Partners for Livable Communities will honor eight individuals and organizations for stewardship and innovation in the improvement of communities worldwide. These prestigious awards will be presented by Washington, D.C.-based Partners for Livable Communities at its Celebration of Vision and Community Spirit.
The “Celebration of Vision and Community Spirit” awards honor both innovative projects in communities and lifetimes of achievement for individuals that have made a true difference in their respective fields of activity. The honorees represent lifetimes of cultivating the arts, historic preservation, regionalism, smart planning practices and neighborhood development that bring life to struggling communities. All of the honorees have sought to build on their assets and improve the communities around them, an effort which Partners believes deserves to be lauded, with individual stories spread far and wide.
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by Brian Miller
on October 25, 2011
A Call for Best Practices: Arts and Cultural Institutions Reaching Out to Older Adult and Immigrant Audiences
Feature Your Program in National Publication!
Partners for Livable Communities offers a unique opportunity to have your Story for Change featured in a national publication: a compendium of best practices dedicated to increasing the visibility of organizations and their innovative programs to new audiences nationally and worldwide. How is your arts and cultural institution relating to the changing audiences in your community: specifically the rapidly growing older adults (55+), and immigrants?
Click Here to Download the Submission Form
About:
The population in all parts of the country is changing—and changing rapidly. The rising tide of immigrants and older adults present a timely opportunity for communities, and their arts and cultural institutions, to rethink and retool their outreach. Partners for Livable Communities (Partners) observed this trend in our recent report Culture Connects All, which received visibility among funders, political leaders, and stake holders in communities across the country. The report provided a lens into six cities and 20 arts institutions exhibiting unique programs, or services, for older adults and/or immigrants.
Now, we are creating a broader compendium of Best Practices, or Stories for Change, to expand on our report. We will feature stories from arts and cultural institutions that have expanded beyond their traditional mandates, and outside their four walls, to reach out to the immigrant and older adult populations in their communities. We define arts and cultural institutions broadly: from community-based arts organizations, museums, libraries, and opera, to open space organizations, public parks, botanical gardens, and historical societies.
The Contest:
Ten Best Practices will be featured in the publication, and for a limited time on Partners’ website. The phenomenal work of your organization will be showcased as part of the publication’s wide distribution: hard and electronic copies both nationally and internationally will reach new funders, national networks, membership organizations and even trade associations beyond the field of arts and culture, to advance outreach and employ new strategies for engagement.
Stories should describe one, or up to two, initiatives or programs conducted by the arts and cultural institution; the story may represent the work of multiple partners, (we encourage this!) but must have the arts institution at its core. The story may also describe a general operating strategy, such as: new transportation options offered regularly to the community, bilingual presenting, arts programming conducted in a non-traditional setting, and more. Stories should be dynamic, pointed, and readable, and should describe why this work is important to both the arts institution and to the community. The reader should gain a clear understanding of the program, the key players involved, the resources used, and even a glimpse into the trials and successes of developing the program.
Partners will review all submissions until November 30th, 2011 at 5 PM (EST). Best Practices must be submitted electronically, using the template available for download. Stories not submitted in this template will not be reviewed. One month following submissions, Partners will announce the ten Best Practices to earn a feature in the report. The final report will be made available through a limited print run of 500 copies and through free download on the web.
The Stories for Change Contest is made possible through support by MetLife Foundation, and through the great work of arts and cultural organizations across the country that believe in the power of the arts to create lasting change in their communities.
Why This Work is Important
For the past 15 years, Partners has focused on the arts and culture as an integral part of the livable community. The arts offer innovative methods for community and economic development, assisting to unite and meet the needs of diverse and vulnerable populations. Arts institutions have the unique ability to reach-out to diverse community groups to participate in their programming, and have found unexpected partners with traditional institutions. Through these partnerships, arts groups have infused their outreach strategies and programming to resonate with the greater community, addressing the assets and resources, as well as new challenges, presented by changing audiences.
