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Funders
Invest Together in
Columbia |
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Forty years ago when visionary urban planner, real estate developer and philanthropist James W. Rouse built the planned community of Columbia, he intentionally set out to create a small-town atmosphere through the development of ten self-contained villages around which day-to-day life would revolve.
Decades later, Rouse's vision of community spirit has clearly taken hold. Several years ago, community leaders sprung into action when they learned that the state might declare the Oakland Mills Village Center in Columbia a "hot spot" due to a surge in crime. Funders, local government, residents and other stakeholders came together to discuss the issue and concluded that the special sense of community and civic purpose that characterized James Rouse's vision for Columbia had been eroding in Oakland Mills.
Soon after, Oakland Mills residents received a mailing that contained a placemat-sized document with a collage of colorful photographs and maps, which outlined an ambitious plan to revitalize the village center and asked for their support. This new plan already had the backing of funders like the Columbia Foundation, Horizon Foundation, Rouse Company Foundation, Enterprise Community Partners, and United Way of Central Maryland, in partnership with the Columbia Association.
"The biggest thing was reconnecting the community to itself," notes Dana Bourland, Senior Director of Green Communities for Enterprise Community Partners. "There were so many strengths and assets in the community, and yet so many people had retreated to their own homes."
Richard Krieg, President and CEO of the Horizon Foundation, says the collaboration brought unique insights and marked "the first attempt to build a community development capacity in a mature Columbia village." Other accomplishments include a new supermarket in the village center, after-school choices for kids, active community watch programs, increased owner occupancy and senior housing, more family involvement in schools, and a rich array of community events and cultural activities. In addition, a green multi-use office complex is in the works.
Those who carry James Rouse's vision forward - including the funding community - are succeeding in encouraging community and civic engagement and enhancing residents' quality of life. |
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"The sense of buy-in and ownership among the funding community made all the difference," says Dana Bourland, Enterprise Community Partners. "The funders were digging into their own best practices toolkits, they were open to new ideas, and they really wanted to see it work." |
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Snapshots of Philanthropy offer a glimpse into the many ways funders are making a difference in our community. This is one in a series of 25 profiles created to celebrate the work of Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers (ABAG) members in recognition of the 25th anniversary of ABAG.
The Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers is the Greater Baltimore region's premier resource on philanthropy, dedicated to informing grantmakers and improving our community, with membership of more than 120 private foundations and corporations |
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