Forging Resilient and Inclusive Communities with Ricardo Flores of LISC

The Finest City

In this episode of the Knowledge to Action series, host Jen Whitelaw welcomes Ricardo Flores, Executive Director of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) San Diego. Ricardo talks about the complex work LISC does throughout its extensive network of investment-based collaborations that support San Diego’s underserved neighborhoods. He discusses how LISC stands behind its mission in many ways, including training community development professionals, and gives actionable information about how listeners can take advantage of LISC’s opportunities and funding.

Timestamps:

[2:07] LISC is a nonprofit community development financial institution, or CDFI. It provides loans for development and redevelopment. Ricardo discusses why LISC is so successful.

[3:44] Ricardo talks about LISC’s reconciliation by going back to the roots from which it came, working more intently with groups like Urban League and the NAACP.

[4:09] What is the mission of LISC? How does LISC work with residents and partners to forge resilient and inclusive communities, and what exactly do we mean by a “resilient community”?

[7:23] Part of that resilience is being able to have access to philanthropic donors, to individuals outside of your community, to be able to tell a story of why your community is so important and why it should be invested in.

[8:00] Are these needy areas truly getting the support they need?

[13:24] Adding LISC’s lens to Lloyd Ruocco’s question: how do we create cities that are fit to live in?

[14:06] Ricardo talks about the program LISC has launched with the San Diego Foundation called the San Diego Black Homebuyer Program.

[19:19] As we think about issues of zoning, affordable housing, and “preserving neighborhood character,” how often are today’s prevailing policy and language resonant with the ones we’ve witnessed in redlining maps?

[26:56] Ricardo talks about how LISC trains its people and helps bring in volunteers for community development organizations.

[27:53] How does one go about getting funding through LISC?

About C-3

In its 60 years of existence, Citizens Coordinate for Century 3 (C-3) has brought together local thought leaders from planning, design, policy, academia, community development, and more to address our region’s distinctive and pressing land use challenges. In founding C-3 almost 60 years ago, architect Lloyd Ruocco’s vision was to bring together our region’s most creative minds from the arts, sciences, academia, and government to share ideas, learn new perspectives, and build fellowship around the idea of creating livable communities.

Opportunities for Advocacy and Engagement:

C3sandiego.org

LISC

San Diego Black Homebuyers Program

Ricardo Flores