Role of Policy-Makers in Enabling Change
WORKSHOP TITLE
Role of Policy-Makers in Enabling Change: The role of governments and policy-makers in enabling positive community change
DESCRIPTION
Many times, politics gets in the way of good policy. Bureaucratic processes can hinder efficient implementation of good ideas. In this session we’ll explore these challenges and engage each other in a dialogue of what policy makers can do and are doing to pave the way for effective community change, particularly in shrinking cities, and how others can navigate political barriers to support the implementation of new ideas to change the course of our urban decline.
PRESENTERS
Anthony Armstrong, Buffalo LISC. Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) is a national non-profit organization located in 30 cities across the nation. Each year LISC invests more than a half billion dollars in community development projects in urban and rural neighborhoods. The Buffalo LISC office was established in 1998 and works with local not-for-profit organizations to build healthy and sustainable communities.
Their partners in Buffalo are organizations learning to plan strategically, build capacity and create positive change for their residents and businesses. LISC investments in Buffalo have resulted in 698 units of new and rehabilitated housing units, 133,000 square feet of commercial space, five community playing fields, and $127 million in total project development investment.
Jay Williams, Mayor of Youngstown, Ohio. Jay Williams has attracted widespread attention since he became the first African-American to be elected mayor of Youngstown, Ohio in November 2005. His election was a historic event viewed by many political observers as a watershed moment in the changing political landscape of the community. He was also the first independent candidate to win the mayoral seat in more than 80 years.
Youngstown has moved progressively under Mayor Williams’ leadership. The city’s Youngstown 2010 planning and development efforts have been recognized and rewarded by a number of notable national organizations. Mayor Williams has fielded national and international invitations from organizations and communities seeking to learn more about Youngstown’s innovative recovery efforts. More important than improving the national and international reputation of the city, Mayor Williams is leading efforts that have a direct impact on improving the quality of life for the citizens of Youngstown.
Michael Groman, Green Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Michael is the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s (PHS) Senior Director of State and National Outreach. Building on his former role as Senior Director of the Society’s acclaimed Philadelphia Green urban greening program, Michael is now heading a new venture to extend the Philadelphia Green model, and its learnings, to other municipalities in the Philadelphia region and across the state of Pennsylvania, helping them to create safer, cleaner and greener communities for people to live, work, and play.
On the national scale, Michael’s responsible for promoting PHS as a resource to cities that are looking to establish urban greening programs of their own. He’s developing strategic partnerships with complementary national programs and organizations and providing consulting services on a variety of urban greening topics. He has presented at numerous professional conferences including the American Planning Association, the Urban Land Institute, Keep America Beautiful, the White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation, and the National Vacant Property Campaign. Michael has been with PHS since 1987 and has a Masters Degree in Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania.
TOPICS OF DISCUSSION
- Effective policy initiatives and efforts for shrinking cities.
- Effective collaborations between city governments and local organizations / not-for-profits.
- Navigating political barriers to initiate community efforts.
