Kingslow Associates
Community Development and Community Change
The ability of residents of disinvested communities to influence the development process and secure widespread economic and social benefits is substantially increased when communities are organized and committed to solving their own problems. Whether through community change initiatives, issue-specific actions or targeted interventions, success depend on the strength of the social networks, the vision and assessments that shape the strategy, and ongoing community capacity building.
Our work focuses on innovative, inclusive strategies that help communities and organizations manage the change process, build capacity to influence development and systems, and strengthen ties to economic activity. We offer technical assistance to community development organizations and community partnerships. Our community change evaluation work includes general evaluation, evaluation planning, systems change evaluation, participatory evaluation and project monitoring.
Representative Projects
Family-Centered Community Change
Client: Annie E. Casey Foundation
Conducted pre-site selection assessments of 11 sites being considered for newly-created Family-Centered Community Change Initiative, a two-generation approach to poverty alleviation. Assessed collective impact potential and organizational capacity in multiple areas, including adult family economic success, workforce development, housing, early childhood education, civic leadership, and resident engagement. Examined local and regional economic context and made recommendations for site suitability.
Community Economic Development Learning Network Client: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Provided technical assistance to create multi-disciplinary learning networks. Developed strategies for convening multiple groups of economic development and workforce development researchers, practitioners and policymakers to promote interdisciplinary understanding, programming and feedback about community economic development initiatives in Chicago. Conducted interviews and literature reviews and developed analytic framework and information dissemination options. Community Change Initiatives Clients: Various Worked on various CCIs in multiple capacities, including initiative design, evaluation, technical assistance, best practice documentation and assessing the economic opportunity and workforce development components. Initiatives includes: Annie E. Casey Foundation's Making Connections; Surdna Foundation's Community Revitalization Program; Edna McConnell Clark Foundation's Neighborhood Progress Initiative; Enterprise Foundation's Community Building in Partnership; Ford Foundation's Neighborhood and Family Initiative; and the Ms. Foundation for Women's Education and Action for Neighborhood and Economic Development.
Community Economic Development Learning Network Client: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Provided technical assistance to create multi-disciplinary learning networks. Developed strategies for convening multiple groups of economic development and workforce development researchers, practitioners and policymakers to promote interdisciplinary understanding, programming and feedback about community economic development initiatives in Chicago. Conducted interviews and literature reviews and developed analytic framework and information dissemination options. Community Change Initiatives Clients: Various Worked on various CCIs in multiple capacities, including initiative design, evaluation, technical assistance, best practice documentation and assessing the economic opportunity and workforce development components. Initiatives includes: Annie E. Casey Foundation's Making Connections; Surdna Foundation's Community Revitalization Program; Edna McConnell Clark Foundation's Neighborhood Progress Initiative; Enterprise Foundation's Community Building in Partnership; Ford Foundation's Neighborhood and Family Initiative; and the Ms. Foundation for Women's Education and Action for Neighborhood and Economic Development.