About RPOP
Our Mission
Promise of People, Promise of Place
Russell: A Place of Promise (RPOP) is a justice-based initiative focused on generating investments in the people and places that make Louisville's Russell neighborhood special.
With hundreds of millions of dollars in planned and underway investment, Russell is poised to experience a neighborhood renaissance. The time is now for new strategies that focus on Black wealth building and investments without displacement of residents or businesses.
Racist policies and practices like urban renewal, redlining, and ongoing discrimination in financial practices have harmed the economic vibrancy of the neighborhood and Black wealth opportunities.
RPOP's emphasis, priority, passion, and commitment are to amplify the voices, needs, and wants of Russell Residents.
We approach our work through collaboration and shared leadership – people inform place-based strategies, and place-based strategies reflect the decisions of the people, Russell residents.
Our Story
Russell: A Place of Promise launched in 2018 as a project incubated by Cities United and Louisville Metro Government and is fiscally sponsored by the Community Foundation of Louisville. In 2024, RPOP will be its own entity, decided and led by Russell residents.
Incubation
A process in which one or more funding companies or institutions provide financial and other resources to a nonprofit or business to support foundational developmental measures. Typically, incubation partners offer enough funding for several years of work, office space, network and partnership opportunities, and management assistance.
Fiscal Sponsorship
Refers to a contractual relationship that allows a nonprofit to advance charitable or other exempt activities with the benefit of the tax-exempt status of a sponsor organization. The Community Foundation of Louisville’s fiscal sponsorship assists RPOP with financial management, provides oversight from a board of directors, and offers RPOP access to nonprofit status.
During incubation, Louisville Metro Government’s support includes:
- Property, including up to 75 residential sites and the 5-acre property loacted at 3025 W. Madison Street, directly south of the Louisville Urban League's Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Complex
- Ongoing property management of these sites pending RPOP's ability to take ownership
- Staff support, including processing payroll, providing benefits, and managing HR needs
- Access to key Metro government staff members working in areas connected to RPOP's work
- Procurement, including access to LMG's purchasing power for technology, printing needs, and holding contracts or agreements related to properties that remain in LMG's ownership
- Miscellaneous resources including access to mapping services and similar data tools
FAQ
- Development of the Place of Promise (POP) framework and consulting with other cities interested in implementing strategies in similar neighborhoods or areas
- Access to a national network of Mayors, city leads, young leaders, and organizations working towards safe, healthy, and hopeful communities
- Guidance in developing strategies informed and led by the people most impacted including community engagement approaches, organizing principles, and leadership development tools
- Staff support, including processing payroll, providing benefits, and managing HR needs
- Office space, supplies, technology, communication tools, and other materials
- Ongoing relationships with local and national policy and advocacy groups, technical experts, learning communities, funders, and researchers
- Property, including up to 75 residential sites and the 5-acre property loacted at 3025 W. Madison Street, directly south of the Louisville Urban League's Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Complex
- Ongoing property management of these sites pending RPOP's ability to take ownership
- Staff support, including processing payroll, providing benefits, and managing HR needs
- Access to key Metro government staff members working in areas connected to RPOP's work
- Procurement, including access to LMG's purchasing power for technology, printing needs, and holding contracts or agreements related to properties that remain in LMG's ownership
- Miscellaneous resources including access to mapping services and similar data tools
- Managing RPOP's grant funds and donations in dedicated accounts
- Processing invoices and holding contracts related to RPOP's work
- Providing a project manager who serves on RPOP's Advisory Board and supports RPOP's administrative needs
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