light on the very issues at the heart of our foundation's mission. I invite you to watch and hopefully be inspired by the potential for change we have before us. Watch here: https://lnkd.in/e-SUXdVF As we look ahead, the Foundation seeks to partner with like-minded individuals and organizations on future initiatives, particularly those focused on empowering the youth; we're also focused on enhancing community and economic development. Further, we aim to leverage Onyx Consulting Services' recent HubZone certification to underscore our commitment to making a significant difference in historically underutilized business zones. Stay Connected: Keep up with the latest updates on our projects, events, and opportunities to make a difference by following us on social media. Your active engagement and support—whether it be through partnerships, sharing our message, or simply keeping track of our progress—are vital to our collective success. https://lnkd.in/ejyz9JTc Thank you for your support as we embark on this meaningful journey together. With your help, we can achieve profound, lasting change. PS. If you’ve previously visited our draft website and are not seeing the most recent updates, please clear your browser cache (CTRL+Shift+DEL) to view the latest content. #atriskyouth #community #empowerment #501(c)(3) #AcademicAchievement #STEAM #HealthandWellness #NeurodiversityAwareness #advocacy