Igniting Systems of Change : simplebooklet.com

Y outh participating in Kimberly Newberry s program are thriving graduating on time and going to college Clara Hardie and Bertrina Thomas are addressing racial inequity head on Jerry Ann Hebron is repurposing vacant land creating jobs feeding neighbors redeveloping community and impacting policy and America Yahya is raising her voice and providing agency for youth organizing and action Who are we Since its start in 2006 Community Throughout Detroit these grassroots leaders are making waves With funds connections and advising provided by Community Connections and the Lower Eastside Community Grant Program LECG many community members have been able to impact major problems that government large nonprofit organizations and reputable philanthropic institutions have difficulty tackling These are folks who know the challenges best said Lisa Leverette Chief Change Orchestrator CCO and Director of Community Connections and LECG When given the opportunity they can turn herculean challenges on their head and chip away to create a better quality of life The Lower Eastside Community Grant In today s status quo government nonprofit and philanthropic professionals are paid and spend a lot of money and time to figure out how to fix or reinvent inadequate often inconvenient processes from accessibility to healthy food to affordability of higher education that don t work for everyday people However those closest to and therefore affected most by the challenges people like Kim Clara Bertrina Jerry and America are uniquely positioned to provide solutions But they are the ones most often left out of the planning and funding processes Grassroots leaders in marginalized communities have been initiating change and innovating solutions to improve conditions long before foundations and professional organizers arrived in their neighborhoods These changes in policies procedures and how society is organized is what is referred to as systems change For them it is a matter of survival opposing the consequences of and creating alternatives to broken and oppressive systems is a necessity Resources allow grassroots leaders to imagine and institute the more durable processes they have created to strengthen members provide opportunities for advancement target inequitable policies and support fellow leaders With the help of community minded programs like Community Connections and LECG they are circumventing slow moving out of touch institutions working from the bottom up to change the longstanding systems that have suppressed their growth strated how resourcing dreams for an Connections Grant program funded by program LECG funded by the W K equitable future can unleash talent and the Skillman Foundation has supported Kellogg Foundation is a similar program possibilities far exceeding the invest over 900 innovative youth focused serving residents in Detroit s Lower ment These programs recognize and projects For more than ten years a Eastside neighborhoods since 2013 respond to the reality that marginalized volunteer panel of community residents Both programs provide grassroots and oppressed communities have been have met monthly to review applica leaders and groups with the resources to denied monetary resources training tions and award funding between 250 solve problems that limit their success and education and access to power and and 5 000 in the Brightmoor Chad Modest investments of financial re decision making said Lisa Program sey Condon Cody Rouge North End sources encourage ordinary people to staff and leaders work to create greater Osborn and Southwest neighborhoods to link up identify similar challenges and access to resources capacity build support activities like college and work move beyond dreaming of or waiting on ing opportunities collaborations and readiness arts programming athletics others to solve their problems opportunities to increase the power and and more Leaders in our network have demon efficacy of grassroots groups 1

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Youth Voice Agency A M E R I C A YA America Yahya was still in middle school when she began attending Join in to Revitalize Arab American Neighborhoods JIRAN meetings with her older sister And it didn t take long for Aswan Almaktary JIRAN s Director to recognize that she was a natural born leader Just a few years later America who is now a sophomore at Michigan State University and from Southwest Detroit would become an active member of JIRAN herself someone who Aswan said many of her peers looked up to JIRAN was started in 2010 when the Skillman Foundation approached ACCESS an organization created to assist the area s Arab immigrant population in adapting to life in the U S for help in encompassing Detroit s Arab American community in the foundation s Good Neighborhoods Initiative Skillman wanted to make sure this population was included in any efforts to better their community The result was JIRAN a program that reaches out to students in the neighborhood to bridge the gap America knows firsthand how difficult it can be to connect her community to the rest of Detroit Both America and Aswan are Yemeni 2 Y A Join in to Revitalize Arab American Neighborhoods JIRAN H It s like a little village because most of us came straight out of Yemen or are immigrants children America said We aren t used to going out and doing community work and stuff like that so it s like a new thing for us JIRAN brings together about 30 middle and high school students at a time chosen for their strong leadership potential from various schools and a variety of backgrounds For six sessions over three months these students get to know one another through icebreakers and teamwork They hold events like youth dialogues and participate in service projects Most of the programming is youth led students come up with an idea for a project then they execute it The fact that I can go out there and actually be a part of my community and help my city of Detroit grow feels amazing America said I think my love for Detroit and my love for helping my people helping my culture grow and become more open minded pushed me The idea is that breaking down barriers among students and encouraging their civic engagement will encourage these students parents and other members of their communities to do the same I know people who are uneasy to go to Mexicantown or places where it s mostly African American because they just don t know them or they ve never met people like them America said So JIRAN helps break that down through their children who

