Community Renewal
deserves second look

Editorial
Sept. 19, 2009
The (Shreveport) Times

From Allendale to Abilene to Africa, Community Renewal International's three-pronged approach to building relationships and communities is growing.

And we're proud to say it is attracting attention from high places. Founder Mack McCarter received a rare second complimentary invitation to the coming week's Clinton Global Initiative, a summit organized by President Bill Clinton which attracts world leaders in business, politics and philanthropy.

Building on relationships from last year, McCarter hopes to encourage investment in his mission to "initiate, grow and sustain safe and loving communities." After a visit from Clinton staffers earlier this summer, he said several organizations have expressed strong interest in helping the Community Renewal model spread.

"I don't know of any single project that is accomplishing what you are accomplishing," CGI Senior Associate Corey O'Hara said in the Community Renewal newsletter.

McCarter's plan is so simple that it's easy to take for granted. He advocates a systematic way of building relationships in hopes of restoring neighborhoods, which has shown success.

O'Hara said the system was evident in the "We Care" signs popping up in neighborhoods across the city.

"It does not mean all the problems are solved," he said. "But it does mean those people are now tapped into something bigger than themselves."

The Clinton summit finds organizations doing work to address the world's problems and tries to connect them with business, political and philanthropic leaders who can provide resources.

Last year, McCarter met everyone from the head of the Rockefeller Foundation to a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

At this year's meeting, he is particularly selling the national Center for Community Renewal, a $110 million training center to be located in the fully renovated Petroleum Tower. He is also adding the programs of Community Renewal especially his five-year quest to make Shreveport-Bossier City a demonstration city, with 50 more Friendship Houses (community centers), 4,000 more block leaders and 90,000 more Renewal Team members who pledge to support the cause.

They are lofty goals, but 10 years ago, no one would have considered Allendale a safe place to live. Now, at least, in a few blocks, neighbors look out for each other, children play and gardens grow.

We have long argued that Shreveport-Bossier's greatest asset is its compassionate people. Caring and relationship building are part of our DNA, making us the perfect site for McCarter's work.

His only stumbling block is funding. But with the national attention from President Clinton and an increase in visibility locally, we hope to see resources flowing.

More than that we look forward to the revitalized community that will follow.