LISC proves itself in 2011!

Pam Kramer, Executive Director

I hope your spring is flourishing with prospects and opportunities. We have a lot to share as we look back at a very successful year and forward to even greater progress. It is very exciting to release our 2011 Annual Report and to update you on Duluth at Work with personal stories of how the program is helping individuals and neighborhood businesses. Please take the time to read them, as well as news about some of our partner organizations, a profile on Essentia Health (a major donor), and a welcome to our newest staff member. Also, remember to make your reservations for the Duluth LISC Annual Luncheon, which will be held Wed., April 18, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at Clyde Restaurant in Duluth. Kate Wolford, president of The McKnight Foundation, will be our keynote speaker. Contact Maija Peura at mpeura@lisc.org or 218.727.7761 for details and reservations.

Here's the Proof!

Duluth LISC had a banner year in 2011, investing nearly $750,000 in Duluth's core neighborhoods of Central and East Hillside, Lincoln Park, Morgan Park and West Duluth. This brings LISC's total investment in Duluth to $72.7 million since 1997. Our newly released 2011 Annual Report highlights successes of the past year and progress to date (including the creation of 1,150 jobs, development or preservation of 1,177 housing units, improvement in streetscapes and lighting for 147.5 revitalized blocks, and addition of 186 childcare spaces). READ THE REPORT

Duluth at Work is Working!

Tabatha at her desk at Center City Housing

Duluth at Work has been helping residents with low incomes, entrepreneurs, and small neighborhood businesses since 2008, significantly increasing participants’ incomes and revenues with training, mentoring, networking, and sustained support. Tabatha Tremble, a housing intake specialist at Center City Housing Corp and Billie Schwartz, owner of Le Source Electrolysis, are among the 255 individuals and 59 business owners that Duluth at Work has helped. Their stories illustrate how this successful poverty reduction and workforce development initiative, co-facilitated by Duluth LISC and the City of Duluth, is working through partner agencies that include SOAR Career Solutions and the Entrepreneur Fund.  READ MORE

Free Tax Sites

Lincoln Park Tax Site

Community Action Duluth and Churches United in Ministry (CHUM) are making tax preparation less taxing with free tax preparation assistance. Last year Community Action Volunteer Tax Preparers helped over 1,300 taxpayers and brought over $3.2 million in refunds back to Duluth. This money goes right back into Duluth's economy and with Community Action Duluth's asset building programs, many families use it to pay off debt or invest in education or make down payments on housing or a car. READ MORE.

Key Housing Partners Join Under "One Roof"

Two prominent housing organizations in Duluth, Northern Communities Land Trust (NCLT) and Neighborhood Housing Services of Duluth (NHS Duluth), recently combined into One Roof Community Housing. The new name signifies not only that the two respected organizations are under one roof, but that all of the services a person needs to buy and maintain a home and build a neighborhood are there, as well. One Roof Community Housing will continue to work with Duluth LISC, advancing housing issues and building sustainable communities.

Americorps Members Serve Duluth

Ashley Joseph, Rusty Brown, Wanda Lundeen, Adam Palan and Kristin Huset help out at Connecting the Dots

We are proud to recognize a new group of enthusiastic, civic-minded LISC AmeriCorps members, who are hard at work across Duluth using their skills to advance energy efficiency, provide housing and financial counseling to low income residents, coordinate and plan healthy transportation systems, identify solutions to poverty, and engage participants in Duluth’s Prosperity Agenda. READ MORE

Lincoln Park Business Group "Regroups"

The Lincoln Park Business Group (LPBG) has been very busy lately, leading and promoting the revitalization of Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood through business, economic, and community development. READ MORE

Donor Spotlight: Essentia Health

Essentia Health is an integrated health system, headquartered in Duluth, and serving patients at 14 hospitals and 64 clinics across Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Idaho. Essentia is a sustaining donor of Duluth LISC, supporting At Home in Duluth and the Building Sustainable Communities Initiative. READ MORE

Welcome, Maija!

Maija Peura

Duluth LISC welcomes Maija Peura as office manager. Maija is a creative, dynamic, nonprofit leader who values integrity, efficiency, and adventure. Her professional experience includes positions with WomenVenture, St. Paul, Minn.; Land O’Lakes International Development Division, Arden Hills, Minn.; and Northwest Airlines. Maija is skilled at working with others in cross-cultural and bilingual environments and has a strong belief in creating opportunities, connecting needs and resources, and developing relationships. She is a great fit for Duluth LISC as we partner to build healthy, sustainable communities of choice.