Congratulations to our Fellows! We hope that you will have a rewarding experience next year. For more information on the program please visit the AITF Anchor Fellows webpage.

In our various Subgroup discussions throughout recent weeks, the significance of leadership came up repeatedly. As we imagined years ago, it would be important to work with and be a resource for cohorts of anchor leaders who can work to infuse and sustain AITF’s values in anchor institutions.

Our current cohort of Fellows will share reflections on the program and its influence on their anchor leadership direction at the November 7 event. AITF presents: Local Solutions in Divided Times on Thursday, November 7 from 10am to 3pm ET at the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice in New York City, NY. Register here for in-person or virtual attendance.

Leadership remains a strategic priority for AITF, and it is crucial that we continue to find ways to assist anchor leaders at multiple levels. In addition to the Anchor Fellows Program, AITF is continuing our publication series on leadership. We are currently seeking submissions for our third volume in this series.

Sparking Anchor Collaboration in the Midwest: Milwaukee, WI

Located just west of downtown Milwaukee, the Near West Side includes seven unique neighborhoods, each with its own history. One of Milwaukee’s most diverse areas, there is a rich history of economic development and business creation in the Near West Side, with some of the world’s most iconic brands and some of Wisconsin’s largest employers, alongside many other thriving businesses, nonprofit organizations, high-performing schools, and entertainment destinations. Despite that rich history, past decades of disinvestment and disengagement created some challenges. In the face of these challenges, in 2014, local leaders – including Dr. Mike Lovell of Marquette University – convened neighbors, businesses and major institutions to create a vision for our shared community.

Out of that convening came Near West Side Partners (NWSP) – a non-profit organization that aims to revitalize and sustain the Near West Side’s business and residential corridors. Anchor partners include Aurora Health Care, Harley-Davidson, Marquette University, Molson Coors, and Potawatomi Ventures. This multi-anchor collaboration currently focuses on four key priority areas: commercial corridor development, safety, housing, and community health. In August, Near West Side Partners received a prestigious local recognition - a MANDI Award (Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation) for the organization’s outstanding programs that stimulate economic and business development on a neighborhood scale. 

To Near West Side Partners, economic development means safer neighborhoods, empowered families and thriving communities. To achieve this, the organization engages existing business owners to address aesthetic and nuisance issues at their front doors. The NWSP Safety Ambassadors are the eyes and ears on the ground. They perform regular check-ins with businesses to address concerns and help businesses access financial or mentoring resources.

Last year, Near West Side Partners added a Mentor-in-Residence role to the team to help support entrepreneurs and small business owners that can benefit from 1:1 meetings to further develop their ideas. Tom Avery serves as the current Mentor-in-Residence, providing weekly office hours based on referrals from the Safety Ambassadors or inquiry from local entrepreneurs. This Mentor-in-Residence role has also helped to attract new businesses to the neighborhood by providing support with business planning and financial projections. Recently, the Mentor-in-Residence played a critical role in the Rev-Up MKE small business pitch competition hosted by NWSP. This annual competition attracts new businesses and acts as a catalyst to spark interest and development in the commercial corridors of the Near West Side. Long after the pitch event, the Mentor-in-Residence is available to connect with and support entrepreneurs as their businesses evolve.

Through grants and other programs, NWSP invested over $1 million in funding into small businesses between 2021 and 2023. Within this timeframe that funding helped to leverage over $4 million dollars of additional investment into the neighborhood’s commercial corridors. Since the formation of NWSP more than 60 new businesses have opened. This effort to create vibrant commercial corridors that attract new businesses and support existing ones through efforts that boost the local economy, create jobs, and promote broad revitalization would not have been possible without the collaboration of the safety and commercial corridor teams.

How to build an anchor network (Guide)

The Centre for Local Economic Strategies has published a new guide to inform the establishment of new anchor networks. The guide centers on a case study of the West Midlands of UK to illustrate some of the key lessons learned around what it takes to not only spark collaboration between local anchor institutions, but also to maximize and sustain the impact over time.



