From East Lake–the first neighborhood in the Purpose Built Communities Network–to one of the newest, Grove Park, it is clear that with each victory comes new challenges. How do we stay focused on our mission despite the tension created by the unintended consequences of success? For example, when our schools perform well, how do we ensure … Continue Reading →
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 →
Founded in 2012, the Renaissance West Community Initiative formed to coordinate momentum from a range of partners to turn a public housing development in West Charlotte into a neighborhood that is purposefully designed to help residents succeed. More than 300 mixed-income housing units have been built and are fully leased. A health alliance focused on holistic, place-based care formed in 2016. A new K-8 STEAM school opened in 2017 and an early childhood education center opened the following year, representing enormous steps toward a cradle-to-career education continuum. Watch
Othello Meadows wants you to look at these little girls and think. What circumstances are these girls from? What future do they imagine for themselves? How can their community surround them with the resources and love they require to become their best selves? That kind of thinking guides how Meadows, executive director of 75 North, … Continue Reading →
Drew Charter School in Atlanta’s East Lake neighborhood has pioneered the “cradle to college” education philosophy of Purpose Built Communities. Rachel Kaney and Michelle Stinson are part of a team of counselors and tutors who lead a suite of programs designed to help students successfully transition from high school to college and to succeed once … Continue Reading →
The city of Orlando, which is hosting the 9th Annual Purpose Built Communities conference this fall, is home to one of the most dynamic Purpose Built efforts in the country. In some six short years, a broad range of cross-sectoral partners have come together to create measurable results as they work with residents and each … Continue Reading →
Innovative, cross-sectoral partnerships are important, and in smaller communities, they’re even more critical. Too often, nonprofits and other organizations who are attempting revitalization feel like they have to do it all on their own. In reality, there are organizations that can do a lot of the work if you have a strong community quarterback like South Rome Redevelopment Corporation who can get different groups to come to the table. South Rome is on the verge of a renaissance, and it’s been a matter of unlocking the potential that’s already in the community. Watch
By Douglas Jutte, M.D., Executive Director, Build Healthy Places Network, and Carol R. Naughton, President, Purpose Built Communities We recently had a chance to spend the morning with Dr. Jerome Adams, the 20th Surgeon General of the United States, to show him what real, live community development looks like on the ground at the Villages … Continue Reading →
By Michelle L. Matthews Senior Vice President, Purpose Built Communities “White boys who grow up rich are likely to remain that way,” summarized a recent New York Times article about an Equality of Opportunity Project study. “Black boys raised at the top, however, are more likely to become poor than to stay wealthy in their … Continue Reading →
The local history, the dynamics of culture and the members of a community define a place at a moment in time. Yet, no matter the variables that make each neighborhood special, people everywhere want access to quality education, good jobs and a safe, healthy life for their families. Realizing that vision for neighborhoods in transition … Continue Reading →
