Project Co-Director and Co-Principal Investigator of a statewide capacity building effort, Illinois ResourceNet: A Funding Access Initiative, aimed at improving the competitiveness of nonprofit organizations in Illinois in the pursuit of federal grants. The project is based at the Great Cities Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Recently served as Visiting Senior Planner in Residence (full-time), Urban Planning and Policy Program, College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, University of Illinois at Chicago. Currently Adjunct Professor teaching graduate seminar, Urban Space, Place, and Institutions.
Published a new book, Restoring Power to Parents and Places: The Case for Family-Based Community Development, Spring, 2006 (see home page for further information).
Training community leaders, parents, planners, and local government officials in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in the principles and practices of Family-Based Community Development through a project funded by the Oak Foundation, Geneva, Switzerland. Teaching community development and policy analysis seminars at Addis Ababa University.
Principal Investigator, "Housing as a Productive Family Asset," funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2005-2006. Project studied home-based enterprises in a variety of urban and rural settings and made recommendations on how public policies can strengthen them. The second phase during 2008 aimed to clarify and build support for implementation strategies, and expanded the scope to Ethiopia.
Lead Investigator, Living Cities State Collaboration Project (Completed, March, 2005). Project examined comprehensive community development initiatives in five US cities, and how state governments can be better organized to suppport such efforts.
Originally co-lead consultant and now volunteer board member of new urban horticultural enterprise, Sweet Beginnings, LLC, which provides transitional jobs for ex-offenders in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood (2004 - present). The enterprise produces urban honey and honey related products and sells them through farmers' markets, retail stores, hotels, and restaurants.
Lifelong career focus on public policy design and its impact on community development. Over 25 years of university teaching, planning, research, and consulting devoted to strengthening distressed communities.
Directed Illinois Workforce Advantage, an innovative, place-based community development project focusing on nine rural and urban communities, involving eighteen state agencies, and based in the Governor's Office.
Taught political science, public policy and community development at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Penn State University in University Park, and Indiana University, Bloomington.
Led the Pennsylvania Family Policy Seminars, funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts.
Directed the Governor's Advisory Council for Young Children in Pennsylvania, chaired by Governor Robert P. Casey.
Published many articles and policy papers addressing children, family, and community development issues.
Father of four children, youth baseball coach, avid gardener.
Ph.D. in Political Science, Indiana University, Bloomington; M.S.W., Community Development and Planning, Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago.
