Twenty-five years ago, thanks to the Ford Foundation and six major corporate funders, LISC formally went into the business of helping community groups revitalize neighborhoods. To acknowledge the 25th anniversary of LISC’s founding, and to salute some of the remarkable people and institutions that over the decades have made communities better and stronger, LISC hosted a series of events in 2005.

An April ceremony in Detroit emphasized the value of strong neighborhoods. A May event in Monterey, Calif., highlighted the work of community groups in rural America. In June, community developers and funders in New York showcased the success of LISC’s New York City program.

The 25th anniversary celebrations culminated on September 28 with a Washington, DC, conference at which 25 community development pioneers from across the country were honored for their vision, creativity and leadership in transforming struggling neighborhoods into stable ones. Not only did the awards salute individuals whose leadership skills are legendary, they also acknowledged the success and durability of the community development corporations they led. These organizations, so strongly rooted in their communities, have stood the test of time, proving once and again that they are the primary vehicles for neighborhood change.

Also recognized in Washington were corporations, foundations, government representatives and elected officials who spearheaded and sustained those efforts. The following pages include snapshots and words from those events.