OUR MISSION


MISSION STATEMENT

THE NORTH LIMESTONE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (NOLI CDC) IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WORKING IN THE NORTH END OF LEXINGTON TO CONNECT NEIGHBORS WITH RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES, AND TO CREATE PROGRAMS FOR EQUITABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.


how we do it

All NoLi CDC programming focuses on one or more of these aspects of livability. We tie our projects to these aspects through our 6 programming tenets:

  • Developing housing affordability
  • Coordinating cultural programming
  • Enhancing public spaces
  • Growing economic vibrancy
  • Increasing access to social services
  • Addressing threats to neighborhood historical resources

CREATIVE PLACEMAKING

The North Limestone Community Development Corporation (NoLi CDC) was founded around the principles of “Creative Placemaking”, as established in Anne Gadwa Nicodemus and Anne Markusen’s document of the same name. The white paper, commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the United States Conference of Mayors and American Architectural Foundation, defined “Creative Placemaking” as follows:

“In creative placemaking, partners from public, private, non-profit, and community sectors strategically shape the physical and social character of a neighborhood, town, city, or region around arts and cultural activities. Creative placemaking animates public and private spaces, rejuvenates structures and streetscapes, improves local business viability and public safety, and brings diverse people together to celebrate, inspire, and be inspired.”

This concept underpins a great deal of our work. We are very interested in how the arts and culture can improve the quality of life of our neighbors. If you are interested in learning more about creative placemaking, check out the work of ArtPlace America, the National Endowment for the Arts' Our Town Program, or even read the "Creative Placemaking" paper that started it all here.


WHY A CDC?

Formation of a Community Development Corporation is a main recommendation for implementation of the Lexington Central Sector Small Area Plan, published in 2009.  On page 76 of the Plan, it states:

This Plan recommends that a CDC... be formed to focus on the specific issues and needs of the Central Sector. A CDC... should have the ability to act as a bridge between the public and private sectors, bring additional staff capacity and expertise to revitalization initiatives, and adequately address the concerns of local residents by providing an outlet to address local issues on a regular basis.”

NoLi CDC was formed to act as this "bridge" to facilitate investment in the neighborhood, advocate for it on issues, and to be an implementation tool for neighborhood desires. A CDC provides the staffing power to persue major grant-based initiatives, and can act as a connection point between non-profit organizations, for-profit corporations, city government, neighborhood organizations, community activists, and residents. Neighborhood-based CDCs can help communities realize their dreams, desires, and potential to help augment their community from what it is to what they want it to be.