Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida

This year marks a significant milestone, as we commemorate NHSSF’s 45th Anniversary. In honor of this occasion, we will host several events to celebrate the NEXT 45 years in BUILDING FUTURE COMMUNITIES. The events range from notable speaking engagements to our annual Grateful Gathering. The Open House event on Thursday, March 30, from 1:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., will launch the celebrations and we hope you can join us that day! For those partners, friends & neighbors who want to know more about the services and programs NHSSF provides, and the initiatives we are engaging in to improve and impact our communities (Weatherization Program for Miami Dade County Residents, Resilience Hubs powered solar Energy, and our Renewable, Resiliency and Energy Efficient Loan), we invite you to come to our Open House to learn about them first-hand. After a dynamic presentation, we’ll respond to any questions you could have in an open Q&A session. RESERVE YOUR SPOT HERE https://lnkd.in/e5snd3Yx #buildingfutures #openhouse #45years #creatingopportunities #NHSSF

Why we do this work. This past Saturday I participated in the unveiling of the state historical marker. I remember the riots that engulfed Miami and later building a career in DC, I lived and later worked off 14th NW and remember hearing stories about the 1968 riots on that corridor from people who lived through it. I was just getting my feet wet in the community development world and passionately interested in work that bridged economic and wealth divides. I learned that in most cities it took at least 30 years to revive areas that experienced riots. The riots in both cities devasted the economic development prospects of affected neighborhoods. There was damage to thousands of homes and businesses, a loss of jobs as businesses vacated the area along with the acceleration of white flight and middle-class Black flight. There was also a loss of hope and near-term promise for both areas. When I lived in Columbia Heights I bypassed 14th Street and drove up 16th Street to get to my condo off 15th and Harvard. On 14th Street, it was not unusual to see crime scene yellow tape and chalk lines from people perished through street violence. That area is now home to million-dollar condos and rowhouses; and thriving businesses; and of course, the demographics have changed radically. The McDuffie marker is a stone's throw away from Miami's Design District an area rapidly gentrifying and losing its historical population. There is another loss that I could not help reflect on. The loss of other lives from the riot and the deeply personal loss experienced by Arthur McDuffie's children. As I listened to presentations by his children I realized as toddlers they lost their Dad and missed out on 40 years of his parenting and love. I am so thankful that he is recognized, and the family could participate in receiving the honor. I am also thankful for the thousands of community development practitioners who work to bridge economic divides, who take holistic approaches from community policing to neighborhood revitalization to small business expansion and who work to expand social justice. Onward!