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THEIR CONNECTION How many JIRAN projects have been funded by Community Connections I ve never counted many too many Aswan laughed Whenever students have an idea for a new project the group fills out a new application They ve received Community Connections grants for a college preparation program college tours a crossing guard program a career day food and transportation for their youth dialogue events and more Aswan recognizes that these grants are a huge part of what keeps JIRAN going And the students learn a lot through the grant application process From the moment a project idea is sparked JIRAN s students begin taking notes America said they learn to make their proposal as professional as possible before sending it off for the grant panel s review We d have to do all the budgeting for food and whatever else we had in mind America said If we didn t have a very structured and specific application it wouldn t appeal to them that well so we tried to make it as specific as possible Lisa knows lack of resources and reluctance to aspire beyond these limited supplies is often the only barrier that groups like JIRAN face Access to grant funds from Community Connections and to coaching by our staff members challenging them to imagine and plan for a project s next steps unleashes endless possibilities that lead to radically new outcomes for youth she said THE STATUS QUO Currently the system undervalues youth operating in a way that not only limits authentic youth voice and involvement but also suppresses it In fact it seems society largely considers youth as non persons Culturally youth are supposed to be seen and not heard Adults know best and are conditioned to take a paternalistic approach with youth Adults also limit the amount of information available to youth about important issues in an attempt to protect them and information to which youth do gain access is often corporatized making it difficult for them to understand and act upon Additionally adults are often unwilling or unable to provide support for and direction to youth activists and usually important discussions take place and decisions are made in external venues during school hours when youth are unavailable But youth voice and involvement are key to a more equitable future after all youth are profoundly disenfranchised throughout nearly all of society s systems They are invariably affected by nearly all policies and decisions that affect adults youth specifically are overwhelmingly impacted by many policies including school reform and criminal justice Society is increasingly subjecting youth to the same standards as adults without allowing them the voice to shape those standards and young people especially teenagers are poised to fill powerful positions where they will need to be equipped with knowledge and experience in order to make solid informed decisions SYSTEMS CHANGE America admits that she and her fellow JIRAN participants were a bit shocked at first that adults had such faith in their abilities Teenagers aren t typically trusted with getting themselves to school on time let alone with carrying out entire events from start to finish Aswan would be like Oh you can do this you can do that and I m like Ehhh I don t think I can she said But she d mentor me every step of the way and you just worked for it An essential component for youth groups is an adult advocate who supports young participants while allowing them to make decisions and mistakes someone like Aswan Aswan respects youth as people and as contributors to their own futures Lisa said She takes their concerns seriously and challenges them to critically think about and act responsibly to solve their problems She largely takes a hands off approach with the youth only ringing in to offer prompts that encourage them to analyze situations She resists any inclination to make decisions for the group even if the group s decisions might inconvenience her 3 Youth Voice Agency are in high school Then they see different people and are like Hey you live in my city too We re actually not that different

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Youth Voice Agency She is an exceptional advocate with a rare internal compass that leads her to respect the agency and right to self determination of all human beings JIRAN has given its youth participants a sense of agency encouraging them to speak up because they can make their ideas a reality and effect change It opens their eyes I can improve my community Aswan said And it builds that priority in them It gives them that sense you ve got to give back to your community It gives them that moral sense to keep with them further on in their lives Because she has that training she knew she can make a difference She stood up Lisa has watched as JIRAN youth have identified a set of priorities that they deem critical for their success and survival in a system that is often broken when it comes to young people of color They have refused to be silent and yield to priorities imposed by society Lisa said These kids are fierce America has to combat not only the stigma of youth she is also fighting the stigma of being a person of color a female and Muslim in a culture that doesn t necessarily support empowerment and voice for women and girls The pressure of challenging those oppressive norms is enormous She is strong and undeterred 4 The program encourages leadership in young women as well as men which isn t always the norm among various immigrant populations including America s Yemeni community At times America had to deal with her male peers talking over her or asking for excessive justification when discussing ideas or making plans at JIRAN meetings But through JIRAN she practiced standing up to the boys learning strategies for battling sexism along the way And America has already had the chance to apply the grassroots leadership skills she learned through JIRAN When she was a senior in high school America was shocked to learn that some of her school s teachers those who many students considered the hardest working and most beloved had been laid off without warning in the middle of the school year America and her peers were furious These were teachers who had recently spoke to the school board about problems adversely affecting their students and some were suspicious that this was the reason for the teachers being fired So America and some classmates made T shirts to show their support and headed to the next school board meeting to advocate for their educators Although they weren t able to get these teachers their jobs back they did make sure their disapproval was heard and they will be that much more prepared to stand up against injustice in their community the next time around Without JIRAN Aswan knows that many students facing similar wrongdoings would not have had the skills to take action like America did Anyone else who will see that problem they don t think their voices matter that they can make a difference Aswan said But because she has that training she knew she can make a difference She stood up

