Building community and improving lives through quality affordable housing services in the Blackland neighborhood
Vision: Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home
Community: across all aspects of our organization, recognize the power of ordinary people doing extraordinary things together
Empowerment: support individual and family self-determination in achieving housing stability
At Blackland Neighborhood we know from our founding that community is an integral component of safe and stable housing. By recognizing that each and every community member is a thread weaved into a tapestry of community. It is the deep sense of community that drives us everyday in the pursuit of opportunities for all to flourish. The tapestry of community forms a safety net in times of need . Community is that sense of sustainability that stands the test of time, insurmountable odds and goliath level forces. We take strength from the many neighbors that founded this organization including our founders:
Katherine Pool
Bo McCarver
Charles Smith
There are two symbols central to Blackland CDC, the domino and the feather.
Austin Oldest and smallest Planned Unit Development happened right here in Central Eas5t Austin and is Robert Shaw Village. You can learn about Robert Shaw and the Village history clicking here. Much of the early BCDC community Conversations were held waiting for meetings at City and Hall and the corroders of boards and commissions meeting places but there was a BCDC center at Robert Shaw. Many people would gather and play dominoes as plans, developments and challenges of the day were discussed over dominoes. Today you can see this dominoes conference style of deliberation displayed as the address of many of our BCDC homes.
Resilience: ensure affordable housing for future generations through the responsible stewardship of resources
Diversity: embrace and promote an inclusive community that celebrates everyone’s uniqueness and contributions
In the aftermath of a huge battle with the City and developers, after bulldozers had finally razsed many of the long-time homes. Bo McCarver walked the empty lots that were once home to long time East Austin residents, one of whom had gone to the hospital and died in the night from a heart attack. The experience was a devastating loss. Latter Bo saw a single black feather laying on the same ground and was filed with hope. Hope that once again, like a bird this community would survive, thrive and fly. Today we still follow the flight of the feather in a design made for us and donated by local tattoo artist, Amanda Howe. Celebrating and supporting the creative spirit is one of the most profound and unique abilities that has supported the BCDC Community. Whether the creative spirit is in a community faith a band, on a canvas or even an illustration inked onto an arm we honor the diversity of every life experience.
Compassion: treat every person with empathy and respect, meeting them where they are
Equity: commit to providing services and opportunities to achieve equitable outcomes
Values:
Community: across all aspects of our organization, recognize the power of ordinary people doing extraordinary things together
Empowerment: support individual and family self-determination in achieving housing stability
Resilience: ensure affordable housing for future generations through the responsible stewardship of resources
Diversity: embrace and promote an inclusive community that celebrates everyone’s uniqueness and contributions
Compassion: treat every person with empathy and respect, meeting them where they are
Equity: commit to providing services and opportunities to achieve equitable outcomes