12th Annual SHLB Conference (Event)

October 2-4, 2024

Crystal City, VA



Taking place October 2–4 and focused on “closing the digital divide one anchor institution at a time,” the Annual SHLB Conference is a place to expand your networks and knowledge of all things related to anchor institution broadband. Schools, libraries, telehealth networks, companies, and consultants attend from around the country to learn about their connectivity options.

Community perspectives and conditions from the Fed’s Beige Book, August 2024 (Report)

The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book is a collection of insights into how nonprofit and community leaders and workforce professionals are framing local conditions. Direct accounts are sourced by Reserve Banks around the U.S.



Reckoning With Root Shock: How Understanding Urban Renewal Prepares Us for This Moment (Webinar)

October 23, 2024

1:00 - 2:00 pm ET via Zoom



This webinar hosted by Next City will revisit Dr. Mindy Fullilove's book Root Shock in honor of the 20th anniversary of the text. The speakers will engage in a conversation about the history and legacy of urban renewal as part of an effort to reimagine how to support communities facing displacement today.

Are you the next host of Imagining America? (Opportunity)

Imagining America has embarked on a two-year process to identify the next host campus for IA: Artists + Scholars in Public Life. A virtual information session will be held on October 1 at 4:00 pm ET for interested parties.



Racial equity and community partnership grants support vision care, food access and more - from Northwestern Now

July 23 - The Racial Equity and Community Partnerships Grants will help fund 10 local projects as the program enters its fourth year. The Neighborhood and Community Relations team at Northwestern University leads the initiative aimed to nurture collaboration between the school and community partners to address the root causes of racial inequities.

A vibrant network supporting anchors to take practical action on health - from The Health Foundation

March 25 - Discover how schools play a crucial role in community development by fostering inclusivity, enhancing local engagement, and serving as hubs for social and cultural activities.

Library sees rise in local support after becoming a community hub - from WHO 13 News

September 22 - A library in Des Moines, IA has seen a boost in engagement among local residents as institutions and communities continue to recover from the onset of the pandemic. Policy changes to make resource lending more accessible to would-be patrons and the installation of new features including a children's playground are among the changes that have helped transform Gibson Memorial Public Library into a community hub.

Anchor University grants to fund community projects that aim to leave an enduring legacy - from Sacramento State News

August 1 - Sacramento State University is implementing its Anchor University initiative, a grants program designed to facilitate collaboration between regional partners and University faculty, staff, and students on addressing key issues in the locality. In addition to the University itself, several other local anchor institutions will be involved in the 18 new and continuing projects to be funded through the program.

This Health System Has Spent One Billion on Diverse Suppliers - from Children's Hospital Association

August 15 - As health systems continue to innovate how they invest in the well-being of local communities, the Cleveland Clinic has emphasized localizing its procurement with diverse businesses in the city. “We think of ourselves as an anchor institution. We’re a major employer, and as a provider of health services, we’re responsible to help make this the healthiest community we can,” said Steve Downey, chief of supply chain and support services at Cleveland Clinic.

Black Church Food Security Network aims to tackle food insecurity in Baltimore and beyond - from WBALL-TV 11

September 5 - 250 churches across the United States are involved in the Black Church Food Security Network founded in 2015 amidst the Baltimore uprising. These institutions are together committed to addressing food insecurity by building community gardens and buying wholesale from Black farmers among other strategies.

Anchors and Sails: Howard University and Other HBCUs Energize the DC Region’s Economy - from The Dig at Howard University

September 10 - Business and higher education leaders recently convened for a forum highlighting the economic impact of HBCUs in their local communities. A comprehensive study on the topic detailed Howard's $1.575b impact in the Washington, D.C.-metro area alone. A recording of the forum titled "HBCU's As Catalysts for Regional Inclusive Economic Growth" is available online.