Great Opportunities (GO) Neighborhoods
Where Great Opportunities Grow
Since 2009, the Great Opportunities (GO) Neighborhoods program has supported the revitalization of Houston communities through a neighborhood-based approach. The program is designed to:
- Expand investment in housing and other infrastructure
- Increase family income and wealth
- Stimulate economic development
- Improve access to quality education
- Support healthy and safe environments and lifestyles
- Strengthen leadership and civic engagement
Place-based community development promotes the concept of shared leadership to attract and grow a broad base of community leaders. Strong collaborations of residents, nonprofits, schools, businesses, public agencies, and other stakeholders focus on strengths and opportunities. Together they build coalitions, teams and networks that advance the vision of those who live and work there. LISC provides programmatic support to neighborhooods by providing access to capital, equity, loans, grants, project implementation grants, technical assistance and consultants.
GO Neighborhoods is designed to help Neighborhoods improve their quality of life. The program supports neighborhood planning that builds local capacity for strong relationships, collaborative decision-making and action among community stakeholders to drive equitable change and investment into the neighborhood.
Some outcomes include: Quality of Life Agreements Neighborhood Plans that provide comprehensive visions focused on issues and chosen by community members and stakeholders, Capacity Building for Community Action, a supportive Convening Agency that acts as a coordinator for GO efforts and acts as fiscal agent, community advocacy and shared leadership.
GO neighborhoods have proven to be a promising agent of change, one that is flexible, innovative and responsive to local conditions, reaching into every corner of a community’s life.
GO Neighborhoods Guiding Principles
- Shared leadership – we believe that everyone is a leader and should have the opportunity to build the skills to lead.
- Inclusivity – we want everyone to feel welcome to be a part of this collaborative. If individuals, organizations and others are willing to be a part of helping to make our community a better place, we welcome them. Thus, we try to invite broadly and do what is necessary to reach out to new people on a consistent basis.
- Relational – we believe that transforming a community begins with helping all the people connect to their neighbors and to the folks that work in the community.
- Consensus-building – we want to help nurture an atmosphere in the community where everyone wins and decisions are made through an inclusive, open, democratic dialogue.
- Communication – we believe strong communication skills will ensure a vibrant culture of respect and engagement.
- Data-driven – we know that achieving long-term results takes time, and that data is our friend.
- Strength-based – every neighborhood has unique assets that are the cornerstones for achieving success. Identifying assets and strengths is a great start to our work.
- Comprehensive approach – change happens by transforming systems, and bringing together partners, resources and momentum from multiple sectors.
