Community Land Use Academy

All the injustices we can name come down to land and who is control of it.

~ Ivan Paz, Community Land Use Academy Project Manager, Every Neighborhood Partnership

Everyday citizens must be educated about the policies surrounding the use of land in our city so they can rally together and advocate for changes in their city. This is why Every Neighborhood Partnership (ENP) and its local partners have launched a community driven land use educational initiative, Fresno Community Land Use Academy (CLUA).

CLUA is an 8-week bootcamp designed for local residents and community builders that are interested in learning and engaging in Fresno’s land use policies and development decisions in order to improve their neighborhoods. Thanks to a grant from the Kresge Foundation and with technical support from the Urban Institute, ENP has launched this new city-wide initiative.

What is Land Use?

Many of us wake up and drive to work or school without knowing about the policies, city council meetings, and government decisions associated with the road we’re driving on and the buildings we’re looking at.

“Land use” is a term used to describe the human use of land in a city. Land use addresses questions like:

• What should be done with this abandoned building?
• Does this intersection need a stop light?
• Who do we contact to advocate for more green space for the kids in our neighborhood?

“Almost everything that deals with land use is relevant to our every day lives,” says Ivan Paz, ENP’s Community Land Use Academy Project Manager. In fact, housing, health, and economic disparities in a city are often directly tied to land use decisions.

Do you have questions about CLUA or other Land Use-related questions? Contact Ivan Paz at ivan@everyneighborhood.org.

CLUA Testimonials

“After this class, I don’t drive around Fresno the same. I notice the speed limits, how buildings are facing, where affordable housing is located. I’m writing down the numbers of abandoned buildings to find out who owns them and what could be done to beautify Fresno.”

~ Melissa Perry, Associate Director with Generation Changers.

“If you are someone who wants to make a change, I definitely recommend taking this class.”

~ Tony Quezada, Owner of Lets Roll Fresno & Soccer Coach.

“For many years I was advocating with a group of residents for a pedestrian crosswalk in our area- the area around Susan B Anthony [Elementary School]. Now that I am in this program, I know exactly what the process is that I have to follow to guide other leaders so they can advocate for the development of our communities. I am very grateful to be a part of this academy.”

~ Juana Iris Meza, community organizer with The Children’s Movement of Fresno

CLUA:

• 8-week bootcamp
• Learn how to influence the way our city uses its land
• Help make your streets safer and neighborhoods more beautiful

Are you interested in joining the next CLUA bootcamp? Email Ivan Paz at ivan@everyneighborhood.org.

CLUA Para Nosotros:

• Un curso de 8 semanas
• Aprende como influir los procesos de la ciudad en desarrollando terrenos y otros espacios
• Participar en el desarrollo de su vecindario para que sean mas seguros y bonitos.

¿Estás interesado en unirte al próximo bootcamp de CLUA Para Nostotros? Envíe un correo electrónico a Ivan Paz a ivan@everyneighborhood.org.