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D HAR IE C L Racial Equity A RA S Detroit Youth Volume Circle of Arts Performing Arts Academy BE Clara Hardie Bertrina Thomas Both and were on a mission to bring the Suzuki method to Detroit youth who otherwise might not have the chance to learn how to play an instrument or study performing arts The Suzuki method is an educational philosophy that aims to teach music through a curriculum modeled after the ways in which children learn their native languages It has a reputation for being effective but also exclusive Only people who can afford it can access it and that s not right Clara said Clara started Detroit Youth Volume DYV in 2010 to serve Detroit students with full scholarships for Suzuki education Today DYV includes 40 students between the ages of 3 and 18 some are tuition paying on a sliding scale while others have full scholarships who learn the violin and viola through weekly private lessons and group classes DYV provides students with quality instruments performance outfits and healthy snacks and also brings in guest instructors with roots in Detroit s music scene Our little community is so awesome Clara said They re all from different backgrounds and all the parents can connect with each other it just breaks down different barriers RTRINA T M HO A Through DYV Clara is working to teach youth to be analytical collaborative and able to master a skill ultimately striving to nurture their ability to be change makers Bertrina started her organization Circle of Arts Performing Arts Academy in 2016 but she had been teaching Suzuki violin long before then since 2001 when she was attending Howard University in Washington D C Upon her return to Detroit Bertrina said she was shocked to see her hometown devaluing arts education I noticed that every year brought less concern to the arts in the schools until it was almost nonexistent Bertrina said The arts are invaluable for so many reasons After identifying the need I got to work Circle of Arts currently offers semiprivate and group lessons in Suzuki violin viola cello percussion and piano as well as in tap and ballet Classes which are held in a neighborhood recreation center are open to anyone in metro Detroit ages 3 through 99 Bertrina too hopes participation in Circle of Arts will open doors for her students Studies have shown that music increases focus and helps with academic success it also gives her students access to more college scholarships and performance opportunities all over the world Clara was surprised when she first found out about Circle of Arts She had been in Detroit music and nonprofit circles for years and realized she and Bertrina even had a Suzuki trainer in common but still 5

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Racial Equity THE STATUS QUO Clara had never encountered Bertrina or her work Despite a shared calling and close proximity somehow these grassroots nonprofit leaders had never met THEIR CONNECTION Bertrina credits the Lower Eastside Community Grant program as one of the key players in helping Circle of Arts get its official start Since first coming across the group at a grant information session in Detroit s Southwest neighborhood Bertrina has applied for and received two LECG grants to support her organization Clara was introduced to Lisa after the Director read a story about DYV in a Detroit publication and then reached out to Clara encouraging her to submit an application LECG is the only grant maker that has awarded DYV multiple grants a year Clara said which the organization has used for things like maintaining donated instruments and buying violin bows and cases Before working with LECG Clara said she was really naive about how difficult it can be to get grants So in the beginning she sought technical assistance from the program to help her through the process Lisa has provided other support too Lisa is so much more than a grant agent she is a mentor to me on various levels Clara said Anytime I have a conflict in my mind I can call her or text her She teaches me a lot 6 Although many philanthropic professionals tout equity as a pillar of their work Clara has noticed that foundations oftentimes give grants to white people who can move in communities of color instead of giving that money directly to the grassroots groups that make up those communities of color One stark example of white privilege Clara remembers recognizing is when she learned about a Detroit based music camp founded by an African American woman who had grown up in the city This camp and DYV had a lot in common not only did they both teach string music to Detroit students but both groups had also brought in hip hop artists to conduct workshops with their kids and had worked with some of the same Detroit musicians When Clara applied for particular grant funding for DYV just once she was awarded the money straightaway This fellow nonprofit leader on the other hand had applied for that same grant funding two or three times and still never received an award As a woman of color herself Bertrina is also aware of the inequity inherent in the current system But as a nonprofit founder she d rather focus her attention on simply building the best program for her students It s hard not to notice white privilege in any arena in the times we live in Bertrina said I am a strong believer that hard work pays off though I can t waste time worrying about privilege I could be using that time to sew into someone s life and work on their craft I believe in what I do and I know that our presentation and dedication will cause foundations to look our way even when they try not to It didn t take long for LECG to notice Bertrina s hard work When staff members conducted a site visit to Circle of Arts however the blatant disparity the group faced could not be ignored Bertrina and her students were clearly locked out of opportunities from grants to facilities to performances that Clara was able to attract to her program seemingly effortlessly So Lisa and her team began speaking openly to both woman about these observations working together to brainstorm solutions