Contact Liz Bieber
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, 202-887-5990 x104 with questions.
by Brian Miller
on October 17, 2011
Register Now for the 11th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference
February 2-4, 2012 in San Diego, CA.
This conference is the premier smart growth event held in the U.S. each year. The multi-disciplinary program includes over 100 sessions and will feature cutting-edge policies, programs and projects, best practices, and the latest strategies and implementation tools that address the challenges of making communities more sustainable and equitable. Lots of “extras” are included such as; coordinated networking activities, continuing education credits, on-site Internet café, and so much more!
Get connected! “Like” the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference on Facebook and “Follow” the program on Twitter at @NewPartnersConf
by Will Cooper
on September 26, 2011
 More than a decade since the release the innovative original, Partners for Livable Communities announces the release of the second edition of its Community Empowerment Manual. Expanded and reorganized by former staff member, Carly Grimm, the new edition builds on the tried-and-true approaches to community development showcased in the original, and invigorates the document with new case studies and a new section that helps readers better understand the challenges to livability—aging population, deteriorating infrastructure, and declining local economies—that exist in American communities.
The first edition of the manual was published in 1999, and was the culmination of four years of work and collaboration with communities across the United States and Europe, with support from Bank of America, the Healy foundation, and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. It was met with great success and featured in Governing Magazine.
The new edition could not come at a better time, as more communities are facing fiscal constraints. To maximize assets over the next decade, communities will need to be more self-sufficient, and the Community Empowerment Manual, with its focus on making the most of community resources, is a valuable tool for pursing livability from a local level.
More than just a primer on livability, the Community Empowerment Manual is a workbook for community development that educates readers about leadership strategies, effective collaboration, creating regional partnerships, and developing and realizing a vision. The Community Empowerment Manual is a valuable guide for:
- Citizens—both those currently engaged and those frustrated by lack of action
- Local government officials
- Community organizers
- Civic leaders
- Non-profits and NGOs
- Business organizations
- Social agencies
- Educational and cultural institutions
Free preview here.
Purchase Print Edition
($10, available in orders of 10)
In the recent online poll, conducted by Outdoor Magazine, Chattanooga was recently voted by readers as the top choice in the “Best Town Ever” contest of 2011.
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by Chelsea Weinberg
on August 09, 2011
Tuesday August 9th will be a big day of change for former Mayor of Youngstown, Ohio and Partners Trustee Jay Williams. Williams will be taking up his new appointment by President Obama as the Director of the Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers which assists areas of the country negatively affected by the retrenchment of the auto industry to identify federal resources that may be used as part of their recovery efforts. By virtue of his being mayor of the largest community in the Mahoning Valley, Williams has had a front-row seat to the reorganization of the auto industry.
Jay Williams was instrumental in helping Partners develop its Institutions as Fulcrums of Change program strategy; which focused on how we can use libraries, museums, performing arts centers, boys and girls clubs, and chambers of commerce to reposition communities that have suffered devastation in the downturn and in the new economic order, and how can they use their creativity and neutrality to be centers of excellence, i.e. fulcrums of change. With the focus on utilizing anchor institutions as centers of redevelopment in Youngstown, Williams worked with Partners to spear the Ten Living Cities Network, a consortium working for identity preservation and economic resurgence in the Ten U.S. Cities most affected by the post-industrial age.
Prior to his appointment to the Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers, Jay Williams was the City of Youngstown’s first African-American mayor, and being first elected at 33 years old, was also it’s youngest. Under the leadership of Mayor Williams, the Youngstown 2010 Vision/Planning “right-sizing” initiative has been recognized and rewarded by a number of notable organizations including, The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report, the American Planning Association, and Governing Magazine. In August 2009, Entrepreneur Magazine listed the city of Youngstown among the ten best cities in the United States to start a business. Mayor Williams was also recognized in 2009 as one of Governing Magazine’s public officials of the year. He was also the recipient of the 2007 John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award.
