MESSAGE FROM LEADERSHIP
LISC Connecticut is small but mighty, with an AMAZING team of 12 staff on the ground and committed to our mission”
2023 was a banner year for LISC Connecticut, as we continued our core focus on affordable housing development and capacity building for community development corporations, while expanding our efforts to revitalize neighborhoods, engage residents, and close racial wealth disparities. Small steps result in visible progress and foster hope as we move toward transformative change.
You can read about our work over the past year in this report, including:
- Our biggest new initiative, the Early Childhood Facilities Grant Program, funded by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood with a $15 million federal ARPA grant. The program focuses on facility grants to expand the number of infant and toddler slots statewide, with a major focus on equity. LISC received 740 grant applications from centers and home-based providers, 29% from Black or biracial/multiracial applicants and 45% from Hispanic applicants. In 2024, LISC will distribute about 125 grants to providers. We hope that this will be a long-term program to address needs and invest in providers, most of whom are women and people of color.
- Our capacity building work with a cohort of CDCs from across the state with Black and Brown leaders. These leaders spent a year learning from each other and consultant Dr. WIlliam Clark, and used LISC’s asset-based CapMap™ tool to apply for grants in 2024 that will help strengthen their organizations.
- LISC’s development of new leaders in the field with two more classes of our Housing & Community Development Leadership Institute, which is funded by the Connecticut Department of Housing. HCDLI focuses on training women of color, and offers internships as well as workshops and networking sessions.
- Our Financial Opportunity Centers (FOCs), which served almost 1700 clients in 2023 through seven trusted community providers, are focusing more on outcomes for core services, including how many clients obtain and retain a job, increase income, and reduce debt.
LISC works with partners in cities, suburbs, and rural towns to create long-term, transformative change for communities and their residents. We do this by investing in affordable housing and other types of community development, engaging and empowering residents to shape their communities (including our AmeriCorps program, where local residents work with nonprofits), and supporting community-based organizations with loans, grants, and technical assistance.
LISC Connecticut is small but mighty, with an AMAZING team of 12 staff on the ground and committed to our mission, backed by the National resources and expertise of LISC. We accomplish a lot because we have so many effective partners—particularly the CDCs and FOCs—and funders: banks, philanthropy, government agencies, and more.
THANK YOU all for our collaborations. We look forward to the work ahead in 2024, when LISC will celebrate our 40th Anniversary with a gala at the Bond Ballroom in Hartford September 19. We are embarking on a new strategic plan to make sure we can capitalize on the opportunities to come, with new state, federal, and philanthropic resources for green, place- ,and people-based investments; and new staff and partners. Please reach out to us, and stay tuned!
Jim Horan, LISC Connecticut Executive Director
Terence Floyd, LISC Connecticut Local Advisory Committee Chair
2023 BY THE NUMBERS
$10M
invested
square feet of commercial space
$5.6M
leveraged
affordable homes & apartments
PORTRAITS OF IMPACT
CAPACITY BUILDING
Strengthening Partners through Capacity-Building
Look up the definition of “capacity building” and you get a variety of responses. Collectively it refers to the process of developing the skills, strengths, and competencies an organization needs to fulfill its mission. At LISC, capacity building has been at the core of our work since 1979. In 2023, the Connecticut program launched a cohort of seven community development organizations, all led by people of color, to build organizational and leadership capacity.
Thanks to generous support from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, LISC selected organizations from Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, and Waterbury, and engaged the help of a consultant to provide one-on-one coaching, as well as group facilitation, to strengthen organizations providing critical housing and community development services in communities home to residents living with low to moderate incomes. LISC selected Dr. William Clark of Eli Patrick & Co. to provide coaching support for the seven participating organizations.
Dr. Clark shared: "Capacity building is essential for nonprofit leaders to strengthen their self-leadership capabilities and enhance their ability to facilitate outcomes that best serve their communities. Through my partnership with LISC Connecticut and seven of their grantees, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of robust capacity-building activities. These efforts are crucial in establishing best practices that enable organizations to maintain and expand critical services, ensuring their sustainability and long-term success in supporting community needs for years to come."
All participating organizations received grant funding, with the opportunity at the end to apply for additional grant funding to implement a capacity building initiative. At the center of the cohort was the use of LISC’s proprietary capacity mapping tool, CapMap™, which utilizes an asset-based approach that focuses on what is present and possible, rather than what is missing or deficient. Focusing on different organizational functions, LISC staff worked with the participating groups to produce a capacity map to guide the organization in strengthening operations to elevate impact.