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SYSTEMS CHANGE As a white nonprofit leader in a majority African American city Clara s privilege has been at the forefront of her mind from the beginning 70 percent of DYV s participants are youth of color She knows that acknowledging her advantages and operating equitably is critical It s hard not to notice white privilege in any arena in the times we live in I am a strong believer that hard work pays off though We are very committed to running our organization as anti racist and pro black she said We are always learning doing our best to do that LECG has helped Clara with this mission providing funding to attend the SphinxConnect conference about diversity and classical music as well as funding her and a few of DYV s teachers and board members attendance to an Undoing Racism training facilitated by the People s Institute of Survival and Beyond Like its grassroots grantmakers and grantees LECG is a leader in championing and promoting equity Placing equity at the center of all our work is more than an ideal Lisa said It is a priority We believe that racial equity is an essential component to creating a society that is productive and works well for everyone We require ourselves to apply a level of diligence and bravery that other areas of our work might not require a keener eye for building authentic trusting relationships and a willingness to have uncomfortable conversations with grantees is as much a part of our work as reviewing applications and conducting workshops And although not as ubiquitous as traditional philanthropic institutions which sometimes inadvertently reinforce systems of privilege through their grant giving there are also other organizations and allies offering support to a diverse group of community leaders There are so many resources out there that are waiting for women like me to run into them Bertrina said It is all a matter of running into the right people at the right time and networking Now Clara is doing more to leverage her white privilege sharing the knowledge she has gained about applying for funding with other Detroit nonprofits run by people of color and therefore helping to elevate these groups in the eyes of the foundation professionals who often overlook them She is also pushing for anti racism training for more Suzuki teachers and encouraging others to improve accessibility by offering Suzuki scholarships themselves She has learned that listening to and then building trust with people of color rather than immediately asking for advice or offering instruction or favors is key The unfolding of the relationship between Clara and the aforementioned Detroit based music camp founder led to planning a joint summer camp and applying for funding together Discussions are also underway for DYV and Circle of Arts youth to perform together Students from both programs are benefiting from resources previously available only to DYV students Clara clearly has immersed herself in processes and environments to become aware of the privilege that accompanies whiteness and how bias can inflict experiences that are negative for children of color Lisa said She questions the basis of her decisions and views them through an equity lens Clara doesn t want to act as a savior or come off as having ulterior motives but she does want to do her part to help make sure all grassroots leaders have a seat at the table How can we partner and share resources be stronger together and serve more students Clara said 7 Racial Equity The obvious differences our team observed between Detroit Youth Volume and Circle of Arts demanded action Lisa said The groups were both high functioning and led by very capable community leaders with similar backgrounds the parallels between the programs and leaders were uncanny One of the programs however was clearly reaping opportunities the other was not

