How We Work - Purpose Built Communities

Mixed-Income Housing

Mixed-income housing helps attract more demographic and socio-economic diversity to a neighborhood. This is important because it can build the social capital necessary to improve economic mobility for lower-income residents and attract critical investments to the neighborhood such as new businesses, sources of fresh food, banks, and other amenities that are taken for granted in affluent neighborhoods.

Community Wellness

Healthy neighborhoods must include a community-specific mix of facilities, programs and services that represent the vision, needs and priorities of residents, as well as the history and character of the neighborhood.

Cradle-to-College Education Pipeline

Countless studies link early quality educational opportunities with long-term social development, academic proficiency, employment opportunities, and overall health outcomes. An effective educational pipeline that starts in early childhood and continues through college is imperative for successful community revitalization.

Community Quarterback Organization

A single-purpose, local non-profit lead organization is the most critical component of a successful revitalization initiative. This group engages personally with residents to be understanding and responsive to their needs and concerns, while also building effective partnerships with public and private stakeholders and investors that can help deliver the vision.

Racial equity, health outcomes, and economic mobility are central to our approach and that of our Network.

Tackling such complex, deeply-rooted issues as intergenerational poverty, unsafe environments, high crime, and failing schools presents many challenges. Our solution—and the basis for the Purpose Built Communities model—is a coordinated holistic approach based on quality and focused on sustainability.

Our holistic approach grew from the knowledge that it’s not enough to improve or replace a single aspect of a struggling neighborhood.

Defined Neighborhood

Neighborhoods are the unit of change that can have the greatest impact on people’s lives, changing life trajectories for the lowest-income residents, creating greater racial equity, economic mobility and health outcomes.

Community Quarterback

Independent non-profit organization solely dedicated to the ongoing revitalization of the neighborhood. Aligns partners and resources from all sectors—including neighborhood residents—and sets strategy for the overall effort based on the community’s vision. Watch this video to learn why the community quarterback is an essential part of a holistic neighborhood revitalization effort.

Mixed-Income Housing

Safe, high-quality housing serving residents at all income levels with a high percentage designated to preserve long-term, permanent affordability in the neighborhood. Watch video to explore the importance of mixed-income housing.

Cradle-to-College Education Pipeline

High-quality, neighborhood-serving continuum for student growth, learning, and achievement at every level starting at birth and through college and beyond.

Community Wellness

Community-specific mix of facilities, programs, and services that honor local history, reflect the priorities of residents, promote healthy lifestyles, create jobs, and reduce crime.

Research & Opinions

Season 1, Episode 2 October 18, 2018

It Takes a Village

To address the root of intergenerational poverty, you need more than some money and good intentions. A holistic model that looks at the neighborhood as a whole – its housing, education, and community wellness - and a community quarterback can shift the tide. Listen

Read

POVERTY AND PLACE: A Review of the Science and Research That Have Impacted Our Work

Over the past ten years, we have helped local leaders launch 27 neighborhood revitalization projects across the country. We have an additional 50 projects in development. Given the nature of our work, we consider it critical to stay as informed as possible regarding the science and research in fields that can inform our practice. The … Continue Reading →

Read

Atlanta / East Lake Foundation, Charlotte / Renaissance West Community Initiative, New Orleans / Bayou District Foundation

Our Take: “Detailed New National Maps Show How Neighborhoods Shape Children for Life”

This tenet of our work was brought into sharp focus in a recent article in The New York Times, “Detailed New National Maps Show How Neighborhoods Shape Children for Life,” by Emily Badger and Quoctrung Bui. The article highlights data from the Census Bureau and researchers at Harvard and Brown universities that offer a long … Continue Reading →

Season 1, Episode 9 December 13, 2018

Charlotte / Renaissance West Community Initiative

Full Circle

The final episode of Season One tells the story of Jamese Pinkston, who returned to the neighborhood where she was born and raised in Charlotte to help her neighbors have access to the opportunities to succeed and thrive that she was lucky to have. Hear her describe why she has the “best job in the world.” Listen

Purpose Built Communities is supported by:

CF Foundation

Warren Buffett

Robertson Foundation

Ballmer Group

Bloomberg Philanthropies

Blue Meridian Partners

JPM Chase

Truist Foundation

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Purpose Built Communities helps local leaders create greater racial equity, economic mobility, and improved health outcomes for families and children.

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