SUPPORTING our members and their partners SO THAT THEY CAN do their best work
Annual Ladder of Capacity Building
This annual intensive training opportunity is focused on a topic of interest that’s chosen by CBN’s community building organizations. Over the course of a year, participants complete a project for their organizations through a series of workshops, consulting sessions, one-on-one peer support opportunities, and hands-on homework assignments.
Workshops and Trainings
CBN hosts and co-hosts workshops and training opportunities periodically that are focused on topics that members have identified as priorities.
2023 Neighborhood Gathering Series:
What’s Brewing in Cherokee Neighborhood?
On September 21, 2023, we hosted our first relaunch of What’s Brewing series featuring Emily Thenhaus, Executive Director of Cherokee Street Community Improvement District (CID), who presented on the arts-based revitalization that is bringing change in the Cherokee neighborhood. The presentation included the importance of small businesses support, like The Luminary and Black Coffee, which opened inside the gallery during COVID and saved on overhead costs through the unique collaboration.
Evening Brew in Old North Neighborhood
On October 19, 2023, House of Vision and Michael Woods, Dream Builders 4 Equity, spoke about how small business development is creating neighborhood stabilization and revitalization in Old North.
What’s Brewing in Affordable Housing Development?
On November 16, 2023, our place-based Mission Members’ Beyond Housing, St. Joseph Housing Initiative, and the Housing Partnership served on a panel discussion to share the current state of affordable housing in St. Louis, including emerging trends and innovative approaches to affordable housing development. Tower Grove Community Development Corporation also discussed their HomeScreen program and services, a vital program that matches landlords to tenants.
Links to Resources and Best Practices
Thanks in part to CBN’s ties to the University of Missouri-St. Louis—including a relationship with co-founders Dr. Todd Swanstrom and Karl Guenther, both UMSL employees, and the Community Innovation and Action Center (CIAC)—CBN members have easy access to research, data, and best practices.
Space for Peer Support
Members frequently cite CBN-led opportunities to meet, discuss their work, share ideas, and support each other as peers as the most important and valuable benefit of belonging to the CBN network.
Annual Organizational Assessment
Each year, CBN’s community building nonprofit members complete this survey to help our network and external stakeholders better understand the strengths and needs of the St. Louis region’s community building sector.
2023 Organizational Assessment Recap Report
