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Trees are more than just greenery—they’re vital urban infrastructure that clean the air, cool our neighborhoods, and boost residents' overall wellness. Yet, in historically redlined neighborhoods—areas systematically disinvested due to policies from the 1930s to 1968—tree cover is scarce, leaving residents vulnerable to heat-related illness, less beauty, and decreased access to green spaces. Community-led grant […]

In our very first blog post on CCDA principles, we wrote that Redistribution means "creating just economic opportunities for all," which is true. In order to accomplish economic vitality, though, redistribution must occur within more than simply economic resources. I'd like to share more about this today! Learning from John Perkins John Perkins stands as […]

In February 2024, two consultants with Focused Community Strategies (FCS), the consulting arm of the Lupton Center in Atlanta, Georgia, made a special visit to Waterloo to work directly with residents in Walnut and Church Row Neighborhoods! Throughout the training, we explored several powerful concepts and practices: We left the training inspired by what we […]

Molly Juza and I met in Spring-Summer 2023 when Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity hosted an 8-week Immerse course and a community book read about CCDA principles. Molly and I have deeply enjoyed attending and bringing community educational opportunities to life together since then. I was so excited when she said yes to my request […]

August will be here before we know it, and with it comes the nationwide gathering that neighbors across our country refer to as National Night Out (NNO) that residents typically celebrate on the first Tuesday night of August. In Church Row and Walnut Neighborhoods, people who call these neighborhoods "home" love to showcase their neighborhood […]

The words "holistic" and "wholistic" can be used interchangeably according to dictionaries. One notable aspect of the CCDA Principle of "A Wholistic Approach" is its deliberate spelling. So why does CCDA emphasize viewing community development through a "wholistic" lens? Let's explore this! A Wholistic Approach considers the complete picture of life. It addresses physical, spiritual, […]

In the fall of 2022, I started prayer walking on a regular basis in Church Row Neighborhood. I was inspired by the example of Harvest Vineyard Church in Walnut Neighborhood, where resident and pastor Judy Marshall serves her neighborhood through praying over the places and people there on regular walks. Neighborhood Revitalization (also known as […]

If you came to the blog to learn more about mapping, this is the article for you! Two weeks ago--during the last week of March 2025--residents and partners who have been involved in housing initiatives in Church Row and Walnut Neighborhoods were trained in an upcoming mapping survey process. These mappers will utilize a digital […]

During the last couple of years, I've seen some homes in the neighborhoods adversely affected by fire damage. This has led me to want to share some fire safety tips, so that we can all do our part to help prevent the spread of fires. In a helpful conversation with Brock Weliver, Fire Marshal at […]

The Flourishing Neighborhood Index (FNI) is a system for helping neighborhoods grow and change while highlighting holistic aspects of well-being including social, economic, and structural indicators of neighborhood development. The FNI was originally developed by Focused Community Strategies (FCS), the consulting arm of the Lupton Center based in Atlanta, GA. Along with residents and partners, […]