Participating Organizations:
- Beulah Land Development Corporation (New Haven)
- Blue Hills Civic Association (Hartford)
- Building Neighborhoods Together (Bridgeport)
- Greater Dwight Development Corporation (New Haven)
- NEST (Waterbury)
- San Juan Center (Hartford)
- Urban League of Greater Hartford
CHILD CARE
Child Care Facilities Grants Address Needs and Strengthen Providers
In 2023, the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood selected LISC Connecticut to manage the $15M Child Care Facilities, Construction and Renovation Grant Program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
This fund responds to the critical shortage of infant and toddler child care slots statewide and limited pre-school slots in designated child care deserts. It is estimated there is a shortage of 13,000 infant and toddler slots. This is an issue of equity: when child care is not available, parents can’t work.
These ARPA dollars will provide grants to support the construction, renovation, and quality improvements to approximately 125 facilities throughout the state. Nine million dollars has been designated for center-based providers, and an additional $3M for home-based providers.
To ensure equity in outreach and grant decisions, LISC formed an Advisory Committee, with members reflecting the diversity of Connecticut’s geography, including statewide organizations, and those connected with the early care community.
The application process in the Fall of 2023 was a huge success. LISC received 719 applications, with 533 of the applications from communities designated as “socially vulnerable,” meaning places with higher rates of poverty, poorer quality of housing, and challenging socioeconomic conditions. In total, these 700+ applications requested more than $74M for construction and quality improvement projects, with nearly 4,300 new slots proposed. With only $13M in grant dollars available, LISC and the Advisory Committee carefully reviewed all applications to be sure projects align with the goals to expand access to infant and toddler care and improve quality, health and safety of programs in communities experiencing child care shortages.
2024 will be exciting, as LISC selects, processes, and distributes the funding to 125+ center- and home-based providers across the state! More to come!
INCOME AND WEALTH BUILDING
Building Family Income & Wealth with Financial Opportunity Centers
In 2023, LISC continued contracts with seven organizations to operate as Financial Opportunity Centers, including the newest site, Person to Person in Darien, serving Stamford residents, which became an FOC late in 2022, and continuing sites at The Village for Families and Children (Hartford), Urban League of Greater Hartford, Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Naugatuck Valley Community College (Waterbury), Community Action Agency of New Haven, and Open Doors (Norwalk).
In its third year, the Connecticut FOC Network served 1,698 clients with 84% receiving two or more services. About 217 clients were placed in jobs, with an average hourly wage of $17.19. Clients were placed across a variety of sectors including healthcare, childcare, and security. Approximately 84% of clients retained their jobs for 30 days or more. Nine hundred and seventy clients were screened for benefits resulting in over $341,000 in approved benefits. Almost 700 clients received one-one-one financial coaching resulting in:
- 58 clients increasing credit score
- 84 clients increasing income
- 44 clients increasing net worth
In May 2023, LISC was joined by over 40 community partners at the Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) Network’s 3rd annual Virtual Open House. Presenters included Tiffany Taylor Minor, Program Officer at LISC Rural and representative for LISC’s Black and African American Affinity Group; Jim Horan, Senior Executive Director of LISC Connecticut; Esther Jean-Marie and RaQuasia Smith, Program Officers with LISC Connecticut; and Gabrielle Emmanuel, FOC Manager at Urban League of Greater Hartford. Speakers presented on LISC’s commitment to racial equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) including its importance for LISC nationally and how these themes were embedded into the FOCs.
After almost three years of virtual sessions due to the pandemic, LISC hosted our first in-person Connecticut Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) Peer Learning Seminar in late May at Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury. Workshops were led by LISC staff members Jacqueline Guzman, RaQuasia Smith, and Karahn Green to help improve the sites’ capacity to embed FOC services into their programs. This included data review, client retention, coaching techniques, self-care practices, and FOC model implementation. The seminar provided an opportunity for each CT FOC site to discuss their experiences while learning from their peers; allowing them to break down common hurdles to skill-building and tap into the expertise that already exists in their organization.
