"We can really do this; we can make a difference in people's lives"
That is the message three veteran community organizers/developers will deliver to 600 colleagues who will gather in Chicago for Getting It Done II to share best practices for changing low-income communities across the country.

With more than half a century of experience between them, Indianapolis' Jim Mulholland, San Francisco's Norman "Little Dragon" Fong and Houston's Jenifer Wagley know what they are talking about.

In Houston organizing skill delivered more than 400 people to the community visioning session. In San Francisco, Chinatown CDC's leadership development acumen has resulted in the asendence of "one of their own" to the Mayor's office. And in Indianapolis, South East Neighborhood Development (SEND) has become the pre-eminent CDC in the work to totally transform the Fountain Square community.

These community leaders know that organizing communities generates power, and you generate power to create change. We hope you will join us at Getting It Done II to share your own strategies for making change.

Click Here to Learn More or to Register!

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Our Blog: Thinking Out Loud

High Tech for Small Firms By Carl Vogel -- A new Online Resource Center is a quick and easy way to get some tips about how to get the most from the Internet for your local businesses.

An international cultural exchange 'at eye level' By Patrick T. Reardon -- Comprehensive community development changes with the local culture—especially when a training in the concept is held in Munich, Germany.

Park destroyed because agencies didn’t talk By Eileen Figel --- Don't take coordination for granted: A lack of communication in LA destroyed a new park—before a single child was able to play in it—when the school district wanted the land.

Making new friends By Carl Vogel --- To be successful in being comprehensive, you need some good partners. In the latest issue of the Institute Journal, Xavier de Souza Briggs argues that trying to do it all is just too hard.

Bird in hand worth two in bush – why storytelling makes sense for community developers  By Gordon Walek --- For the last several years, LISC/Chicago has used storytelling as its primary communications tool. We hire freelance writers and photographers to get familiar with our neighborhoods and to write stories—in newspaper style—that explain some aspect of what we’re doing there. Then we post them on websites.

Words have power   By Patrick T. Reardon --- In comprehensive community development, it's essential to build relationships, and to recruit people to develop and implement a vision. And to write about the effort in a clear, direct manner.

Building with a purpose By Joel Bookman --- More than 300 leaders from 23 states and the District of Columbia participated in the Purpose Built Communities conference in Indianapolis this fall.

Welcome to my neighborhood — family, friends, and diversity  By Angelita Espino ---That’s what I like about my diverse neighborhood. The value of caring, loving, and supporting one another is present and strong.

Promise Neighborhoods: Hope for a better community By Eileen Figel --- At the heart of successful community organizations, there are key individuals whose commitment and determination inspire others to hope for a better community, and to take action to achieve it.

The DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative: Civic engagement in action By Hayling Price --- Early on a chilly Saturday morning, more than 60 residents of Northeast D.C.’s Parkside-Kenilworth neighborhood gathered to help shape the focus of the DC Promise Neighborhood.

Art. Changes. Everything. By Erik Takeshita ---Community development has focused on building housing, creating jobs and revitalizing commercial districts. The arts are another way to build healthy, sustainable and vibrant communities.

COMMENTS

January 9, 2012, Eileen Figel: Steve - The wonderful ways you are using art to revitalize neighborhoods reminds me of the great work being done by Joanna Taft and the Harrison Center for the Arts in Indianapolis. Check them out sometime:   http://www.harrisoncenter.org/home.php. Arts energize communities

January 4, 2012, Andrea Baker Dean: This sounds like a great event with a very valuable discussion. Is there a way to watch or listen in for those of us outside the range of the sponsoring Federal Reserve Banks? (I am in South Florida.)

ICCD: We won't be streaming the seminar live, but we will have a link to the video on this website after the event, as well as an article that will summarize what occured. So watch for our coverage, and thanks for your interest. Connecting to Markets Series: Neighborhoods and Residential Markets

December 20, 2012, Andrea Baker Dean: I was surprised and delighted to read your suggestion of one story a month, because we've just begun a monthly story-gathering process. My organization, South Florida Community Development Coalition, produces a monthly newsletter. Up till now, we've focused on organizations: what buildings they've completed, projects they've initiated, or programs they're running. Starting last month, we're shifting our focus to families and individuals--how buying a home, starting a business, or becoming involved in their neighborhood association has affected their life.  This means more work in gathering the stories, but I think it will be worthwile if it helps people (including elected officials) who know nothing about "community development" as a field understand why it matters. Thanks for the encouragement that we're heading in the right direction!  Bird in hand worth two in bush - why storytelling makes sense for community developers