Detroit Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) has a new executive director, Tahirih Ziegler, but she's no stranger to the city. Ziegler was born here, and is pleased to be back. "There is a lot of excitement and innovation in Detroit...and a lot of different projects moving forward," she says. "LISC is in a position to really be a great partner, as we have been over the last 20 years, and we want to continue that legacy of community development."
Ziegler's most recent position with LISC saw her overseeing investment in Kalamazoo, Flint and Grand Rapids. Prior to that, she did consulting work after an earlier stint with LISC and years working in community development in Kalamazoo. She attended Michigan State University.
Her first task has been to work with her local advisory board on a three-year strategic plan, particularly as it relates to Detroit LISC's
strategic investment areas. They will focus on increasing family wealth and income, community safety, real estate development, education and commercial corridors. "We are targeting some neighborhoods to build sustainable communities," Ziegler explains.
This kind of targeting in on par with the city's
Detroit Works Project, a right-sizing process in which Ziegler plans to take part. She says that, rather than duplicate efforts, Detroit LISC aims to "create synergy (with initiatives that are) already going on."
Source: Tahirih Ziegler, Detroit LISC
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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