Communities in Action

In rural Durant, MS, a group of committed leaders and residents knew what they wanted for their community of 2,600 people. They wanted to bring new businesses and jobs to the community. They wanted better schools. They wanted residents to feel safe.

Members of Oscoda County’s CHOICES partnership were well aware of the challenges facing their rural Northern Michigan community. What they needed to understand was what resources they already had. “We needed to focus on what we have and not on what we don’t have,” said Jan Schleicher, certified health coach and co-chair for...

In 2016, a diverse group of Woodbury, MN partners formed “Woodbury Thrives” to address growing inequities in their suburban community of nearly 69,000. The group included partners from healthcare, public health, nonprofits, business, government, education, and philanthropy. One of their first tasks was to identify clear priorities for action. To do this, the group used a three-part process....

Granger School District in rural Yakima County, Washington, sees school attendance as a complex challenge. To encourage its nearly 1500 students to attend class regularly, the district offers programs that reward improved and perfect attendance. Staff also work directly with students and families to track attendance and to understand and address barriers to attending school. The “...

To help address a shortage of affordable housing for local families, the City of Springfield, MO, a ‘big, small town’ of 164,122 people in a metro area of nearly half a million, started the Springfield Community Land Trust (SCLT) in 2012, in collaboration with Community Partnership of the Ozarks. SCLT helps families with low to moderate incomes...

In some areas, corner stores are the only retail food option accessible to nearby residents. Working with corner stores to carry more fresh produce and other healthier food options is one strategy to increase access to healthy foods in food deserts and low income neighborhoods. Five years ago, the City of Bridgeport’s Health Department, working with Southern Connecticut State University and...

Police and community members work together in Everett, MA To improve relationships with local youth and immigrant communities, the Everett Police Department has partnered with local stakeholders to implement principles of community policing, a transformative approach to protecting communities. This approach...

During the past 10 years, North Carolina has faced an all too common problem: rising rates of opioid use and overdose deaths. The North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition (NCHRC) aims to reduce harm for those engaging in high risk activity, such as drug use. Their advocacy and coalition building, along with direct services and resource development, have led to changes in North Carolina’s laws,...

To increase access to fresh, healthy foods in a Kansas City, MO neighborhood greatly affected by the economic downturn, the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council (INC), the Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition, and...

To provide affordable housing and on-site community resources in a healthy environment, King County Housing Authority (KCHA) transformed Greenbridge, a suburb of Seattle, WA, from World War II-era temporary housing to modern, brightly colored apartments and townhomes. Determined to meet the needs of the community, KCHA collaborated with partners to gather feedback from residents across the age...