Embedded Files
Our Beginnings
Our Beginnings
In 2019, a small group of church leaders, school social workers, and City Council representatives met regularly at Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church to think about ways to help City residents in need. Even though the community has many service providers and organizations, the group's members also saw many residents struggling. The group secured a grant to host a Community Forum to discuss ways to bring them together.
This first Community Forum, held in January 2020, was attended by about 100 community members, including representatives from many service agencies as well Lincoln Park Schools, City staff, and elected and appointed officials. While planning for the event, the organizers discovered that St. Michael's and All Angels Church was developing a Community Resource Guide of local service agencies with the help of an intern from the Wayne State University School of Social Work. The teams gladly joined forces to become an ad-hoc committee eventually known as the Lincoln Park Social Development Coalition.
First Community Needs Assessment & Provider Surveys
First Community Needs Assessment & Provider Surveys
In the spring of 2022, the Lincoln Park Social Development Coalition secured a grant from the Lincoln Park Community Foundation to explore and develop a formal proposal to the City to implement its vision. Over the course of one year, the Coalition:
Conducted a survey of providers in the Community Resource Guide to determine opportunities for collaboration and interest in a community-wide strategy;
Developed a set of indicators measuring community well-being that can be tracked by leadership;
Delivered a report describing the logistics, goals, and potential benefits of instituting a regular connection between City administration and local service providers
LPSDC Proposal 2024-05-13 R.pdfAttempts to Integrate into the City
Attempts to Integrate into the City
In May 2024, the Lincoln Park Social Development Coalition presented a proposal to the City of Lincoln Park regarding its goal of formal integration into the operations of the City of Lincoln Park. In 2025, the Coalition established a Bylaws Committee to begin developing the structural framework for a future social development body—an essential step toward achieving formal integration into city decision-making processes.
As part of these ongoing efforts, the Coalition hosted its second Community Forum on March 31, 2025. This gathering brought community members together to shape the future of Lincoln Park and LPSDC through open discussions, collaborations, and collective visioning.
At the forum, we:
• Facilitated discussions on key community topics
• Connected with fellow attendees and exchanged business cards
• Created a space where everyone was welcome to contribute ideas, feedback, and suggestions on current and future initiatives.
In August 2025, a City Council Study Session was held during which we shared updates with the city and discussed how a formal partnership might look. Though the city has not yet chosen to include the Lincoln Park Social Development Coalition in its operations or decision-making process, we continue to work toward our goal of improving the well-being of those who live, work, and learn here.
Plans for the Future
Plans for the Future
In April 2026, Lincoln Park Social Development Coalition is joining forces with Lincoln Park Rotary Club to host a Family Fun Night event. This event is intended to link residents with community resources and service providers while giving families a chance to connect with each other. During the event, we will be conducting surveys to determine the community's current needs and priorities. We plan to use this information to inform future activities as a group.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse