Inclusive Economic Development - Commercial Community Ownership

Join PACDC's Community Development Leadership Institute and LISC Philly for an in-person session exploring models of community ownership of commercial spaces. We will hear from Julia Duranti-Martinez, the author of LISC's recent report Commercial Community Ownership as a Strategy for Just Development, and Adriana Abizadeh, Executive Director of the Kensington Corridor Trust here in Philadelphia.

Participants will learn more about the use of community ownership in commercial spaces to advance equitable and racially just development in Philadelphia and other cities, via a talk and opportunity to pose questions and discuss with the speakers, and there will be space for participants to explore how these models might be replicated in other neighborhoods and communities.

Light refreshments will be provided.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Discounted and free tickets are available for this workshop. Please email Joanna at [email protected] for a promo code, no questions asked.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Adriana Abizadeh is the Executive Director of the Kensington Corridor Trust (KCT) in Philadelphia. The mission, duty and purpose of the KCT is to utilize collective ownership to direct investments on the corridor that preserve culture and affordability while building neighborhood power and wealth in Kensington. The KCT supports sustainable corridor development through thoughtful real estate acquisition, community engagement, broad local ownership, small business lending and technical assistance, and safety and health programming. KCT's vision is that Kensington Avenue is a safe, healthy, and socioeconomically diverse commercial corridor with accessible opportunities for the existing and future residents of Kensington.

All of Adriana's professional working experience has been in the nonprofit sector and she is passionate about serving others. Adriana has a B.A. from Rutgers University in Political Science with a minor in Security Intelligence and Counter Terrorism. She also has an M.S. in Public Policy from Drexel University.

Julia Duranti-Martinez works with LISC's national Community Research & Impact team, where she supports collaborative research, program development, and capacity-building activities, with a focus on community ownership and housing justice. Prior to joining LISC, Julia coordinated citywide community land trust capacity building and coalition organizing at New Economy Project. She previously worked as a language justice interpreter in Austin, TX; carried out collaborative community research focused on gender, resilience, and community development in the Dominican Republic; and worked in Colombia providing popular education and analysis on the effects of U.S. policies and accompanying Black, Indigenous, and rural communities resisting displacement. Julia serves as the Board Chair of the East Harlem/El Barrio Community Land Trust and is an affiliated instructor with the City College Community Change Studies program. She holds an M.S. in Community and Regional Planning and M.A. in Latin American Studies from The University of Texas at Austin and a B.A. in Anthropology and International Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame.

The session will be hosted in KCT's space at IF Lab, located in the J Centrel building at 3400 J Street, Unit G12, Philadelphia PA 19134.

Public Transportation:

IF Lab is located one block from the Market-Frankford Line at Tioga Station, and a short walk from SEPTA bus routes 3, 89 and 56.

Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations (PACDC) works to create an equitable city where every Philadelphian lives, works, and thrives in a neighborhood that offers an excellent quality of life.

As a membership association, we foster strong community development corporations and non-profit community organizations by enhancing their skills and advocating for resources and policies to create a just and inclusive Philadelphia.

To learn more about PACDC, including membership information, please visit us at https://www.pacdc.org

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Philadelphia is one of 38 local offices of the nation’s largest community development organization. LISC works alongside residents and partners, to create resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity across America –great places to live, work, visit, do business and raise families.

LISC invests in historically disinvested communities across the country in order to close gaps around health, wealth, and opportunity. Over our 40+ years, LISC Philadelphia has supported the creation of 9,194 affordable homes and 2.7 million square feet of commercial space representing $600 million in total investment.

To learn more about LISC Philadephia, please visit us at https://www.lisc.org/philly

The Community Development Leadership Institute (CDLI) is the training, technical assistance (TA) and networking umbrella for PACDC member services programs. Trainings range from real estate development financing and community engagement to communications and fundraising, Technical assistance projects range in size and scope and are driven by the needs and interest of PACDC's membership. All trainings and TA programs are led by seasoned professionals sharing real-world insight and state-of-the-sector practical guidance.

The strength of CDLI is its ability to bring diverse expertise together with equally diverse practitioners to learn from and share with one another innovation as well as tried and true methods for supporting and growing strong neighborhoods. Annual planning for CDLI's range of programs is led by an advisory board made up of educators, community developers and supporters.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Kensington Corridor Trust, 3400 J Street, Philadelphia, United States