Foundations aim at revitalization

What can philanthropic foundations best do to revitalize troubled neighborhoods? Living Cities, a national organization based in Harlem, has begun seeking answers to that question. Four foundations involved in Living Cities have launched Pilot Cities initiatives aimed at revitalizing distressed sections of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Baltimore, Chicago, and Miami. Reese Fayde, chief executive officer of Living Cities, says that in each city, a foundation will experiment with how philanthropic organizations can take the lead in identifying an effective strategy for “neighborhood transformation.” • In Baltimore, the Annie E. Casey Foundation is looking at how to transform the devastated neighborhood around the Johns Hopkins University medical campus in East Baltimore. • In Miami, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is trying to develop a common vision for the low-income black Overtown neighborhood and the adjacent Little Havana. • In Chicago, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is working through the Local Initiatives Support Corp. on improving a range of neighborhoods. • In the Twin Cities, the McKnight Foundation is attempting to become a catalyst for improving old commercial districts that serve immigrant populations.