Here’s good news for Lincoln neighborhoods. It’s with deep gratitude that we acknowledge a new three-year, $900,000 grant from Woods Charitable Fund to continue Collective Impact Lincoln. The project – led by Civic Nebraska, Nebraska Appleseed, and the South of Downtown Community Development Organization – creates resident-led investment and change in six Lincoln neighborhoods.
Woods Charitable Fund announced the funding among its spring grant awards on May 21.
Collective Impact Lincoln was launched in 2017 when it won WCF’s first-ever Breakthrough Initiative Grant. Collective Impact Lincoln focuses on Belmont, Clinton, Everett, Hartley, Near South, and University Place neighborhoods.
“Collective Impact Lincoln will build on the first three years of the project by hosting Community Builder Workshops, supporting neighborhood projects, and continuing community conversations through deep canvassing and community events,” said Civic Nebraska’s Nancy Petitto, Collective Impact Lincoln’s program manager.
“We will continue our policy work by meeting with public officials at the city and state level, hosting listening sessions around housing affordability and adequacy, and connecting advocates to policy campaigns that affect our neighborhoods.”
Collective Impact Lincoln organizers have engaged with thousands of neighborhood residents to collect data since 2017. It also has connected with residents, and delivered training and resources to link them with city power structures. It has given $4,000 in mini-grants for neighborhood improvement projects and has worked with the city on pro-neighborhood policies.
“While we know that Collective Impact Lincoln has made an impact, this generous funding from Woods Charitable Fund enables our work to continue where it is needed most,” Petitto said. “The current situation (amid COVID-19) has shown that we need to find ways to connect with one another and ensure residents have the appropriate access to resources.”
Collective Impact Lincoln has adapted to public-health concerns by moving several activities online, including a May 13 listening session on the city’s draft affordable housing plan. On May 16, it hosted its first virtual Community Builder Workshop, which outlined community assets and needs, showed how to identify neighborhood goals and build plans, and discussed community-building in a pandemic.
“Our work is not done. We look forward to continuing to elevate the voices of residents in Lincoln’s core neighborhoods and build strong resident leaders who deserve a seat at the table,” Petitto said.
– To join Collective Impact Lincoln’s Facebook group, click here –
