LaBella Associates’ Post

CLT Resource Alert: Our Researchers are attending today's webinar, "Chinatown Land Trusts in Action: A Path to Community Resilience," hosted by Next City. For decades, Chinatowns have collectively acquired properties via community land trusts to resist being displaced in gentrifying neighborhoods. Tune into the conversation with us today, hosted by Oscar Abello, to understand the new challenges CLTs now face and how communities are organizing in Los Angeles, Toronto, and Boston https://lnkd.in/ejXbu2UR?

Something happened to Dearborn County. We used to be the community which let our historic downtowns deteriorate. We ignored -- if not abhorred -- the Ohio River. We didn't see much value in artistic and cultural offerings. We had an aversion to working together. Whether it is the IEDC READI program or the recently relaunched OCRA Stellar Pathways program, we are often told that our communities need to go bigger, bolder, and more transformational with our investments and future planning. If you sit back and take inventory, you will realize Dearborn County is already well down this path. Have you seen East Central High School's new natatorium? The snow-making innovation at Perfect North Slopes? What about the concepts for the City of Lawrenceburg Riverwalk project? Or do we realize the milestone that is the new, state-of-the-art cancer center which St. Elizabeth Healthcare just opened in Greendale? We even have one of the most popular night clubs in the Cincinnati area at Hollywood Casino's Boogie Nights. All this right here in lil' ol' Dearborn County. What got into us? What changed our "Humble Hoosier" mentality? Some might say it is just the result of riverboat gaming or Cincinnati's urban sprawl and population growth spilling over state lines into Dearborn County. If you ask me, it came down to visionary leadership and innovators. People which we at One Dearborn have the fortune to engage with each day. We shouldn't scoff at big ideas which appear beyond our grasp. As our track record shows, with the proper buy-in and prioritization, such ideas are more achievable in Dearborn County and Southeast Indiana than we give ourselves credit for. For Dearborn County to succeed in becoming an Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs #StellarPathways designee, we'll need people of many backgrounds, ideas, and desires for our communities to be thoughtfully engaged. It's a big table. I hope you'll pull up a chair.

Discovering the Heartbeat of Successful Community Outreach Have you ever wondered what truly makes community outreach programs succeed? 👉 It's not just about organizing events or raising funds. The real secret lies in understanding and connecting with the community at its core. 👉 During my journey in event marketing and community leadership, I've learned that listening is more powerful than speaking. Tailoring programs to meet the specific needs and desires of the community not only fosters engagement but also builds lasting relationships. 👉 Success comes from creating spaces where voices are heard, contributions are valued, and everyone has a sense of belonging. In essence, effective community outreach is rooted in empathy, flexibility, and a genuine commitment to service. As we plan our next initiatives, let's focus on being catalysts for positive change by putting people first. After all, it's the connections we forge that drive real impact.

Check out this great blog by ODOE’s new community navigator!

From coast to coast—and in Santa Clara County—America’s nonprofit arts and culture organizations are providing inspiration and joy to residents, beautifying public spaces, and strengthening community pride and identity. Arts and culture organizations are also businesses. They employ people locally, purchase goods and services from nearby businesses, and produce the authentic cultural experiences that are magnets for visitors, tourists, and new residents. Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) provides compelling evidence that the nonprofit arts and culture sector is a significant industry in Santa Clara County—one that generated $384.5 million in total economic activity during 2022. This study sends a strong signal that, even in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting recession, the nonprofit arts and culture is a formidable industry. AEP6 demonstrates that when we support the arts, we are investing in Santa Clara County’s economic and community well-being. Read more: https://bit.ly/3MuyMzL.