An Open Streets Family Reunion: Reflections from the 2018 Open Streets Summit

By Ryan O’Connor, Director of Programs, 8 80 Cities Recently 8 80 Cities wrote a blog post about open streets being a labour of love. That being the case, the 2018 Open Streets Summit in New Orleans felt like a family reunion of sorts. It was rejuvenating to see old and new friends who share our passion for open streets and are working tirelessly to create healthier, happier, and more connected communities across the world. The event, which took place on September 15-16, brought together more than 50 leaders who currently organize open streets programs or are interested in bringing the...

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Open Streets Summit Draft Agenda

We hope you are getting ready and feel excited about the Open Streets Summit in Gretna/New Orleans! Taking place from September 15-16, 2018, the Summit will feature tours, presentations and networking opportunities with open streets champions and organizers from across the continent. Attendees will learn about the nuts and bolts of starting or scaling up open streets programs, including: Route design and planning Partnerships with business and officials Social inclusion Safety and logistics Marketing and promotion Program evaluation through measurable goals and metrics If you haven’t done it yet, click here to register for the Open Streets Summit only or...

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Open Streets Summit Speakers Announced!

The Open Streets Project is proud to announce that Ed Solis from Viva Calle (San Jose, CA), Romel Pascual from CicLAvia (Los Angeles, CA), Jaymie Santiago and Charles Brown from New Brunswick Ciclovia will join us as speakers for the 2018 Open Streets Summit in New Orleans and Gretna! Taking place from September 15-16 2018, the Summit will feature: Behind the scenes tour of the City of Gretna’s inaugural open streets program. Workshops, presentations, and networking opportunities with open streets champions and organizers from across the continent. Training and inspiration for both -novice and experienced- open streets organizers and supporters...

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TransLatin@ Coalition Expands its Mission to Transform Youth Empowerment Center with $4.4 Million Loan

With a $4.4 LISC acquisition loan, The TransLatin@ Coalition closed on a larger space in Los Angeles to create a site for the future permanent location to expand services and create opportunities for the community to gather. Once complete, TLC’s Empowerment Center will offer holistic social supportive services specifically designed for Transitional Age Youth (TAY) who identify as Trans, Gender Nonconforming and Intersex. The project will home private spaces for behavioral health counseling and treatment, legal services, employment counseling, life-skills coaching, and systems navigation.

Driven To Succeed Advances With a LISC Small Business Working Capital Loan

Successful brand strategist Kristin Harper created Driven to Succeed in 2020 a marketing research firm that helps Fortune 500 companies and leading brands drive growth through market research and brand strategy. This year, Driven to Succeed needed financing to bridge that gap and to continue executing and seeking new contracts simultaneously. An injection of working capital through a $100,000 LISC loan allows the company to cover expenses on the projects and meet contract completion dates. This loan is made possible in part thanks to the Abbott-LISC Initiative to Support Diverse Businesses in Health, a partnership that provides pooled loan loss reserve and more affordable interest rates to eligible businesses.

New Economics for Women (NEW) Takes Ownership for Future Affordable Housing with a Focus on LAUSD Teachers

Latina-led organization New Economics for Women (NEW) purchases a building with support from a $5.5 million LISC acquisition loan. In doing so, NEW nullified this deed’s original racist directive, taking ownership of this property to create a new vision that centers people of color. NEW will improve the acquired property to build mixed-use space for commercial use and affordable housing. When complete, the site will be home to 60 housing units, with inclusion of LA Unified School District (LAUSD) staff in mind.