RaQuasia and Karahn were joined by Connecticut FOC staff in Indianapolis to engage in four days of dynamic, action-oriented discussions through trainings, site visits, panel discussions, round tables, and breakout sessions at the LISC National FOC Conference. This was an opportunity to learn from other organizations, share best practices and gain valuable insights and tools to drive positive change for our organizations and communities. Over 300 participants from FOCs across the nation attended.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Engaging & Empowering Residents to Inform LISC’s Work and Revitalize Communities
LISC’s mission includes enhancing the well-being and quality of life in the communities we serve by fostering inclusive, sustainable, and meaningful engagement. We envision a vibrant, connected community where every member has the opportunity to contribute and thrive.
In 2023, through authentic and ongoing connections to community partners, LISC Connecticut continued to build trust, strengthen relationships, and connect grassroots efforts to resources and opportunities. In our role as intermediary, LISC has intentionally placed ourselves in the midst of community revitalization happening across the state and throughout neighborhoods where our partners live, work, play and worship. We actively sought feedback from community members to assess the effectiveness of existing LISC programs, identified areas for improvement, and pursued and developed new initiatives that align with community needs and priorities.
We welcomed our first community representative to the Local Advisory Committee with Ms. Violette Haldane, a Hartford resident and advocate. Violette brings a wealth of knowledge and her lived experience brings a community perspective to the advisory committee. We aim to invite additional community representatives to join us in the near future
AMERICORPS
Building Individual & Organizational Capacity
Another way LISC addresses community needs is through the AmeriCorps program. This program matches passionate people with local nonprofits, especially those with Black and Brown leaders, in the neighborhoods where they live. Members placed in community organizations are empowered to be a catalyst for physical and economic revitalization in their neighborhoods. LISC AmeriCorps members help engage residents in revitalization efforts, while bolstering the staffing capacity of the organizations they serve.
Through AmeriCorps service, 407,430 pounds of food were distributed, and 13,581 individuals served to address food insecurity in the community.
Our long-term vision includes expanding our reach, enhancing program quality, and deepening our community impact. We are excited about the future and the opportunities it holds.
Thank you to everyone who has supported our community engagement efforts this year. Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient community. We look forward to continuing this journey with you in the coming years.
Food donations and volunteers help tremendously in navigating during a time when prices are rising, rent is rising, and it so hard for people to afford an apartment let alone have a child/children and feed them.”
Christian Pasini AmeriCorps Member at Enfield Food Shelf
HOUSING
Leadership Institute Creates Pathways for Women in Housing & Community Development
In its third year, the Housing and Community Development Leadership Institute (HCDLI) grew to launch two more cohorts including a diverse mix of seasoned professionals and individuals looking to pivot careers into the sector.
In March 2023, the HCDLI gathered with stakeholders and key partners of the program to celebrate the dedication and hard work of the program’s inaugural cohort, as well to welcome the newest members of the 2023 cohort. The HCDLI was joined by Connecticut Department of Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno, Deputy Commissioner Brandon McGee, Senior Advisor Shanté Hanks, Lisa Hensley, Managing Director of Homeownership Programs with the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA), and Dale Kroop, original administrator of the HCDLI.
In May 2023, CHFA – one of the funders of the program – hosted a Lunch & Learn with HCDLI participants to discuss the agency’s programs, as well as provide current and past participants an opportunity to network. The cohort was welcomed by CHFA CEO Nandini Natarajan, and included speakers Tina Brockett, Heather Bilger, Kelly Ryder, Isabel Diaz, and Marcus Smith. It was during this Lunch & Learn that Donna Trowers-Morrison, a participant of the inaugural cohort, was able to network with staff and learn about careers at CHFA. Today, Donna works as an Asset Manager for CHFA!
The HCDLI launched its third cohort in early October, which will span until late 2024. Joined by Cohort 2, the program welcomed its newest members with a tour of one of Hartford Land Bank’s formerly blighted properties. As the developer of the parcel, Annette Gaynor – a Cohort 2 participant – led her peers through the property and shared her expertise and experience in transforming the vacant and blighted home as a Developer of Color. Through this, participants learned the importance of utilizing connections and resources available in the community. Annette continues to be a primary example of the types of relationships that the HCDLI hopes to foster between residents and communities.
As of 2023, the HCDLI has:
- Launched three cohorts of around 15 participants each.
- Provided opportunities for women (over 80% of participants have been women) and people of color (over 75% identify as Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, or other Person of Color) to gain skills and networks needed to foster careers in the affordable housing and community development sector.
- Connected six participants to internships, with four being offered employment by their host sites.
