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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Connecting Health and Housing in Charlotte

LISC and Atrium Health are joining forces to take on the social determinants of health as part of affordable housing investments in Charlotte. The effort was recently named one of the awardees in the second phase of Fannie Mae’s $10 million Sustainable Communities Innovation Challenge.

LISC NYC’s Inclusive Creative Economy Fund, in Living Color

An in depth report from NY1 News explains how the Inclusive Creative Economy Fund has galvanized the future of a venerable downtown theater, La Mama. Thanks to a $3 million line of credit from LISC, the nearly 60-year-old institution, which has nurtured thousands of experimental artists and engages a broad diversity of audiences, is able to renovate its aging building and continue its valuable work. The fund’s model of raising debt capital from an array of impact investors to support creative economies and stimulate job growth, the report noted, can be scaled for communities across the country where real estate costs and other forces threaten local arts and culture.

In Its 20th Year, NFL Foundation and LISC Announce Grants to Build or Remake Football Fields

The NFL Foundation/LISC Grassroots Field Grant Program announced grants totaling $3 million to newly build or significantly renovate fields in parks, schools or at community organizations in 14 cities from Brooklyn to Houston and Racine, WI to Indian Trail, NC. The funds will be used for improvements such as irrigation systems, lights, bleachers, scoreboards and more. About a partnership that has lasted 20 years, Alexia Gallagher, executive director of the NFL Foundation stated: “With more than one million youth using these fields, which provide safe places for families to come together and participate in sports, the benefits of the NFL Foundation/LISC Grassroots Field Grant Program are indisputable.”