Mack Road Partnership | Annual Report 2012 | June 2012 | Page 3

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eXeCUTIVe DIreCTOr’ S meSSage

Mack Road: Advocating for a Vibrant Community
Generally, experts agree that to accomplish the goal of restoring prosperity and increasing return on investment, a vibrant community must be built. While the definition of what makes a community vibrant can be hard to pin down, there are some commonly accepted traits.
Those who live, shop or work in vibrant communities cite a bond or sense of belonging among the people who frequent them. They knit together through common culture, values, shared goals or the desire to overcome a common challenge. Vibrant communities contain both children and the elderly, green space for recreation, and services such as access to proper nutrition, healthcare and shelter. The most vibrant communities have a combination of live and work space within their boundaries, and residents and shoppers share the bond of common experiences. They work together to support each other, create things to make their lives better, and advocate toward better conditions based on their common understanding of each other’ s reality. Truly vibrant communities create healthy living conditions for residents and a locally rooted, healthy economy.
Do you recognize it? I have just described the Mack Road Partnership! While we clearly have work to do, we already have most of the required architecture in place. The residential communities fronting Mack Road and the surrounding neighborhoods provide a built in customer base for our businesses and feed our local economy. We have a wealth of“ mom and pop” shops and a great selection of merchants and service providers to serve our diverse population. Our neighborhoods are full of children as well as a vibrant cadre of empowered adults and seniors who live, shop and serve in the community. Our clergy and our teachers are involved, and we are all rowing in the same direction. It’ s exciting!
As a change agent and your advocate, the Mack Road Partnership is dedicated to restoring the area that our parents and grandparents cherished. With your help, we will foster an environment that supports local business, encourages strong families and mentors responsible children. We are fortunate to have a solid team of property and business owners, civil servants and residents who are invested, both literally and figuratively, in our success. I am honored to be your advocate.
Yours in vibrancy!
Executive Director

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