When it comes to community integration, is your institution in it for the long haul? That’s Johns Hopkins University’s intention with its Live Near Your Work scheme. The nearly 12-year-old programme provides grants to employees to buy homes in deprived neighbourhoods around east Baltimore.
According to Alicia Wilson, vice-president for economic development at Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System, the success of an organisation is boosted by the health of its community.
“We value our stake here but we also want the folks who work with us to benefit from being in this city and we’re willing to put dollars behind that,” said Ms. Wilson.
She also gives tips for how institutions that might lack Johns Hopkins’ resources can anchor themselves in their local communities.