What's New

Across the country, transit-oriented development projects (TOD) have improved community residents’ access to jobs, schools, services, and destinations, while linking businesses to regional economies.  In the Twin Cities, both local and national funders, including Surdna Foundation, have come together to support community groups and businesses along the corridor of a light rail line connecting Saint Paul and Minneapolis, fostering these neighborhoods as “places of opportunity that are accessible to people all income levels, reflect community identities, and link all people to local amenities and regional opportunities”.

Click the following links for more information:

• Central Corridor Funders Collaborative
• Community Leaders Address Light Rail Concerns, Minnesota Daily, Oct. 23, 2009

Surdna Foundation: 3^rd Annual Grantee Learning Retreat
October 19-21, 2009
Cleveland, OH
Renaissance Cleveland Hotel

For the past two years, the Surdna Foundation has brought together some 100 grantees supported through our Community Revitalization program to discuss current issues relevant to our work, such as transit-oriented development, affordable housing, greening community spaces, and leadership development. Each year, the event includes plenary speakers, site tours of key community development projects, topical networking sessions, as well as time for grantees to share best practices. This year's event is arranged according to three "learning" tracks -- transit-oriented development, adapting and responding to the current economic climate, and exploring new themes within the Foundation. Plenary Speakers this year include: Cleveland's Mayor Frank Jackson, Ron Sims, Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Andrew Watterson, Chief of Sustainability for the City of Cleveland, and Manuel Pastor, Director of the Program for Environmental and Regional Equity at the University of Southern California. All of these sessions make for an annual retreat that our current grantees will not want to miss!

This is an invitation only event. For more information, please contact Danielle Williams at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .