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The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is dedicated to helping community residents transform distressed neighborhoods into healthy and sustainable communities of choice and opportunity — good places to work, do business and raise children. LISC mobilizes corporate, government and philanthropic support to provide local community development organizations.
LISC recently introduced a new perspective on enhancing communities: the Sustainable Communities Initiative (SCI). The Philadelphia LISC Sustainable Communities Program focuses on creating whole communities: safe places where attractive and valued real estate merge with employable, educated, healthy residents who generate enough income to care for themselves and their families. The strategy consists of a five-pronged approach that is guided by the needs and conditions of the targeted neighborhoods. The strategy’s five key elements are:
- Expanding capital investment in housing and other real estate
- Increasing family income and wealth
- Stimulating local economic activity and connections to regional economies
- Improving access to quality education
- Supporting healthy environments and lifestyles
LISC recently chose West Philadelphia as one of its national Sustainable Community sites. Working together, Philadelphia LISC and the program partners (University City District, People’s Emergency Center, West Philadelphia Partnership CDC, and the Enterprise Center) are implementing a coordinated and comprehensive strategy designed to address multiple neighborhood problems, generate resources, and create maximum impact. For more information on LISC or the SCI initiative log onto http://www.lisc.org/sustainable/
SCI-West Announces Community Grant Awards
The SCI-West Community Grant Awards will help community-based groups carry out small projects that support the SCI-West mission.
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Funds will be used for such projects as:
- cleaning, landscaping, fencing, sidewalk repair, block cleanups, public art
- installation of porch or alley lighting
- town watch activities
- community workshops that promote healthy living
- educational projects with local schools
The four SCI-West partners will each administer 5 of the grants. UCD will be overseeing the following projects:
- $3,000 will be granted to Curio Theater which will present multicultural and social tolerance programs in Lea Elementary School;
- $3,000 to Garden Court Community Association to replace a 77 foot fence that protects an existing community garden.
- $3,000 to the Parent Infant Center to transform three underutilized outdoor play areas into teachable environmental learning spaces;
- $3,000 will be granted to Saunders Park Neighborhood Association which, in partnership with UC Green, will improve sidewalks and plant trees in the Saunders Park section of West Philadelphia;
- $3,000 to the University City Arts League for its Beacon Program which, working in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania and the Enterprise Center CDC, provides opportunities for residents of the Walnut Hill section of West Philadelphia to participate in classes at the Arts League.
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Full list of awardees:
- 200 Block of South 47th
- City Year of Philadelphia
- Curio Theater Company
- The Community Education Center
- Saunders Park Neighbors
- E3 West Center
- Explorers Sans Frontiers
- Garden Court Community Association
- Mantua Aspen Street Community Organization
- Mantua Community Improvement Committee
- Mantua Leadership Council
- Merchants of 3600-4000 Lancaster Avenue
- Mini Town Watch
- Residents of the 4600 Block of Locust
- Second Mile Thrift Center
- UC Arts League
- Parent Infant Center
- Spiral Q Puppet Theater
- West /Southwest Neighborhood Advisory Council
- West Philadelphia Tool Library
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