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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Square, Inc. Invests $25M in LISC Black Economic Development Fund

The mobile payment company Square Inc. is the latest firm to invest in LISC’s innovative Black Economic Development Fund, which is supporting Black-led lenders, institutions and businesses across the country. “With its impact investment and committed partnership, Square is helping us fight the racial wealth gap and drive lasting gains for American families and communities,” said Maurice A. Jones, LISC president and CEO. Square joins Netflix and Costco as the earliest investors in the fund.

This Year, Back-to-School Is Not What It Used to Be

This fall, all schools are struggling to devise ways to safely educate students in the midst of the pandemic. The charter schools whose facilities LISC has helped fund and guide are no different. Yvonne Nolan, who directs LISC’s charter schools financing work, checks in with some of our partner schools, who are taking cues from their communities to forge a new kind of education, and points out the ways CDFIs can help with this difficult process.

There’s No Time to Wait to End the Legacy of Redlining

In a powerful, truth-telling op-ed, LISC San Diego executive director Ricardo Flores shows how his city must take intentional action to throw off the Jim Crow-era legacy of redlining that still prevents economic mobility for many San Diegans. That local example, and Flores’ arguments, are applicable to cities and towns all across the country. It’s imperative and high time that all municipalities heed the message.