Bob Brehm
Bob Brehm served as director of Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation from 1978 through 1995. Since then, he has taught practitioners in communinity and organizational development and consulted for community groups.
Keeping the Jobs in House
Humboldt Construction Company, a subsidiary of a Chicago CDC, has been providing local employment for over 30 years. But it hasn't been easy.
Salvaging Success from Failure
While the case of Chicago's El Mercado marketplace project illustrates the kinds of false assuptions that get community development organizations into trouble, it can point the way toward sound decision-making
A Recipe for Failure
In a large mixing bowl, stir in these ingredients:
1 cup Good Idea
3 cups Vision
2 tbl Great Site
16 oz Capital
2 pints Community Support
When fully blended,...
The Mistakes Project
This article is one of a series of papers written as part of the “Mistakes, Learning, and Adaptation” Project. In November of 2007, a...
So You Want to Be a Developer: Community Organizing Groups Consider Housing Development
The second week of October 2001 was a busy one for Nobel Neighbors, a community organizing group in Chicago’s West Humboldt Park neighborhood. It...
Ten Things to Consider Before Getting into Real Estate Development
1. Check the fit: Values. Have a frank discussion about the values and practices that are most important to your group. Which of those...
Going the Other Way: Adding Organizing to Development
Some groups move in the opposite direction from Nobel Neighbors, starting out with a development focus and adding in organizing for the same reasons...