LENDING
Lending to Improve Community Health
In January 2023, LISC closed on a $311,600 acquisition line of credit to the CT Harm Reduction Alliance (CTHRA) to support the purchase of a commercial property in Hartford’s Frog Hollow neighborhood. Built in 1975, 28 Grand Street has served as the central hub for CTHRA’s activities, including its main office and data management operations, Naloxone/Narcan training and distribution, overdose prevention programming, resource center housing programs for the nearby shelter, and distribution for its Rover program. Prior to purchasing, CTHRA leased the building in full, while subleasing space on to several complementary organizations, including Latino Community Services (LCS) and South Park Inn, each of which provide primary care, mental health & addiction services, HIV prevention, case management, transportation services, and homelessness support.
LISC was pleased to work with CTHRA to support intentional real estate investment in one of Hartford’s most impoverished neighborhoods, which also aims to address social determinants of health.
This is the third loan provided out of a $5 million loan pool from Trinity Health Of New England (THONE) to LISC to support housing and economic development projects in the greater Hartford and Waterbury markets.
Through LISC and the loan fund, we have been able to solidify [CTHRA] as a leader in the field and state for harm reduction best practices and deliver services to the most vulnerable populations statewide”
Mark Jenkins Founder & Executive Director CTHRA
OUR 2023 FUNDERS
2023 Private Sector Support
American Savings Foundation
Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
Bank of America
Berkshire Bank Foundation
J. Walton Bissell Foundation, Inc.
Capital One
Citizens
Community Chest of New Britain and Berlin, Inc.
Community Foundation of Greater New Britain
Connecticut Community Foundation
The Connecticut Project
Ensworth Charitable Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee
Fairfield County's Community Foundation
Farmington Bank Community Foundation
Flagstar Bank, N.A.
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
JPMorgan Chase
Liberty Bank Foundation
Lincoln Financial Foundation
George A. & Grace L. Long Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Co-Trustee
The M&T Charitable Foundation
Charles Nelson Robinson Fund, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee
Santander Bank
Harold Webster Smith Foundation
TD Bank
United Way of Central & Northeastern Connecticut
United Way of Greater Waterbury
Webster Bank Charitable Foundation
Thank you to our generous funders for making our work and impact possible.”
2023 Public Sector Support
Connecticut Housing Finance Authority
Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
Corporation for National and Community Service
State of Connecticut Department of Housing
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
U.S. Small Business Administration
OUR TEAM
LISC Connecticut Staff
Angela Berry Assistant Program Officer/Office Manager
Liz Fraser Program Officer
Franches Garay Program Assistant
Karahn Green Assistant Program Officer
Jim Horan Senior Executive Director
Esther Jean-Marie Program Officer
Kasey LaFlam Director, Partnerships & Programs
Debi Martin Program Officer
Kadeem Mckoy Assistant Program Officer
Maxiel Sanchez Grant Support Assistant
RaQuasia Smith Assistant Program Officer
Elizabeth Vinick Senior Program Officer
Local Advisory Committee
Dean Andrews Senior Vice President/Senior Relationship Manager, Global Banking & Markets Bank of America, N.A.
Kate Piotrowski Community Impact Officer Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
Elijah Coleman Portfolio Manager, Commercial Real Estate Webster Bank
Glenn Davis Vice President, Community Development/CRA Officer Liberty Bank
Mario J. Florez Senior Director, Community Benefits UMass Memorial Health
Terence Floyd Vice President/Community Relations Consultant Wells Fargo Bank
Erika Frank President Farmington Bank Community Foundation
Carolyn I. Gonzalez Community Reinvestment Officer M&T Bank
Violette O. Haldane Advocacy to Legacy/Community Leader
Taniqua K. Huguley Director of Economic Mobility United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut
J. Herby Jolicoeur Vice President, Relationship Manager, Middle Market Direct, Commercial Banking Santander Bank, N.A.
Lisa Joyner New England Regional Community Development Manager TD Bank
Natalia C. Lima Vice President, Community Development Market Manager Citizens
Larissa Longchamp Northeast Market Manager, VP| Community Relations Citi Community Investing and Development
Kay Mello Director of Community Impact United Way of Greater Waterbury
Elona Shape Market Retail Leader Key4Women Market Co-Chair CT/MA KeyBank
Mary Stuart, MPH Health Equity Program Officer & Director, Well Being 360 Trinity Health Of New England
Mary Thompson Senior Vice President/Senior Relationship Manager Bank of America, N.A.
Christine Traczyk
Rafia Zahir-Uddin Vice President , Global Philanthropy JPMorgan Chase & Co.