What is the NCRP?

In the spring of 2008, the Center for Sustainable Change embarked on a partnership with the 3 Principles Network in Des Moines, Iowa and the United Way of Greater Des Moines, along with the Lakewood Community Development Corporation and Lakewood Pre-School in Charlotte, N.C. to initiate the National Community Resilency Project.

The overarching aim of this project is to increase and unleash the mental and spiritual well-being of all participants in order to achieve positive health, educational, and community safety & renewal outcomes--as have been demonstrated and documented in over 25 years of such work in at-risk communities across the country, beginning with the first such project at Modello & Homestead Gardens in Dade County, FL.

CSC President Roger C. Mills, Ph.D. embarked on the Modello Project at the invitation of then Dade County State Attorney Janet Reno. That project is documented in the book "Modello: A Story of Hope for the Inner City & Beyond," by Dr. Jack Pransky. Dramatic outcomes from Modello ("the model") landed the women of Modello and Dr. Mills on the Today Show.

Subsequent community projects demonstrated significant impacts on depression, crime rates, civic engagement and overall well-being in communities as diverse as the Bronx, Fresno, Calif. and Oakland's Coliseum & Lockwood Gardens. The Center for Sustainable Change acknowledges the profound contributions of our many 3 Principles-based colleagues in the human services toward such outcomes.

To date, the NCRP has demonstrated significant health related outcomes, as documented in a Rand-developed health survey administered to staff in one of Des Moines' largest employers (with 6 and 12 month follow up). In Lakewood, violent crime has decreased by 62% and assaults and burglaries with deadly weapons have decreased by 80%, while civic engagement has increased by more than 250%.

In 2009, the National Community Resiliency Project partnered with the Delta Citizens Alliance in the Mississippi Delta region--a 55-county flatland spreading East and West of the Mississippi River, and including Louisiana and Arkansas. The Delta region, birthplace of the Blues, has some of the worst poverty rates in the nation; lowest life expectancies; highest rates of diabetes, teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and etc. ... with some statistics equivalent to those of developing countries like Thailand and Libya.

While the W.K. Kellogg Foundation has most generously supported initiation of this Project, we currently seek both public support, and the support of new foundations and regional corporations in order to realize the hopes and aspirations of the people in the Delta. The Delta is a large geographical area, with so many challenges. The CSC and our project partners are currently engaged in a veritable frenzy (!) of fundraising and grantwriting toward this end. Please contact the Center at (650) 424-0705 if you can be of assistance.