Success Stories
Washington Heights, Delaware, Sees the Impact of Nine Years in the Blueprint Communities® Initiative
Since Washington Heights, in Wilmington, Delaware, joined Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh’s (FHLBank) Blueprint Communities® initiative (Blueprint) in 2016, they have been able to develop and implement their neighborhood revitalization plan based on the needs of the residents. Blueprint is an FHLBank initiative that revitalizes communities through building strong local leadership, collaboration and development capacity.
With the support of Artisans’ Bank, an FHLBank member, the Washington Heights Blueprint Community team (Team) worked with Jefferson Street Center (JSC), a non-profit organization, and the Team has since expanded from serving three communities to serving all of the neighborhoods of Northwest Wilmington. Their work aims to strengthen civic influence, address systemic challenges, and preserve deep-rooted resources that serve as the foundation for the neighborhoods they serve.
Based on input from the community, the Team invested in “The Hub,” a community center operated through a partnership between JSC and Hanover Presbyterian Church. This shared-use hub can now host and offer programs such as arts and education, a clothing closet, community and civic planning, a food pantry, free youth basketball, health and wellness fairs, and workout classes. As part of the Hub, JSC is also working to pilot an incubator commercial kitchen and install a computer lab for youth and adults.
“The Hub provided a safe place for resources and connection during the pandemic, and its work has grown dramatically inside and outside of the building’s walls,” said Amanda August, Executive Director of JSC. “It is great to see so many members of our community utilizing this facility. This shared-use space has provided foundational support to expand our work out into Northwest Wilmington and implement neighborhood initiatives.”
“We are listening to the needs of the community and adapting our plan accordingly,” said Joel Schiller, a community officer of Artisans’ Bank, and a founding member of the Team. “There isn’t one way to improve a community, it takes time, dedication, and working together.”
“Blueprint Communities” is a registered service mark of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh