Why Connecting Communities
At its core, community development is about strengthening both people and place. There are thousands of disinvested communities in the U.S. resulting from economic and political decisions that have weakened low-income communities. Community development can be viewed as a process and strategy that has helped rebuild vulnerable communities and make them vibrant places for existing residents and stakeholders. The community development sector in the U.S. consists of community development corporations (CDCs), regional housing development organizations (RHDOs) and community development financial institutions (CDFIs). Community development is less than 50 years old and yet the sector has been able to develop well over 1. 6 million units of affordable housing by 2009, close to 150 million square feet of commercial and industrial space, and between 2005 and 2007 community development organizations made 511,000 loans according to data from the national survey.
Communities are dynamic, complex systems with an abundance of competing needs and differing views on best solutions. Frequently, the desire to make investments and improvements outstrips the available resources in communities, and this can be more pronounced with the dizzying change of technology, politics, and economic .Complex problems require comprehensive solutions, which is core to the experience and track record of Robert Zdenek Associates.
Communities are dynamic, complex systems with an abundance of competing needs and differing views on best solutions. Frequently, the desire to make investments and improvements outstrips the available resources in communities, and this can be more pronounced with the dizzying change of technology, politics, and economic .Complex problems require comprehensive solutions, which is core to the experience and track record of Robert Zdenek Associates.
Background
A Competency Based Approach- Robert Zdenek Associates (RZA) brings over 40 years of leadership, insight, creativity, experience, and track record of success at the national, state, and local level in community development. RZA offers four major core competencies to build effective organizations: strategic partnerships built on leadership and collaboration; innovative resource development strategies; program expertise in community development, asset building, and healthy community initiatives; and communications, research, and writing expertise.
Strategic partnerships and collaborations- RZA has extensive experience in designing and managing multi-sector partnerships with national, state, and local organizations in healthy communities, age-friendly banking, housing partnerships, asset building projects; and disability initiatives. Bob Zdenek’ s new book Navigating Community Development co-authored with Dee Walsh (see below) shares case studies, strategies, and resources for advancing strategic partnerships in today and tomorrow’s ecosystem. The firm helps organizations understand how to benefit from the community development ecosystem through environmental scans and analysis of opportunities to pursue.
Innovative Resource Development Strategies- Community development is a complex discipline that requires multiple funding sources from diverse sectors. Bob has raised funds from over 50 different philanthropic and public sector sources as well as high net wealth individuals. We offer a comprehensive array of funding services including research, cultivation, proposal writing, and grant management. The firm has brought together diverse funding sectors to support major initiatives in Healthy Communities, Asset Building, Age-Friendly Banking, and Community Development.
Programmatic expertise and content knowledge- The firm has deep knowledge of community economic development coupled with asset building and wealth creation. The past decade the firm has been expanding our knowledge base in healthy communities through managing the Alliance for Healthy Homes and for the past six years focusing on older adult economic security issues including launching Age-Friendly Banking. Bob Zdenek was invited to be a Visiting Scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco in 2015.
Communications and technical support- Bob Zdenek is a prolific writer and has published over 20 articles and papers in major publications including four papers through the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, a dozen articles in Shelterforce Journal, and chapters in numerous publications. His new book, Navigating Community Development, published by Palgrave Macmillan has been featured widely in community development forums. RZA has reached a number of important audiences through publications, blogs, and website communication. Additionally, the firm has a national reputation for workshop design, training forums, and technical consultation on strategic thinking and positioning organizations for the future.
Learn about us and learn about you- RZA’s approach is based on listening, analyzing, designing, and adapting to the core priorities of the client. For further information contact Bob Zdenek, RZA Principal at [email protected] or call (908) 499-8505. We are delighted to provide references, contacts, and strategic advice.