Blog for Every Neighborhood Partnership (ENP)

Social Capital and Economic Mobility

January 5, 2023 andrewfeil Economic Development

Over the last 3+ years, ENP has been a part of a local initiative called The Fresno D.R.I.V.E. Initiative (Developing the Region’s Inclusive and Vibrant Economy). One of the central values is that together we want to create an inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable economy for residents in the greater Fresno region.

We know that Fresno lags behind in economic development and what we have learned over the years is that we are one of the least economically mobile cities in the United States. So how do we change that?

LivingUNDIVIDED 2023

January 4, 2023 Gabrielle Piceno Equipping

LivingUNDIVIDED is a 6-week cohort experience that empowers communities to change the narrative of racial justice. Communities engage in faith grounding, teaching, small group conversations, activities, and assignments in pursuit of racial solidarity and justice. LivingUNDIVIDED is designed for individuals from churches and faith-based organizations that are open and interested in exploring the intersection of faith and race.

Entering 2023 with Applications from Isaiah 65

January 4, 2023 Gabrielle Piceno Perspectives

One way that Every Neighborhood Partnership lives out our value of being a Jesus-centered organization is by having devotionals during our staff meetings and retreats. These devotionals include Scripture readings or other types of character or leadership development topics.

Isaiah 65:17-25 is a Bible passage that has long been a driving motivation for ENP’s work. We commissioned the “In Fresno as it is in Heaven” artwork based in part on this passage (you can read more about it here) and at our Fall 2022 staff retreat, we examined those verses together.

Read, Watch, or Listen: 2022 ENP Staff Picks

December 23, 2022 Gabrielle Piceno Equipping, Perspectives

As 2022 comes to a close, here are some of the things our staff have read, watched, or listened to this year that have informed our work and/or personal development that we wanted to share as a resource.

Reimagining Community Land Use in Fresno

December 14, 2022 Grace Berg ENP News

Every Neighborhood Partnership (ENP) and its local partners are launching a community driven land use educational initiative, Fresno Community Land Use Academy (CLUA). Fresno CLUA aims to expand access and facilitate more inclusive engagement in Fresno’s land use and urban planning processes so that land development decisions benefit all Fresnans, especially those local residents who live in neighborhoods where land use decisions have caused environmental injustices. Housing, health and economic disparities are often based on location, race and income.

The attached article from the Urban Institute lays out the benefits and impacts to implement a Community Land Use Planning Academy, like Fresno CLUA. To learn more about the framework of Community Land Use Academies, read this article

Reimagining Community Planning Academies: A Framework for Transformative Community Land-Use Education By Joe Schilling, Emily Bramhall, and Ananya Hariharan

Thanks to a grant from the Kresge Foundation and with technical support from the Urban Institute, ENP will spend the next year launching this new city-wide initiative. We are looking forward to witnessing the ways this will positively impact the environments of so many Fresno residents.

Stay tuned for more updates from Fresno CLUA!

DRIVE Initiative and Civic Infrastructure

December 8, 2022 Germán Quiñonez Economic Development

What a better way to end the year than by clarifying some important questions about ENP’s neighborhood development role in our city. For example, many have asked, please explain the DRIVE initiative to us in plain terms and in more interesting ones; what the heck is civic infrastructure?

The Fresno DRIVE Initiative is a 10-year investment plan to develop an inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable economy for residents in the greater Fresno region. It is sponsored by the Central Valley Community Foundation with support from the James Irvine Foundation.

New Park Opens in Southwest Fresno Thanks to Residents’ Years of Dedication

December 5, 2022 Ashley Goldsmith Community Outreach, Economic Development, Equipping, Neighborhood Presence, Serving Our Neighborhoods

“Tupman Park is a perfect example of why residents are so important in getting critical resources to their neighborhood.”
~Ariana Martinez-Lott, City Councilmember Miguel Arias’ Office

On November 4, 2022, families gathered at the intersection of East California Avenue and South Tupman Street to celebrate the grand opening of Tupman Park.

Playful squeals and laughter filled this Southwest Fresno neighborhood as children played on the merry-go-round, bucket swings, and slides their community advocated for during a five year, collaborative process.

Holiday Resources

December 2, 2022 Gabrielle Piceno Partnership Spotlight

This holiday season, here are some community resources available for free!

Wellbeing: CCDA National Conference

November 22, 2022 Gabrielle Piceno Equipping

From November 2nd-5th, four of our new staff members travelled to Charlotte, North Carolina for the Christian Community Development Association National Conference, where they connected with and learned from other community leaders. This year’s theme was “Wellbeing” and Economic Wellbeing, Civic Engagement & Societal Wellbeing, Congregational Wellbeing, Organizational Wellbeing, and Wholistic Wellbeing were explored.

Marcel & Anthony’s Story: The Life-Changing Power of Mentorship

November 14, 2022 Ashley Goldsmith Community Outreach, Economic Development, ENP News, Neighborhood Presence, Serving Our Neighborhoods

Many of us long to make a difference in our communities, but we’re frozen by inaction because we don’t know where to start.

“The most valuable thing you can offer someone is your time,” says Marcel Woodruff.

Over 12 years ago, Marcel felt a call to invest in the young people of West Fresno. He says he “didn’t have much to offer,” but he knew he could volunteer for one hour once a month on a Saturday morning. On one of those Saturday mornings, Marcel met a boy who would impact his life forever.

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