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Nonprofit Management KI Kimberly Newberry never meant to start a nonprofit She was simply a mother who wanted to keep her kids safe and engaged It all started when Kim the founder president and CEO of Developing Kingdoms in Different Stages Developing K I D S began noticing the number of working families in her neighborhood With school out and parents at work kids in her neighborhood could be seen going to and from the nearby liquor store throughout the day grabbing snacks and goofing around Kim wanted to provide these kids with an outlet and their parents with some peace of mind I wanted my kids to be safe and I couldn t see what they were doing in someone else s yard or my backyard therefore they were all in my front yard she said Her early programming included tea parties on her porch complete with awful old bridesmaids dresses peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and hustle lessons in her front yard But it didn t take long for Kim s ideas to expand outside her home Today Developing K I D S provides after school and summer programming to students in elementary school through high school in underserved areas of Detroit Kids in the program have participated in field trips learned foreign and sign language mobilized community members for the 2010 census hosted performances 8 Y Developing K I D S MB E R LY N E E WB R R for seniors at a local center phone banked to inform residents about gerrymandering and more and at each of these meetups they are served a home cooked meal No matter the activities the mission is always to guide youth in their mental physical and educational growth empowering them to contribute to and strengthen their own communities Since its incorporation in 2006 the organization has served close to 1 000 youth and counting It s about bringing opportunities to them and really letting them know what is out there Kim said It doesn t matter what you don t have we re going to connect you to people to mentors and take you to places where you will learn THEIR CONNECTION Kim applied for her first Community Connections grant just a year or two after starting her nonprofit and has since received 14 grants from the group over the last 10 years Most of the projects funded have been around youth development and leadership Without Community Connections coaching and support Kim insists Developing K I D S would not be where it is today When she started Developing K I D S she didn t have any grants or other funding and she didn t know how to get it Kim said many folks who start small nonprofits don t know the right people who can connect them with funders and the criteria for receiving funding from large foundations is often out of reach

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THE STATUS QUO The near universal purpose of nonprofit organizations is to serve the greater good Theoretically the elimination of the motive for profit should inspire these organizations to focus their efforts solely on improving conditions for the underserved and advocating for a better quality of life for all citizens And there are many nonprofits using their power for this exemplary purpose However the nature of the industry presents challenges that prevent larger nonprofits from fully addressing the hardships disadvantaged communities and the grassroots programs created to serve these folks face One of these challenges is funding patterns When allocating funds foundations generally favor large nonprofits with long track records of providing services Smaller and start up groups like Developing K I D S find it difficult if not impossible to secure access to needed operational and programming resources SYSTEMS CHANGE Kim and others in her network are changing the industry s expectations around grassroots leaders and neighborhood focused nonprofits She is leading by example to show that the system shouldn t only reward groups that have resources and reputations Grassroots groups are knowledgeable committed and capable and ready to learn more too They have demonstrated that smaller and more targeted nonprofits make a phenomenal positive impact on the lives of youth facing numerous challenges Lisa said Nearly 100 percent of high school 9 Nonprofit Management It s not set for you to thrive Kim said The skills I didn t have I went to learn And Community Connections said We believe in you Here let s see what happens with this Another challenge is scale Nearly all institutions both for profits and nonprofits that compete for resources and market share have a primary unspoken goal to perpetuate their own existence This mandate often requires them to grow simply for the sake of growth itself and can conflict with the stated mission of the organization Larger operations sometimes lose their ability to tailor services and afford themselves the flexibility to respond in a personalized manner to the individual needs of their constituencies they can be effective for those with the means and skills to navigate more complex systems but the most marginalized groups oftentimes have a difficult time accessing support Yet another challenge is the failure to adapt to changing social conditions Many larger nonprofits are entrenched in ideologies and practices that became popular more than 50 years ago Although the challenges of marginalized communities may not be radically different than those a half century ago the impact nonprofits have had varies and insight about systemic inequity demands new methods to tackle entrenched generational problems

