Published Article- “Feed and Grain: Local Capacity Enables Arts-led Development”
Over nearly a generation, local citizens built their community leadership capacity to create artist housing and studio space, revitalize their downtown, and ultimately diversify Loveland, Colorado’s economy through the arts. In community after community, civic and business leaders realize communities that wait lose out competitively, and those that invest intentionally in local leadership capacity position themselves to thrive.
Published Post: How Community Development Supports Economic Development
Community development — such as quality childcare, housing, healthcare, education, parks and amenities, transportation, and more — can support economic development efforts in real and concrete ways.
What Does North Carolina Philanthropy Think about Housing?
At the end of September, North Carolina philanthropies gathered to discuss housing at a convening, A Foundation for Housing. Readers might be interested in key takeaways as philanthropies are important actors in the state’s public sphere, and housing is an important part of our lives and economy.
Disasters, Individual: What To Do?
In early September, outside on a beautiful day, I was struck by a pickup truck, which then left the scene. An eyewitness stopped and called 911. Paramedics placed me in a neck brace and a stretcher for transport to the nearest ER.
Giving You the Tools to Succeed
Leaders are most successful when they have all the tools to do the job. And that is what a consultant can offer: the tools, frameworks, and support - helping that leader and community of people to reach their brilliance.
Working for my Clients: The Year in Review
The leaders I work with as clients push hard each day to overcome tough organizational challenges, level up their strategy, and invest in their communities. The chance to help them is a privilege. My clients and I have been on this road together now a year. They are champions, and I am an earnest helper, hopefully to be able to join them for years to come.
Economics and Interest Rates, Mid 2025
Last summer, I wrote about interest rates and how communities and leaders were not waiting to invest until rates go down. And that action-oriented way of being was good thinking by these leaders, because those rates have stayed stubbornly higher for longer than many would like.
Reflections: Speaking on Strategy and Community, Winter 2024-25
I’m reflecting on the speaking opportunities this winter—and how one can receive more than one gives when offering to do pro bono engagements.
A Note to Myself: Be Mine in a Changing World
Last year I wrote twice about disasters and I want to come back to the individual disaster that seems to be befalling friends and colleagues in development both international and domestically on behalf of communities.
On Strategic Plans and What Happens After
In this article, I’m going to discuss both strategic plans and the implementation that ideally follows, and how to move past the barriers to each of these pieces going well.