What is a Flourishing Neighborhood? September 7, 2023 We often talk about flourishing neighborhoods…but what exactly do we mean? It’s not just a pleasant phrase – our view of flourishing neighborhoods is a well-defined concept that we use to power our mission at Focused Community Strategies. The concept of a flourishing... Shawn Duncan
Racial Equity is More Than a Priority August 25, 2023 Recently, we’ve determined five priorities to guide FCS. Within these priorities, which will help align our work for the year, we determined not to include the idea of racial equity. At first glance, that seems very surprising. However, we’ve made a commitment to view... Shawn Duncan
Mission and Values: Neighboring and Dignity July 28, 2023 At Focused Community Strategies, we’re powered by our core values. They can be stated quickly, but they’re profound when you dig into their deeper meanings. We’ve discussed our core value of development before, but today, we’ll dive into the other values of... Shawn Duncan
Client Testimonial: Alan Casada on Holistic Community Engagement June 28, 2023 It’s one of our greatest honors at the Lupton Center, the training and consulting division of Focused Community Strategies, to be able to share our hard-won knowledge with other organizations who are seeking to help their communities flourish. One of those... Shawn Duncan
The Neighborhood is the Unit of Change June 28, 2023 At FCS, we believe that the neighborhood is the unit of change. Our approach differs from many nonprofits and ministries in this key way. Our belief is woven into our DNA. Why is the Neighborhood the Best Unit of Change to Examine? When we think about the work of... Shawn Duncan
Our Big Idea June 23, 2023 Since 1978, Focused Community Strategies (or FCS) has been partnering with neighborhoods in Atlanta. We believe that the path towards ending inequity and promoting flourishing is through the work of holistic neighborhood development. To that end, we’ve also been... Shawn Duncan
Community Development Tactic: Holistic Engagement May 20, 2023 It’s wonderful to desire positive change in your community. It’s admirable to want to see neighbors flourish. However, too many current strategies emphasize a limited view of the people we wish to “serve.” In order to join with neighbors in removing barriers to a... Shawn Duncan
Testimonials on Open House April 17, 2023 We were so happy to present our first post-pandemic Open House this March! After such a long hiatus, it felt amazing to be able to showcase the work of FCS and our neighbors in the community of Historic South Atlanta. Throughout the two days, we were able to welcome... Shawn Duncan
Client Experience: Ali Parrish of Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity on the Flourishing Neighborhood Index April 4, 2023 We love to hear stories of neighbors and leaders finding creative ways to lift the lives of those who live around them. Today, we’ll be sharing a story from Ali Parrish, Executive Director of Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity. Ali joined with her team and the... Elizabeth Moraff
FAQs on the Flourishing Neighborhood Index March 2, 2023 We’ve discovered that many communities struggle to implement a strategic plan to revitalize their neighborhoods. It’s difficult to develop a cohesive plan when you’re not sure where the problems lie. This is why the Flourishing Neighborhood Index is a powerful tool.... Shawn Duncan