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Nonprofit Management 10 seniors participating in the Developing K I D S program graduate on time and go on to attend college Lisa has seen the organization go above and beyond in more ways than one since the very beginning providing services that are directly responsive to the needs of the families it serves For example one of its offerings the Grief and Loss program grew out of Kim s conversations with parents about the effects pervasive deaths were having on their individual productivity We may be a small fish but we re going to swim with the whales The program filled a gap in services by offering comprehensive trauma loss and grief counseling In an African American community which is known for being suspicious of and even completely avoiding the mental health system this program was both convenient for participants and culturally relevant It defied odds by attracting male attendees as well as younger family members Its reputation is of paramount importance to its success Lisa said There is always a waiting list generated from intensive word of mouth around the city Parents professionals and students routinely show up with a desire to volunteer and be a part of the specialness that is Developing K I D S Kim has always been a go getter and whenever given the opportunity to learn or to network she takes it If someone gives me a lead or a grant I m going after it What is the worse they can do Tell me No Having worked as a nonprofit leader for more than 10 years she often gives advice to those just starting out She tells them to be persistent not to shy away from meeting with people and making connections to always be networking even after hours to remember that in kind benefits can be just as valuable as cash and to be patient because the benefit may come down the road Developing K I D S has been awarded more grant funding than many other grassroots groups receiving nearly 100 000 from Community Connections alone over the years It is often difficult for groups that operate outside of prescribed and accepted norms to attract attention and support for proven and impactful work Lisa said Community Connections is committed to assisting groups in our network to cultivate effective practices to mitigate or eliminate the shortcomings of broken systems Kim s approach to youth development and persistence has garnered the attention of other area funders as well She was among the first groups in the Community Connections family to be invited to apply for a 10 000 grant made possible through the support of the W K Kellogg Foundation Eventually Developing K I D S was awarded an even larger grant from the Skillman Foundation The impact of her work manifested in the kids in her program was impossible to overlook Lisa said Developing K I D S is in a league of its own largely because of Kim s efforts But with others following in her footsteps it may not be for long We may be a small fish but we re going to swim with the whales Kim said

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Community Development Policy N Oakland Avenue Urban Farm JE Jerry Ann Hebron started Oakland Avenue Urban Farm in 2008 with only a few plots and a handful of vegetables that folks in Detroit s North End wanted to try growing greens beans tomatoes and squash But it didn t take long for the farm to grow into a neighborhood staple that nourishes in more ways than one Today the farm includes dozens of plots a house with a commercial kitchen and two hoop houses Its organizers hold farmers markets in their neighborhood and sell produce at other markets throughout the city and at stands in Chrysler plants on a weekly basis They also provide youth programming during the summer to teach local kids about gardening The farm has 13 staff members on its payroll and various groups of community members corporate professionals and university students often come to volunteer Jerry who is the Executive Director of Oakland Avenue Urban Farm loves the simple act of getting her hands in the dirt but these days much of her time is spent planning for the farm s future Right now that work involves developing a farm sustainability plan RRY ANN B HE RO Oakland Avenue Urban Farm is an important player in the revitalization happening in Detroit s North End and Jerry is excited to see the community continue to flourish It s looking at the commercial development that is starting to happen along the Oakland Avenue corridor and being optimistic that in the next two to three years that corridor will be very active and will be driving economic foot traffic in the community Jerry said THEIR CONNECTION Jerry was introduced to Lisa and Community Connections while participating with the Skillman Foundation s community building effort and it wasn t long before she applied for her first grant Most Community Connections grants she has received have been for various youth development programs which Oakland Avenue Urban Farm offers to local kids during the summers Knowing that grant money elsewhere is often only awarded annually and to already established groups Jerry appreciates that Community Connections grants are both accessible and reviewed on a monthly basis I like the fact that Lisa or any of her assistants will meet with me listen to what I m thinking and then guide me through the process Jerry said It doesn t matter to her if you re an organization or a grandmother who sits on the porch and reads to the kids 11

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Community Development Policy Community Connections has not only helped Oakland Avenue Urban Farm but it has also been helped by Jerry and her team by forcing Community Connections to creatively engage with other partners to fully support work by grassroots groups Lisa was driven to join the board of Self Development of People SDOP to better understand how to access additional resources for groups starting with Oakland Avenue Urban Farm Oakland Avenue s needs outgrew the limits of Community Connections fairly quickly Lisa said I believe many funders would have perhaps given the group a few leads to other resources and wished them well Community Connections is in the business of reducing barriers and finding or creating solutions to problems in communities So I immediately began to look for other funding sources compatible with the needs and structure of the farm THE STATUS QUO Traditional architects of change including politicians and nonprofit professionals have had mixed results with community development efforts The term community development is used as a catch all to describe activities to improve communities in a number of areas including land reuse housing employment and overall quality of life The process is generally preceded by a level of engagement to include the community in identifying strengths weaknesses needs and wants Rarely is the engagement process inclusive or equitable enough to move beyond a cursory assembling of residents Ownership of the change process by residents is even more fleeting Near invariably a template of change orchestrated by outsiders is imposed under a timeline and method not necessarily endorsed by the community This approach can and has led to communities summarily rejecting outside change efforts and sabotaging investments as well as unintended negative consequences such as resident displacement Investments expected to bring lasting change to communities often fail to gain traction and become sustainable The change templates imposed by traditional systems are often doomed to failure Policies meant to support traditional platforms for change are often at odds with and harmful to development that benefits grassroots communities Traditional political systems provide opportunities and an easy fit for a certain type of constituent but rarely do lawmakers bend to accommodate or include in their decision making those with cultural and economic attributes outside of the dominant culture Community members aren t included in policy decisions often enough Jerry said Politicians and staffers seem to be apathetic about many of the policy issues that are crucial to the people in my neighborhood Most policy makers work from the top down rather than from the ground up SYSTEMS CHANGE As a steady active member of Detroit s urban farming community Jerry s perspective is sought after She has been interviewed by local media outlets and spoken on panels and five years ago she was nominated to the Detroit Food Policy Council where she represents the farmers market sector of the area s food system The Detroit Food Policy Council is an advisory and implementation body established by the Detroit City Council As a member of this council Jerry has played an important role in helping to shape food security land usage and health policy that affects Detroiters daily At the beginning of her tenure Jerry worked with the Detroit Food Policy Council on the issue of access to nutritious food in 12