You can read more about Jay Williams appointment from the U.S. Department of Labor
Washington, DC—The Green Plus Sustainable Enterprise Awards 2011 held on June 16, 2011 at the top of PNC Place, were successfully presented to five deserving chambers and communities around the country. Read More to find out the winners.
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The Green Plus Sustainable Enterprise Awards 2011: Recognizing Sustainability Today
Building a Green economy is critical to our future—sustainability is imperative. The 2011 Green Plus Sustainable Enterprise Awards announce the winners of its annual Green Plus Community and Green Plus Chambers from throughout the United States, that are leading in sustainable economic development practices. This event took place on June 16, 2011...click here to read about the awardees
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by Brian Miller
on May 31, 2011
Partners for Livable Communities Australia and Griffith University Offer the Urban Leadership Certificate
Building better cities with real livability leadership.
July 4 and 5, South Bank, Brisbane.
A professional development initiative hosted by Griffith University and Partners for Livable Communities Australia, and presented in association with the 2011 Asia Pacific Cities Summit.
The Certificate in Urban Leadership is focused on giving participants new skills and ideas they can apply in their own city. Theory and case studies from academic, government and professional livability experts is combined with stimulating group project work.
This process gives participants the opportunity to:
- Workshop liveability opportunities and challenges with academics, professionals, and your peers
- Hear challenges and innovative solutions from colleagues in cities from around the world
- Take home ideas and learnings in a template that can guide thinking in your own city.
Discover the vital ingredients of a livable city. Focus on stimulating your city’s potential. And take home practical examples of how to build a better city with a real competitive advantage.
Click here for more information.
by Liz Bieber
on May 26, 2011
NEW! Partners for Livable Communities and MetLife Foundation are pleased to announce the translations in Simplified Chinese and Spanish, of Culture Connects All, available for download today.
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by Brian Miller
on May 16, 2011
As a proud partner of the Mt. Pleasant Temporium project, Partners for Livable Communities is pleased to announce the completion of the final report detailing the success of the Mt. Pleasant Temporium.
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Partners Releases "Culture Connects All" Report
Culture Connects All:
A Report from Partners for Livable Communities
Funded by MetLife Foundation
Culture Connects All, a benchmark report by Partners for Livable communities funded by MetLife Foundation, offers new audience-building opportunities for arts and cultural organizations to engage two of America’s fastest growing populations: immigrant and older adult populations. 
The 2010 census confirms what many have observed over the past decade—the population is growing older, and in many areas more diverse. And this change is happening across the face of the nation. Two rapidly expanding population groups present a timely opportunity for communities and their arts and cultural institutions to rethink and retool their outreach.
Download your free copy of Culture Connects All, and free copies translated in both Chinese and Spanish available on May 15.
Click Here to Read More>>
Peter Stein, 2010 recipient of Partners’ Bridge Builders Award, sat down recently with Hanover’s local newspaper to talk about his work at the Lyme Timber Company.The article explores Stein’s use of public-private partnerships in conservation efforts and his take on how preserving nature can be good for investors' bottom line.
You can read more of the article at the Valley News.
Also, check out our Bridge Builder award for Peter Stein.
by Brian Miller
on February 22, 2011
Partners for Livable Communities announces its partnership in creating Washington, DC’s own temporary urbanism project: The Mount Pleasant Temporium. The Mount Pleasant Temporium is a temporary, pop-up retailer coming to Mt. Pleasant St. NW, for 24 consecutive dates from February 18 to March 13. Located at 3068 Mt. Pleasant St. NW, the Mt. Pleasant Temporium is the second of the District’s new Temporary Urbanism initiative project grantees—the first opened its doors in the Summer 2010 and was directed by the Pink Line Project , a hub for DC arts and culture.
The Mt. Pleasant Temporium is led by Mount Pleasant Main Street, in partnership with SpeakeasyDC, Hello Craft, Radio CPR, Partners for Livable Communities, and the DC Office of Planning. This project is supported by the DC Office of Planning’s Temporary Urbanism grant, and has received media sponsorship by the Washington City Paper.
