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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CNN Spotlights LISC's Record Efforts to Close Racial Wealth & Opportunity Gaps

Since the outbreak of the pandemic and this year's anti-racist protests, LISC has raised some $2 billion in grants, loans and equity to fund programs that aim to upend structural racism and close yawning health, wealth and opportunity gaps. An article in CNN looks at how corporate donors have stepped up to support LISC in this work and points to what will be an ongoing need. As LISC CEO Maurice A. Jones says in the piece, “This requires faithfulness over a long time to have real transformative impact. It can't just be 2020. This has to be a new chapter.”

LISC CEO on His Journey to LISC, and What's Happened Since

As a recent guest on In Black America, a long-running podcast that plumbs many facets of African American life, LISC CEO Maurice A. Jones described the trajectory that brought him to LISC and how the organization is currently working. LISC's newest initiative, Project 10X, he explains, is a culmination and intensification of our efforts to promote racial equity and close the discriminatory health, wealth and opportunity gaps that have plagued Americans since the country's inception.

LISC Names New Executive Director in Jacksonville

Dr. Irvin “PeDro” Cohen takes the helm this week at LISC Jacksonville, focusing on ways to ramp up investment in affordable housing, economic development, health and jobs. LISC’s Maurice A. Jones said these efforts are particularly vital given the impact of COVID-19, as well as the racial reckoning facing the entire country and the ongoing impact of climate change, especially in coastal areas like Jacksonville.