LISC Jacksonville

06/01/2026

On April 15, LISC Jacksonville gathered community partners, sponsors, and supporters at the iconic Ritz Theatre & Museum to present our 2026 Community Development Awards — honoring the pioneers driving real transformation in Jacksonville's urban core.

This year's honorees:

🏆 J.F. Bryan Award — Step-by-Step 4 Help Foundation

🏆 Janet Owens Award — Dr. Rahman Johnson

🏆 Igniter Award — The Hardmon Company

Meet the leaders and organizations behind this year's awards and learn about the impact they're making in our communities.

Read more: https://www.lisc.org/jacksonville/regional-stories/2026-community-development-awards-honor-pioneers-transforming-jacksonvilles-urban-core/

On April 15, LISC Jacksonville gathered community partners, sponsors and supporters at the Ritz Theatre & Museum to celebrate its 2026 Community Development Awards, honoring pioneers who are transforming the city’s urban core neighborhoods.

06/01/2026

Four years. Four cohorts. And now, two Project Boots participants appointed to the City of Jacksonville's Community Benefits Agreement Board.

In his latest column, LISC Jacksonville Executive Director Dr. Irvin PeDro Cohen reflects on the three questions that guided the creation of Project Boots — and what's next as the program enters a new phase focused on civic, intellectual, and economic leadership.

Read the full column here: https://www.lisc.org/jacksonville/regional-stories/four-years-project-boots-building-next-generation-civic-leadership/

Four years ago, when I was conceptualizing Project Boots, LISC Jacksonville’s homeownership assistance program, I went into the process with a few things I wanted to achieve.

05/28/2026

Heirs' property quietly threatens the homes and generational wealth of families across Florida, and LISC Jacksonville has been on the front lines doing something about it. 🏠

We're proud to be an anchor partner in the new Florida Heirs Property Practitioners Learning Exchange. Our Implementation Playbook — built from years of on-the-ground work in Jacksonville — is now the blueprint for organizations across the state helping families clear title and protect what they've built.

The infrastructure is coming together. Read the full story 👇
https://flhousingactionlab.substack.com/p/growing-the-field-developing-capacity

The infrastructure is coming together. Here's who's building it and how.

05/28/2026

Excited to see the continued momentum behind the Phoenix Arts & Innovation District in Jacksonville’s North Springfield neighborhood — a transformative project focused on arts, innovation, entrepreneurship, and community-driven development.

As a proud partner, LISC Jacksonville is honored to support visionary projects like this that are helping reimagine neighborhoods, create opportunity, and invest in inclusive growth for our city’s future. The district is bringing new energy through adaptive reuse, creative spaces, small business support, affordable housing, and cultural experiences that celebrate community and creativity.

Congratulations to Naked Kitchen on its grand opening at the Phoenix Arts District! Wishing the team continued success as they bring new flavor, energy, and vibrancy to the district and the community. 🎉🍽️

Jacksonville’s future is being built through collaboration, and the Phoenix Arts District is a powerful example of what’s possible when innovation and community come together. 🔥🎨🏙️

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we pause to honor the brave men and women who gave everything so that we could build something better. 🇺🇸

Their sacrifice inspires us every day — to show up, to serve, and to keep working toward stronger, more vibrant communities for all. At LISC Jacksonville, we carry that spirit of dedication into everything we do.

Wishing our community a meaningful and reflective Memorial Day. Thank you to all who served. 🙏

05/19/2026

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lisc-fund-management_proud-to-have-michael-skrebutenas-represent-activity-7461079738132975616-_SEX?utm_medium=ios_app&rcm=ACoAAAAkuAUB1m6Y2KrpKUnCqokzJdYDA5R0JyU&utm_source=social_share_send&utm_campaign=copy_link

Proud to have Michael Skrebutenas represent our organization at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, engaging with civic leaders on neighborhood development and resilient city strategies. The convening brought together community development professionals to share how neighborhood-level approaches ca...

05/18/2026

Duval County has the highest rate of heirs' property cases in the Southeast, with millions in generational wealth at risk.

LISCJacksonville + Project Guardian™ are using AI to identify at-risk homeowners before a crisis hits. So far: 2,200 estate plans & $53.8M in home value preserved. 🏠

Read how → https://www.lisc.org/our-stories/story/how-lisc-and-project-guardian-are-using-ai-supercharge-protections-homeowners/

This story from LISC’s Community Research & Impact team and Project Guardian™ explores how the two organizations are leveraging artificial intelligence to strengthen protections for homeowners and improve housing stability. By combining community-based expertise with advanced data tools, the par...

05/15/2026

🏠 Homeownership changes lives. Project Boots is proof.

We're proud to share this video highlighting the heart and history of Project Boots, LISC Jacksonville's homebuyer education and down payment assistance program.

From financial education to closing day, Project Boots walks alongside participants every step of the way. For people who dreamed of owning homes near the neighborhood they grew up in, Project Boots transformed their vision into an affordable and accessible reality. These stories are a powerful reminder of what's possible when community, resources, and determination come together.

🎥 The stories speak for themselves. Press play and learn more.

05/12/2026

It was an honor to welcome the LISC Southern Region and Milwaukee teams to Jacksonville! Thank you, Tiffany Royster, for highlighting the visit with Dr. Irvin PeDro Cohen and our Jacksonville team. We always appreciate the opportunity to share the work happening in our community and connect with partners committed to creating impact. 👏🏽✨

My team from the Southern Region and Milwaukee had the inspiring opportunity to be hosted in April by Dr. Irvin PeDro Cohen and the LISC Jacksonville team. We came away inspired by the intentional, layered, data informed work from Project Boots, to HEIRs, to lending and capacity building. More than....

05/12/2026

🌟 This weekend! We're proud to share that Kristopher Smith, LISC Jacksonville's Senior Community Development Program Officer, is a Featured Speaker at NGIN's CityScapes Summit in New Orleans, LA!

Kristopher's dedication to preventing heirs' property loss, preserving family homes, and building generational wealth in Jacksonville's legacy neighborhoods is making waves. 🙌

If you're attending or want to learn more, register at newgrowth.org/cityscapes

📍 New Orleans, LA | May 18–20, 2026