Resources

Ashoka
Ashoka's mission is to shape a citizen sector that is entrepreneurial, productive and globally integrated, and to develop the profession of social entrepreneurship around the world. Ashoka identifies and invests in leading social entrepreneurs — extraordinary individuals with unprecedented ideas for change in their communities — supporting them, their ideas and institutions through all phases of their careers.

CEOs for Cities
CEOs for Cities is a national network of urban leaders dedicated to building and sustaining the next generation of great American cities.

Community Arts Network
Promotes information exchange, research and critical dialogue within the field of community-based art.

CoolTown Studios

Council for Community & Economic Research

Creative Cities Summit 2.0
Network with others involved in the transformation of cities via this Facebook group. This is probably the place to find out if a Summit is taking place in 2009.

Creative Clusters
Creative Clusters is the international conference, network and events program for people working in the development of creative industries. Participants are interested in regeneration and development projects that deliver outcomes in both cultural and economic terms.

Creative Networks: Mexican Immigrant Assets in Community
This beautifully designed site shares the results of a study of social networking practices (e.g., through face-to-face gathering places) of Mexican immigrants in Chicago. The study shows that these immigrants possess "a wealth of artistic and networking assets that contribute to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of neighborhoods, organizations and institutions in the Chicagoland area." It also found that "cultural and artistic practices contribute to identity formation, strengthen collaborative bonds, and extend social networks ..." Finally, it demonstrated that "participation in cultural and artistic activities stimulates economic activity ..."

Cultural Vitality in Communities: Interpretation & Indicators

GoogleMapsMania

Handmade in America
Handmade in America's founder, Becky Anderson, is a true visionary. Her organization has helped transform Western North Carolina's struggling economy through cultural heritage tourism. Handmade is empowering local artisans and tradition bearers -- and the communities where they live -- through economically and environmentally sustainable strategies.

Health & Place (journal)
The articles in this interdisciplinary journal affirm the connection between place, environment and community health.

The Intercultural City - Making the Most of Diversity: Profiles of Intercultural Innovators (PDF)
This fascinating study examines the role of "intercultural innovators" in urban environments. These are individuals who cross cultural boundaries drawing on elements from different cultures. They found that many of these individuals (whom I would call "bordercrossers") included ... artists, entrepreneurs, people in community development.

Liveable City Project
The main aim of this project is to improve the public space (spatial domain) in historic city centers of Europe by looking at it in a coordinated way, and to balance the need to maintain and promote the heritage of the city with the demands of everyone who lives in, works in or visits the city.

Main Street: National Trust for Historic Preservation
The Main Street approach is a community-driven, comprehensive methodology used to revitalize older, traditional business districts throughout the U.S. Its underlying premise is to encourage economic development within the context of historic preservation in ways appropriate to today's marketplace. This approach advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment, and the rebuilding of traditional commercial districts based on their unique assets: distinctive architecture, a pedestrian-friendly environment, personal service, local ownership, and a sense of community.

New Rules Project

Partners for Livable Communities
This organization "gets it." Partners is a national, nonprofit organization working to restore and renew our communities. Partners has over twenty-five years of experience in solving community problems by providing information, leadership and guidance that help communities help themselves.

Placeblogger
Blogs about places.

The Power of Culture
The Power of Culture is a Web site about culture and development. It reviews art and cultural expressions in conjunction with human rights, education, the environment, emancipation and democratization. The site offers a list of projects, initiatives and objectives of Dutch organizations active in this area, but also reports on the part played by cultural organizations in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and Southeast Europe. News and background information illustrate how culture is inextricably entwined with ethics and policy. The Power of Culture also points the way to other online sources, media and organizations.

Project for Public Spaces
At the PPS Web site, find out about PPS's innovative programs around placemaking, public markets, parks and transportation, but also numerous articles and other free resources about how to plan or transform the kinds of public spaces that build strong communities. Bordercross is proud to be a member of PPS.

Rebuilding Place in the Public Space
The truly invaluable blog of Corinna's friend and placemaking colleague Richard Layman. He writes about placemaking and all that makes it work -- historic preservation, urban design, transportation, asset-based community development, arts and cultural development, commercial district revitalization, tourism and destination development, and quality of life advocacy.

Responsibility Hospitality Network
Highly recommended for people who work in business districts that have a lot of music and entertainment venues.

Smart City Radio

Sociable City Network

SocialCompact

Traditional Arts Program Network (TAPNet)
Access information about federal and national folk and traditional arts programs, agencies, grant opportunities, reports and personal Web sites. The site also features sections on folk arts and education, documentation of folk arts, and links to museums and archives.

Trendwatching

Who Owns Native Culture?
Resources for understanding current debates about the legal status of indigenous art, music, folklore, biological culture and sacred places.