The Mt. Pleasant Temporium features handmade goods for sale from 30 local, independent crafters and artists and has a special events schedule to include autobiographical and theatrical storytelling, crafting, book readings, and live music. All events are free and open to the public. Opening weekend included a reception on Friday, Feb. 18 from 7 to 9 p.m.
The theme of the Mt. Pleasant Temporium is storytelling, which is woven throughout the retail aspect of the shop to give visitors a truly engaging experience with the products for sale and the stories behind the artists who made them. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in the theme by leaving their own handwritten stories in the Temporium’s storefront window installation, created by local artists Sean Hennessey and Rania Hassan.
Visitors are highly encouraged to explore the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood and its businesses. During the 24-day run of the project, several Mt. Pleasant businesses will feature their own stories in storefront displays and offer specials to Temporium customers.
The Temporium helps meet several objectives established by the District of Columbia through the Creative DC Action Agenda and the Retail Action Roadmap. They include supporting creative entrepreneurs, activating commercial corridors and highlighting their retail potential, providing residents with unique services and activities, and promoting neighborhoods.
Partners’Board member Geoff Anderson, President of Smart Growth America, was recently named one of the “most influential leaders” in sustainable community planning and development, by Partnership for Sustainable Communities. Alongside Partners’ recent Bridge Builders Award recipient Christopher Leinberger, Geoff Anderson was acknowledged for his dedication and achievements instrumental in growing the Smart Growth field.
With a 13 year tenure at the EPA, Anderson was central to creation of the agency’s Smart Growth program, and cofounded the Smart Growth network, the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference, and popular website smartgrowth.org.
Smart Growth America continues to function as one of the nation’s premiere clearing houses reporting on and devising the latest methods for smart growth development. SGA is, “ the only national organization dedicated to researching, advocating for and leading coalitions to bring smart growth practices to more communities nationwide.” Through coalition building, policy development, and research, SGA explores cross-sector efforts dedicated, in the simplest form, to enhance livability for all.
Partners’ board member Mick Fleming, President of American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), contributed a cover article to the Winter edition of their publication, Chamber Executive. Mr. Fleming sought to contribute to the thinking and discussion around what makes a person influential.
by Liz Bieber
on January 13, 2011
"Governor Glendening and Partners for Livable Communities understand the relationship between livable, walkable places and economic prosperity. Smart growth results in places and regions with more housing and transportation choices, better access to shops and schools and a healthy environment. These are the neighborhoods—whether urban, rural or suburban—where people and businesses want to be. They attract new jobs and hold on to them over time as well as maintaining a higher level of housing and property values (Governor Parris N. Glendening).”
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by Brian Miller
on January 10, 2011
In his recent mayoral address to Salt Lake City, Partners trustee Ralph Becker announced his plans to construct a new light rail system in a broad attempt to “move Salt Lake forward despite tough economic times (Becker, 01/04/11).” Throughout his speech, Mayor Becker highlighted the role in which light rail transit could enable the city to enhance civic assets ranging from small and vibrant businesses to that of the locally treasured neighborhood known as the Sugar House. With the help of a $26 million federal grant, Mayor Becker has continued forward on his ambitious plans to bring back the street cars of the city by first constructing the Sugar House line and expanding the lines beyond the limits and into downtown Salt Lake.
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Partners’ board member Sam Williams, President of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, carried the banner for business leadership in helping to solve urban problems during remarks last month to the TEDxAtlanta conference. Calling for business leaders to fulfill roles as “urban statesmen,” Williams articulated a vision shared by Partners in which business leaders and elected officials can work together as members of a team to find creative and innovative solutions to urban problems. Service on Partners’ board is just one way in which Mr. Williams works daily to translate this vision into reality.
Partners’ board member William “Bill” Reilly, former Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, has recently concluded work with the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, which he co-chaired along with former Senator Bob Graham. Preliminary reports issued by the Commission this month criticized BP and its subcontractors for insufficiently prioritizing safety in their management cultures and in their operations. The Commission’s final report is scheduled to be released on January 11.
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