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Most policy makers work from the top down rather than from the ground up Since then Jerry has had a chance to work on a variety of policy issues that impact both the farm and her neighbors Currently she is chairing a committee addressing affordability concerns related to the city s drainage fees Without grassroots leaders on its council the Food Policy Council and the Detroit City Council wouldn t know what s really happening on the ground in Detroit s food system Policy might be enacted or updated but it wouldn t necessarily be practical Jerry s activism and policy work also extends to her role with the Michigan State Fair where she serves as the Urban Agriculture Liaison Coordinator Efforts from that role have resulted in Detroit students receiving urban farming scholarships that were previously available only to rural farming students We re the experts in the field and we can identify which policy issues need work which ones are working and which ones are not Jerry said Through her hard work Jerry and her Oakland Avenue Urban Farm team have been able to scale their impact from their backyards to political boardrooms The first request to Community Connections was for support to simply explore nature and gardening Lisa said Each successive request built on a platform of What s next This approach allowed a smart passionate group of people who wanted more and yet did not have the resources to do more to eventually execute a plan that ultimately led to having access to fresh food a means to earn income and support themselves an environment rich with art city participation inclusion peacefulness and solidarity in addition to the support confidence and skills to grow their plan in a way that meets the needs of those closest to both the problems and the solutions Jerry s efforts over the past decade continue to bear fruit Plans are afoot to add to Oakland Avenue Urban Farm a hostel and cafeteria farm fresh convenience store and art farm house thanks to an ArtPlace America grant Acknowledgments We would like to express sincere grati This publication is the final evaluation Investing in Nontraditional Leaders at tude to the Skillman Foundation and W K product related to our work with the Good www skillman org Information on our Kellogg Foundation for their support and Neighbor Initiative GNI and Lower additional publications Smart Collabora partnership on this important and emerg Eastside Community re granting efforts tions at the Grassroots Level Communi ing work Gratitude and appreciation are We have attempted to produce a balanced ty Connections Small Grant Program 10 expressed to staff members Inetta Mims variety of quantitative and qualitative year Retrospective and Lower Eastside and Kayla Perrin for their hard work on evaluation products to summarize the Community Grant Program are available this publication This publication and the outcomes and impact of our work over upon request phenomenal program outcomes would not the past 10 years Please see the final be possible without the dedicated work compilation of our GNI results Commu Marina Csomor for partnering to organize of the many leaders and groups in our nity Leadership Strengthening Grassroots and present our results in ways meant to network committed to the development of Community Leadership in Detroit and a attract and engage a variety of audiences youth in the city of Detroit Thank you companion piece Maximizing Returns Special thanks to graphic designer 13 Community Development Policy Detroit s neighborhoods With the limited number of grocery stores in the area many of the city s residents were only shopping at nearby fast food chains gas stations and liquor stores Jerry and her fellow council members were shocked to see the low quality of food being served at these businesses as well as many store owners taking advantage of their customers Based on their research the Detroit Food Policy Council was able to get the U S Department of Agriculture involved some of these businesses were shut down others were fined for abusing the food assistance program and others still completely lost their ability to accept Bridge Cards

Igniting Systems of Change

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