Outcome
Community Empowerment: Residents of participating neighborhoods have the capacity to effectively manage issues that threaten the health of the neighborhood and to influence the future of their communities.
Strategy
Neighborhoods that lack the leadership capacity to mobilize residents around threatening issues are destined for decline. Healthy neighborhoods have residents who are engaged in neighborhood management and who are able to leverage their influence and resources by forming mutually beneficial partnerships with public and private institutions.
Community Impact's approach to community empowerment focuses on effectively engaging residents, strengthening the leadership base and structure of neighborhood organizations, and building lasting partnerships to support neighborhood activities. Two key elements are assisting residents to bridge the gap between formal and informal leaders which is one of the first steps to a diverse, cohesive leadership base, and enhancing skills needed to engage other neighborhood stakeholders and elected officials in revitalization efforts. Community Impact supports participating neighborhoods in peaceful efforts that will get their issues on the appropriate agendas. With strong leaders who can garner support of residents and others to manage threats, a neighborhood can sustain the progress that has been made and influence their neighborhood's future.