LISC' NCP Leadership Conference: A Huge Success
Ernest Sanders
Published: April 7, 2008
Auburn Gresham Community Heroes (L-R), Juanita Love, Granville Love, and Deborah Moore pose with their Proclamation Certificates from the City of Chicago.
Saint Turner
Nearly 1000 people attended Local Initiatives Support Corporation’s/Chicago (LISC/Chicago) 3rd New Communities Program (NCP) Leadership national conference, held this year at the new UIC Forum.
GADC's table display of a section of the Auburn Gresham community.
Saint Turner
This year's conference titled, "Getting It Done: New Tools For Communities," hosted several keynote speakers to include Andrew Mooney, LISC Chicago, Michael Rubinger, LISC National, Jonathan Fanton, MacArthur Foundation, Bishop Arthur Brazier, Apostolic Church of God and NCP Woodlawn, and Rami Nashashibi, Inner City Muslim Action Network (IMAN).
Located at 725 West Roosevelt Road, this two-day conference offered many local attractions to include nearby downtown Chicago and neighborhood nightlife venues as musical performances by the Woodlawn String Instrumental Program at the Grand Ballroom in Woodlawn, salsa dancing and the historic Humboldt Park Field House, and a tour of the Garfield Park Conservatory.
There were also neighborhood bus tours of Logan Square, West Haven, Pilsen, Quad Communities, and Little Village. The Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation (GADC) was even fortunate to host a tour for the New York Mayor’s office of Auburn Gresham.
Ernest Sanders (GADC) , Yvette Kelly (QCDC), and Patrick Barry (LISC) lead the Communications Workshop.
Saint Turner
This year's conference was especially rewarding because all panelists and roundtable breakout sessions were led by neighborhood practitioners, to include GADC's Executive Director, Carlos Nelson and yours truly, NCP Organizer, Ernest Sanders. Eight workshop sessions included: Engagement, Deal Making, Communicating, Leveraging, Planning, Leading, Playing, and Evaluation.
There was much buzz around GADC'S diorama (table display) of the neighborhood designed by Linda Johnson, Saint Turner, Chase Woodward, Jamiyla Boone, and GADC'S new ISS Program Director, Michelle Mason.
Several of the NCP Lead Agency Community Heroes were honored at this year's conference to include Auburn Gresham's residents and business owners, Granville & Juanita Love and Neighborhood Housing Services' (NHS) Executive Director of Auburn Gresham/Englewood, Deborah Moore.
[L-R] Deborah Moore (NHS), Linda Johnson and Michelle Mason of GADC smile as for a photo opportunity in front of the GADC table display.
Saint Turner
Along with all of the other honorees, each community hero received a proclamation from the City of Chicago, represented by Aldermen Edward Burke (D-14) and Willie Cochran (D-20), and a $500 stipend from LISC to be donated to a charitable organization of the community hero's choice.
The energy at this year's conference was indescribable. There was much enthusiasm by all conference attendees, especially the local NCP Lead Agencies. The conference was host to more than 55 cities around the US and other LISC agencies abroad. All meals, provided by Sodexo Catering Services, were spectacular and all the amenities were impeccable.
At the end of the day, I have to say that this conference was one of the best I’ve attended in many years.
Ava Williamson (GRANDFamilies) and Carlos Nelson (GADC) listen attentively to speeches from the main stage.
Saint Turner
Special thanks and consideration goes out to The MacArthur Foundation, Bank of America, State Farm, the City of Chicago, LISC Sustainable Communities, LISC/Chicago Staff and Scribes, 14 NCP Lead Agencies, Valerie Denny Communications, MK Communications, this year’s Community Heroes, Saint Turner Photographers, Conference Attendees, Civic and Community Leaders and you.
Thank you for making this national conference experience a most desirable and pleasurable one!
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