Equitable Community Development

Our Equitable Community Development strategy hinges on the insight, experience, and expertise of residents and community-based organizations (CBOs) working to shape their neighborhoods. Through authentic and ongoing connections to community partners, LISC builds trust, strengthens relationships, and connects grassroots efforts to resources and opportunities.

LISC works alongside communities (united by shared places, identities or values) who have been challenged by disinvestment and celebrate the unique character and culture of these communities and build upon them.

We foster a culture of collaboration – collaborators actively listen to each other, trust one another, and leverage their collective resources to innovate and creatively solve problems together. Our community development supports transformative change in which:

Community organizations and resident leaders have the resources they need to actualize changes envisioned by the community. They are able to build on their strengths and have strong and diverse networks to maximize their capacity and achieve greater impact.
Disinvested communities are resilient and inclusive places of opportunity across Philadelphia – great places to live, work, visit, do business and raise families.

How We Work

Convenor and Facilitator: We foster on the ground collaboration by coordinating resources and actors across sectors and managing project implementation.
Public Educator: We engage local leaders and residents to turn innovative ideas into practice, share methodologies and build collective knowledge.
Advisor: We serve as a sounding board for CBOs and mission-aligned entities as they design and deliver solutions in their communities. We offer strategic perspectives, share knowledge and best practices from the field, and provide technical assistance.