Naturally Lewis’ Post

ITP Consulting works at the human level and how we find joy, trust and sense of belonging in our community.

Reflecting on two days of insightful conversation and shared wisdom at the Grantmakers of Kentucky Event!   Here are some insights and takeaways from our CEO, Tiffany Benjamin, on exploring innovative strategies and discussing the challenges and triumphs in grantmaking:   -A particularly impactful session was dedicated to Community Listening; Panelists shared how they build the ability to hear from the community before making funding decisions.   -Discussion revolving around the evaluation of strategies to ensure the voices of community are truly being heard. A cautionary tale was shared by a participant, highlighting the experience of a funder who devised a strong plan, only to have the strategy go unused because there had not been direct engagement with the families in the community.   -We also discussed that we now have fewer local connections to each other and we need to do more to come together to create spaces for people to convene.

Council buildings for community decision-making, including Senate, assembly, synagogue, and Greek bouleuterion, hold usually no more than five hundred participants. The personal interaction between them is of the utmost concern. They often have galleries for observer seating. 📍Philadelphia City Hall, Pennsylvania pg. 189, The Art of Classic Planning #councilbuildings #philadelphia #classicplanning #traditionalarchitecture

It's National Reconciliation Week, and now more than ever we need to open (or re-open), and nourish connections between First Nations Peoples and multicultural communities. Roads to Reconciliation: Activating Multicultural Communities are exactly one of the innovative and impactful programs that does this

What is one of the most important things we've learned over the years at ELDI about revitalizing a neighborhood? The first — and most crucial — part is listening to the community and letting them guide the way. In the late 90s, ELDI hosted hundreds of meetings with community members to start forming a plan for the neighborhood. The result of those meetings was East Liberty's first community plan, A Vision for East Liberty. That plan was later updated in 2010, and more than 25 years later, it still serves as a living, breathing document that guides neighborhood planning. ➡ Learn more about how we keep that plan up to date and present in the minds of community leaders in our impact report: https://lnkd.in/ga-xaX2N #communitydevelopment #cdc #pittsburgh

The arts are fundamental to our humanity. They ennoble and inspire us—fostering creativity, empathy, and beauty. The arts also strengthen our communities socially, educationally, and economically. In Massachusetts, arts and culture is a $27.2 billion industry—4.2% of the state economy—and supports 135,181 jobs (bigger than construction, education, and transportation). The arts accelerate economic recovery: a growth in arts employment has a positive and causal effect on overall employment (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis). Springfield’s nonprofit arts industry alone generates $82.4 million in economic activity annually—spending by organizations and their audiences—which supports 1,483 jobs and generates $15.3 million in local, state, and federal government revenue (Americans for the Arts AEP6 study) Randy Cohen MASSCreative Mass Cultural Council Tiffany Allecia M.Ed.

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The MWEJN’s work is grounded in the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing. Emerging from grassroots organizing in 1996, the Principles prioritize inclusivity, bottom-up organizing, letting people speak for themselves, working together in solidarity and mutuality, building just relationships, and self-transformation Together, these principles outline how we can operate in ways that are grounded in core values and drive lasting community change.

Nice article about the importance of a community oriented approach in revitalizing neighborhoods - with a feature on the work we are doing in the Old South End. #makinganimpact #stillrising