Stories of Philanthropic Leadership in Advancing Regional and ...

housing. Additionally, the renovation of a historicbuilding to house administrative and communitymeeting space was successfully completed. TheHouston Endowment’s Todd also adds that“Houston and its residents are at better places,”thanks to the existence of Project Row Houses.be more fully in place through expandedprogramming and the continued development of abroad and sustainable funding base. Project RowHouses boasts much media and public attention, astrong leadership at the staff and board level, with acharismatic founder as an enabling agent.LIVABLE NEIGHBORHOODS/STRONG REGIONSLessons LearnedAccording to the Ford Foundation, a key lessonwhen working with arts and historical preservationprojects is not to impose too strongly and too soon aparadigm that mandates change and movementbefore the organization is ready. Organizationssimilar to PRH have not been able to develop acommunity development corporation withoutabandoning their human and social justice mission.It is this human development focus that allowsprojects like PRH to go beyond developing aconventional neighborhood plan and address socialequity issues like poverty alleviation.The three foundations interviewed for this profileagree that the organization is maturing and anticipatethat the tremendous potential, partially realized, willMiguel GarciaActing Deputy Director,Community and ResourceDevelopment UnitFord Foundationm.garcia@fordfound.org(212) 573-4618Rick LoweFounding DirectorProject Row Housesrlowe@projectrowhouses.org(713) 526-7662Contact PeopleMichael PeranteauActing Executive DirectorProject Row Housesmichaelp@projectrowhouses.org(713) 526-7662Kathy SmithSenior Program OfficerThe Meadows Foundationksmith@mfi.org(214) 826-9431The project has transcended expectations andboundaries. The organization has grown beyond anAfrican American cultural preservation effort to abroad-based social justice organization. It hascarefully negotiated opportunities brought by mediaand has been successful in maintaining its core valuesand image. The project has shown that linking arts,community development, and social services can be apowerful beacon. It has proven that an organizationfocusing on teaching, as well as maintaining itselasticity and openness, can expand and growsuccessfully. The hope is that PRH will inspiresothers to learn from its experiences of connecting thearts with community development and socialservices, and move towards adjusting as well asincorporating elements of the PRH model into theirunique setting and approach.Emily ToddGrant OfficerHouston Endowment Inc.etodd@houstonendowment.org(713) 238-810081Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities