People

Paul Grogan, President and CEO of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the nation's largest supporter of community revitalization, is leaving at the end of the year to become Harvard University's vice president for government, community, and public affairs. "Like the community development movement itself, Paul Grogan is a man who has achieved truly remarkable results  based on skill, incredible determination, hard work, and the courage to focus on solutions, not problems," said LISC Board Chairman John P. Mascotte.

New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency's Executive Director Timothy J. Touhey has announced that he will leave the agency to pursue a career in the private sector, joining the Franklin Group of West Paterson, as director of national development.

Deborah De Santis will take over as Executive Director of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA).  De Santis joined HMFA as chief operating officer in January 1998. Prior to this she worked as deputy chief of staff in Governor Whitman's office and as deputy commissioner for the Department of Community Affairs.

Organizing World Mourns Two

Sadly, the organizing world recently lost two prominent people, Duane Stranahan and Tom Gaudette. Stranahan and his wife founded the Colorado-based Needmor Fund, an important voice in the foundation world promoting community organizing. Gaudette was one of the United States' most famous community organizers who began with Saul Alinsky in Chicago. He went on to build organizations in Chicago and later the Pacific Institute for Community Organization (PICO) on the West Coast.

The James C. Penney Foundation announced plans to restructure into two new foundations, the names, goals, and missions of which will be announced at a later date. The two new foundations will share equally in a $26 million endowment. Grantmaking has emphasized empowering politically and economically disenfranchised people to take a more active role in decision making processes and issues affecting the community. The new foundations will encourage a more specific geographic and issue focus as the reins pass to third-generation philanthropists. Anne Romasco, managing director: 212-463-6047.

Approximately 10,000 families will have the opportunity to live in decent affordable housing with the creation of the Nations Housing Fund III, a $300 million fund organized by NationsBank Corporation and the Enterprise Social Investment Corporation (ESIC). The fund will provide investment capital for developments that typically have difficulty raising equity, such as inner-city properties, those developed by nonprofit organizations, and those serving people with special needs. Contact: Scott Scredon, NationsBank: 404-607-5225, or Clare Gorman, ESIC: 410-772-2524.

The Pew Charitable Trusts is seeking communities that have solved problems common to many places so they can share their knowledge with others. "Wanted: Solutions for America," is a three-year, $4.8 million project that will finance research on how cities solve their problems and will create a storehouse of "best practices." Contact Pew Charitable Trusts, www.pew-partnership.org/wanted

Rutgers University's Center for Urban Policy Research (CUPR) and the Newark Community Development Network will work collaboratively as a result of a Community Outreach Partners Centers Initiative grant from HUD. The university was one of 18 colleges awarded a total of $7 million aimed at building working relationships with neighboring low-income communities. The grants are designed to, among other things, help the schools create jobs, foster new business, and expand home ownership. CUPR: 732-932-3133.

The Federal Home Loan System presented 57 awards to FHLBank System members and their community partners in recognition of winners' outstanding leadership in creating partnerships for low-income affordable housing and community development initiatives. A 28-page commemorative booklet examining each winning project is available: CPA Booklet, c/o Dennis McGee, Federal Housing Finance Board, 1777 F St., NW, Washington, DC 20006.

NeighborWorks Campaign for Home Ownership 2002 will introduce low- and moderate-income prospective home buyers to a broad range of services in 17 cities nationwide this fall in convenient one-stop shops. Managed by the nonprofit NeighborWorks affiliates of the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, the campaign offers support before, during and after the home purchase to simplify the process and educate the first time buyer. Contact Patricia Neale: 414-241-8252.

Street Trees is an urban greening program providing horticultural material, care and maintenance training, and technical expertise to residents of low-income neighborhoods. A joint effort of The Enterprise Foundation and Trees New York, with support from Citibank's Culture Builds Community program, the long-term goals of "tree accountability" include fostering partnerships between cultural organizations and community development corporations, neighborhood revitalization, and the development of infrastructure to support larger developmental efforts. The Enterprise Foundation: 212-262-9575; www.enterprisefoundation.org.

New Jersey Citizen Action announces three new Home Improvement Counseling offices in Passaic, Hackensack and East Orange to educate low- and moderate-income homeowners and tenants about making repairs, remodeling and securing below-market rate financing. The toll-free number is 877-653-4948.