ABSTRACT

Innovative initiatives across the country hold great promise for rebuilding communities plagued by weak institutions and shattered economies, and opportunity-rich environments. Eastside Promise Neighborhood, led by a local United Way with strong partners, has been doing community-building work for a long time. Education reform efforts must be integrated with the cornerstone economic, social, health, and community supports that enable all people and their children to succeed—from access to healthy food to safe streets to economic inclusion to community empowerment. Addressing the infrastructure needs of low-income communities and communities of color can seem daunting in a time of tight budgets. Residents in a number of communities have identified a full-service grocery store as a good place to start. Store revenues have exceeded projections, demonstrating that a smart, targeted, community-driven investment can be a good business proposition. Teaming with a local workforce development nonprofit, evergreen business recruits workers through community networks.