Executive Director's Column: "If you want to go far, go together."

There is an African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. However, if you want to go far, go together.”

Well, if this year has shown us anything, it has shown us the power of unity and community. 2024 has seen LISC Jacksonville grow its supporter base by having more individual donors than any other LISC market in the entire country. This says something about the work we are collectively doing that more people and organizations are making themselves a part of the LISC Jacksonville community. For that, our Board and staff are especially grateful for everyone who has joined us and our partners on this journey.

This year has not only allowed us to grow our support base, but it has allowed us to be even more strategic in our work. This year we released the results of our strategic initiative around heirs’ property and needless to say it has been nothing short of impactful. Over the past four years our work has netted the following results: 

• LISC Jacksonville has invested $950,979 in legal services, resulting in a total tax-assessed value of homes returned to clients through litigation and/or stabilized through estate planning of $26 million. This equity can now be leveraged and invested to create additional family wealth over the long-term.
• Our $79,749 investment in property tax relief resulted in a total tax-assessed value of homes that averted loss due to tax auction sale of $2.1 million.

None of this would have been possible without a community of supporters including Baptist Health Foundation, United Way of Northeast Florida, JPMorganChase, the Hearst Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and others.

We also introduced four new residents to the Historic Eastside or “Out East” neighborhood, bringing a total of over $1.15 million worth of family wealth back to the neighborhood in 2024. The investments from a community of supporters including the A.L. Lewis Black Opportunity & Impact Fund, Ameris Bank, and Deloris Barr Weaver along the way has allowed us to complete our second cohort of Project Boots participants in 2024 and launch our third cohort in 2025.

Our Creative Placekeeping work has further allowed us to develop intentional investments around the Ribault River and Success Park and Garden that has introduced nature and its benefits to young people in LISC Jacksonville-supported neighborhoods. Along the way we have developed partnerships with incredible organizations like the St. Johns Riverkeeper, the Ribault Sportsman Association, and One Health to facilitate this important work that is truly re-activating communities.

In 2024, we also lent over $9 million in low- to moderate-income census tracks, which will net 439 units of affordable or workforce housing. We furthermore facilitated over $200,000 in small business grants. These additional community-based investments are enabling people to live, work, and thrive in the communities they have called home for generations – ultimately uplifting their neighborhoods in the process.

Needless to say, we have been busy in 2024! However, as the African reminds us, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” And because of our donors, funders, partners, and advocates who continue to do this work alongside of us, we certainly are aiming to go far.

In 2025, we will continue to elevate the work of Creative Placekeeping, Heirs’ Property, Project Boots, and Home Repair. We will also continue to make capital available in places and communities where it traditionally is not for projects that have the capacity to be transformational. Our programmatic work that focuses on family wealth creation and resiliency will also continue with intention in 2025. We also hope to continue to grow support, investment, and advocacy for our organization as we continue pursuing the change that we all want to see in our most vulnerable communities.