A report on actionable strategies for organizations, policy makers, and philanthropists to help strengthen the economic opportunity, quality of life, and quality of place in rural towns. The findings are based on an in-depth, multiyear Brookings Institution and LISC engagement with three diverse, rural communities in Indiana. The findings show that Community Centered Economic Inclusion (CCEI) is adaptable to rural towns, can help them build stronger connections to regional economies, and insures new investment is directed at community-driven solutions.

LISC + Brookings Metro

A new report from Brookings Metro examines LISC’s community-centered economic inclusion initiative, which centers neighborhoods as the key setting for driving strong regional economies. The lessons in this report make one thing clear: To truly transform the prosperity and well-being of entire cities and regions, it’s past time to abandon top-down or “trickle-down” approaches and embrace the actionable, community-rooted models that have demonstrated impact in cities and neighborhoods nationwide. Image above courtesy of Jana River Medlock Photography

Building Inclusive and Healthy Neighborhoods, Block by Block: Findings from 11 Neighborhoods Nationwide

LISC + Brookings Metro

A new report from Brookings Metro examines LISC’s community-centered economic inclusion initiative, which centers neighborhoods as the key setting for driving strong regional economies. The lessons in this report make one thing clear: To truly transform the prosperity and well-being of entire cities and regions, it’s past time to abandon top-down or “trickle-down” approaches and embrace the actionable, community-rooted models that have demonstrated impact in cities and neighborhoods nationwide.  Image courtesy of Jana River Medlock Photography

By Teresa Garcia, LISC Program Officer

Even when economic development programs succeed in boosting livelihoods and community investments, they too often fail to benefit the very people and places experiencing the harmful impacts of long-term, systemic economic deprivation. That’s a failure of commitment. Here, LISC program officer Teresa Garcia makes the case for a new approach to economic development that centers the communities most in need—and makes equity its guiding aim.

LISC & Brookings

A brief from LISC and Brookings that presents early outcomes and lessons from five cities that have implemented community-centered economic inclusion for at least one year