We had a most extraordinary experience a couple of weeks ago when we attended the Neighborhood Economics Chicago Conference. This conference was different than any we have attended and we left awed by the collaborations and exchanges of the dedicated and impactful attendees.
Neighborhood Economics convenes leaders and catalyzes ideas for repairing local economies. This event brought together streams that typically don’t flow together:
People already working to create thriving, inclusive neighborhoods, local leaders working on community economic development, impact investors who understand the cost of doing good, catalytic foundations and other mission-focused funders, people investing to support local businesses, minority entrepreneurs whose work needs catalytic capital, and people of faith who want to build a more just economy. Indeed, gathering people who aren’t normally in the same room.
We’ve been in the trenches for the last couple of years building LBI, the Virtual Campus, Marketing Clarity, the LocalFirst Community and other programs. It’s been good work but haven’t looked up from our trench much. This conference lifted us out of our trench and into the cool, crisp air of new thinking. New ideas, new collaborations and reconnecting with seasoned relationships delivered a richness to our thinking and our practices. Ah, to be in the company of such engaged cohorts was amazing and invigorating.
Enough about us, what’s in it for you?
We came away with not just talk of ideas but concrete plans for more benefits from LBI based on collaborations we formed. Meetings engaged immediately after the conference and plans are underway. We aren’t quite ready to reveal these new programs but I think you’ll be as excited as we are.
One thing was clear, there is so much good being done by engaged and caring people on the local economies front. At the same time, there’s so much to be done to repair our local economies too. I feel so much more optimistic having met so many new people working their magic in so many ways. While this was called a faith-friendly gathering (referring to the inclusion of churches and clergy wanting to aid their communities), I found faith of another sort. Faith in us. Faith in the souls making a difference. Faith in our connectivity and our ability to take control of our communities from within.
Each conference is held in a different city to highlight local efforts. If you are a local leader or involved in your community’s local economics, I encourage you to consider attending the next conference. We so often work in silos and somewhat isolated. This is a chance to swim in the greater pool of neighborhood economic activism.
Yes, that’s me on the left moderating an exciting panel on the Community Finance Academy including Stephanie Swepson Twitty, Stephen Shaff and Bill Huston.
