|
HISTORY
On a January day more than twenty years ago, a group of people
meeting at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) had an
idea. Asked by Nancy Hanks, chairperson of the NEA, to consider
how they could help communities by sharing information and
working together, their conclusion was to form a consortium
concerned with livability and the built environment. That
consortium, called Partners for Livable Places, became officially
incorporated in August 1977.
Partners initially focused on design and culture as resources
for livability. Two years later, Partners launched a program
to document the economic value of design and cultural amenities.
The Economics of Amenity program illustrated how amenities
and the quality of life in a community are linked to economic
development and job creation. Through conferences like the
1981 Arts Edge Conference in Pittsburgh and publications on
various aspects of design and amenity of cities, Partners
emerged as a national resource on the economic value of using
amenities for community development. Cities were changing,
and livability involved more than open spaces and concert
halls. It involved managing the social and physical changes
that affect every community. In response, Partners launched
three new programs: Cities in Transition, The New Civics,
and Celebrate the American Community.
During the early 1990s, Partners continued to broaden its
definition of livability. The Shaping Growth in American program
added a human dimension that involved social equity, children
and families, minorities and the poor. One of the lessons
of Shaping Growth has been that people, jobs, place, leadership
and finance are what make up the agenda for American communities.
The 1990's also brought a new name -- Partners for Livable
Communities -- and the redefinition of Partners' Resource
Center as the National Center for Community Action. Underlying
both is Partners' firm belief that social equity and human
potential are the most important elements of a livable community.
As the dynamics of American communities evolve, organizations
that work to make communities more livable must also evolve.
To meet the emerging challenges that face communities in the
21st century, Partners' program development and organizational
policies were redefined to emphasize broad and equitable citizen
participation. Redefining rather than reinventing organizational
goals allowed Partners to continue to apply its traditional
strength as a civic improvement resource.
Read about Partners’ President Robert McNulty>> |
