It's often said that people are talking about change in our communities, but have yet to create a serious plan how to do that. I've been working to develop an effective, sustainable strategy for rebuilding Black America. It is far more detailed than I can get into here, but here's the gist of it:
Business and Financial Growth:
Acquire and rehabilitate groups of neglected property in urban centers, using federal and local redevelopment / CBDG program funds. Create a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation with ownership rights to the property and set up rent-free apartment/condo/homes for the program staff, freeing them up to focus exclusively on community development.
Encourage small business development by using the surrounding properties as an incubator - identify small business owners to recruit, train, and manage a staff for restaurants, shops, and service businesses owned by the nonprofit. Revenue would be reinvested into the nonprofit and used to fund additional startups and rehab. The business investment would spur growth and appreciation in the property value giving the nonprofit a positive equity position.
Nonprofit would spin off an independent service company for securing and stabilizing the community. This company will provide janitorial / maintenance / security services to the target community. Affordable commercial and residential real estate, partnered with entrepreneurship training and support from the nonprofit will attract talent and new investment.
Educational:
Develop a private or charter school with a curriculum based on social entrepreneurship. As it is a private institution it is not subject to federal SOL/NCLB requirements which would allow freedom to develop a unique curriculum. Students will attend class during the morning and early afternoon, and work at an internship within one of the community businesses during the afternoon or evening. A portion of their internship earnings would be applied as a tuition credit or deposited into an interest bearing account which they could access upon graduation to pay for college or a new home.
Dedicate a large portion of the curriculum and teaching time to leadership development - teach students to question the social norms they see around them. Students will work as teams/classes of 15-20 and will be held responsible for each other's progress - if one student falls behind the others are expected to help or see that he/she gets the necessary assistance.
Social and Cultural:
Create a privately branded music label, broadcast network, and publisher to promote positive messages and representations. Invest in recruiting and developing talented artists in every genre of music, and using it to promote positive imagery. Distribute the music through free and low-cost channels ie. downloads, web site w/ streaming video, promo CDs, public performances. Dedicate a portion of the resources to developing historic /and alternative forms of music ie. jazz, soul, neoclassical, underground.
Develop a prepackaged model and system for small community organizations which can be hosted by community leaders anywhere in the country. Provide a free web site, training and organizational materials which assist leaders in recruiting neighbors to participate. The community organizations would meet weekly at someone's home to discuss social issues and work to build the community. They would also have goals and deliverables set by national, encouraging change everywhere the organization exists. For example, a monthly goal could be increasing parent participation in the local schools and all of the chapters would support the initiative.
Health & Wellness
Create a residency program for doctors in training to assist in underserved communities. Make these services available at reduced cost or free of charge to the target community.
With a college/university or technical school, train drug and substance abuse counselors free of charge provided they contractually agree to serve in a designated center for a certain period of time. Make drug treatment free and on demand.
More to come...
Posted By: Jon C.
Saturday, June 9th 2007 at 4:15PM
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