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Title: Verde and Living Cully: A Venture in Placemaking
Citation Type: Miscellaneous
Publication Year: 2015
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Abstract: This case study profiles Verde, an innovative nonprofit organization based in the highly diverse, lowincome Cully neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. Verde’s mission is to pursue environmental wealth through social enterprise, outreach, and advocacy. It fulfills its mission through operating three social enterprises, developing Living Cully, a neighborhood-wide coalition to fight displacement of low-income residents and residents of color due to gentrification, and advocating for preferential hiring and contracting policies for low-income people and people of color, across public and private sectors. Over its history, Verde has created 21 full-time, living wage jobs directly, through the operation of three social enterprises: landscaping, nursery, and energy efficient building. Its landscaping business focuses specifically on habitat restoration and green infrastructure, including the building of parks and restoration of natural areas within the neighborhood. In addition, Verde opens up opportunities for ongoing education and workforce training to the Crew Members who work at its social enterprises. Verde also creates job opportunities indirectly by advocating for preferential hiring and contracting policies for low-income people and people of color throughout Portland, with a focus on the Cully neighborhood. Living Cully represents a holistic approach to placemaking in underserved communities; it calls itself an Ecodistrict focused on social equity, and operates under the slogan, “sustainability as an anti-poverty strategy.” The Cully neighborhood has historically suffered from underinvestment, lack . . .
Url: https://ecodistricts.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Verde-Living-Cully-Placemaking-Case-Study.pdf
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Authors: Enelow, Noah; Hesselgrave, Taylor
Publisher: Ecotrust
Data Collections: IPUMS USA
Topics: Other
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