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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“Four Years, $13 Million and Dozens of Hands”: MarketWatch Dives Deep Into LISC’s Work in D.C.

A deeply-reported MarketWatch article unpacks the incredibly complex process of creating affordable housing by profiling an apartment complex in Washington D.C. that LISC has helped preserve. Extensive interviews with our CEO, LISC D.C. executive director Ramon Jacobson and senior program officer Adam Kent are at the heart of this emblematic story of how we bring together private and public capital partners with developers and residents, and work to empower people to stay in the places they call home. A must read.

U.S. Treasury Awards $60 Million in New Market Tax Credits to LISC

The Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, part of the U.S. Treasury department, announced the recipients of $3.5 billion in New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocations for 2019. $60 million was allocated to LISC’s subsidiary, the New Markets Support Company. Since its inception, NMSC has harnessed $1 billion in tax credits to offer flexible capital for projects that benefit low-income communities across the count--projects ranging from Cincinatti’s CityLink Center, home to 15 social service agencies, to a health clinic-plus-grocery store in Brockton, MA to the public library in Petersburg, VA.

We’re Not Spending Nearly Enough to Reduce Homelessness

Ricardo Flores, ED of LISC San Diego, published an emphatic op-ed in the Voice of San Diego about the desperate need for more local and state spending to alleviate homelessness. As in nearly every part of the country, San Diego’s homeless population is growing, and last year suffered a Hepatitis A outbreak. “Today’s homelessness crisis has the potential to worsen into a catastrophic public health disaster,” warned Flores, explaining that preventive strategies, housing and support services demand much greater investment to head off a larger crisis.