By Brittany Collins, Community Development Advisor, Purpose Built Communities It is always a thrill to open my mailbox and find a high school graduation announcement. That piece of paper, embossed with a school logo and proudly addressed to me, represents the culmination of years of hard work and love. Then, my feelings of pride and support … Continue Reading →
Building Trust Through Community Partnerships in Orlando
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 →
Work Begins on New Charter School in New Orleans
The Bayou District in New Orleans celebrated another milestone on November 11: the groundbreaking for a new charter school building at Columbia Parc. When the building opens in January 2019, it will house both elementary and college prep programs (kindergarten through eighth grade). The new school is the next step in the 12-year journey of … Continue Reading →
Grove Park Foundation Joins Purpose Built Communities Network
New Organization works with neighborhood partners to focus on housing affordability, education, health and economic opportunity Atlanta, GA – Atlanta’s Grove Park neighborhood has a new organization dedicated to working with the community for the health and well-being of its residents and their future. The Grove Park Foundation, a newly-formed nonprofit that grew out of … Continue Reading →
Putting Our Future in the Bank (Literally and Figuratively)
It’s ironic that the James Rushton Early Learning and Family Success Center in Birmingham, Alabama’s Woodlawn neighborhood is inside of a bank building that has been vacant for more than 20 years – because the children who crawl, toddle and walk down these bright hallways are now on a path designed to guide them from here to college, and to build wealth and fulfillment throughout their lifetimes. … Continue Reading →
Neighborhoods and Education Reform – Purpose Built Communities in the Huffington Post
Our leadership recently published two pieces in the Huffington post about issues that are critical to our nation’s future – the importance of investing in neighborhoods and how the current education reform debate is missing the point. The first piece was co-authored by our former Executive Board Chair of Purpose Built Communities, Shirley Franklin and … Continue Reading →
Tulsa’s Growing Together Joins Purpose Built Communities Network
Growing Together is the 14th Network Member Nationally and the First in Oklahoma Atlanta, GA – Purpose Built Communities recently welcomed Growing Together, the community quarterback of a neighborhood transformation in Tulsa, OK, as its 14th Network Member nationally. Growing Together’s work is focused on the Kendall-Whittier neighborhood, where they are working with partners to … Continue Reading →
Educare New Orleans Celebrates its First Year
By Melanie Lasoff Levs NEW ORLEANS — Every Tuesday at Educare New Orleans is Coffee Connect. Over coffee, juice, pastries and fruit, some of the parents and caregivers of the 167 children who attend the early childhood center sit around tables and discuss questions such as, “What are your child’s favorite snacks and can you … Continue Reading →
Spotlight on Indianapolis: Interview with School Director of Avondale Meadows Academy
The Avondale Meadows revitalization effort in Indianapolis has made great strides implementing the Purpose Built model, building 250 mixed-income housing units, a state of the art health and wellness center, a federally qualified health clinic, and several components of a cradle-to-college education pipeline including the Charles A. Tindley Accelerated Charter School (K–12), the Excel Center … Continue Reading →