Category: River Roots Redevelopment Column
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No, Don’t Do That! (The Joys of DIY Videography)
Selina Pedi-Smith, Pellere Foundation “No, don’t do that. I don’t wanna do that. Stop that!”—actual quote from Rachel this week as we tried to film a simple video. Cut to: an accidental clip of the W 2nd St house project slowly spinning from sideways to upside down while both of us tried not to scream…… Read more
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A New Voice, Stitched from the Quiet: Pele’s Perspective
This month, a new voice joins our pages. Not loud, not urgent, but present. Pele – some folks say Pell-ay, others Pell-ee; he doesn’t mind, he just likes being called –came from the drawer of forgotten things. A button here, a scrap of fabric there, stitched together by someone who didn’t know what to do, only that they needed… Read more
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The Company We Keep: Building a Better Future, Together
By Selina Pedi-Smith, Pellere Foundation Every project has a story behind it, and this one starts – like many do – with a few slightly crazy people who believed in something a little too big, a little too ambitious, and way too important to let go. Let’s rewind for a second. A few years ago,… Read more
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Pellere – We’re Investing in Communities
By Selina Pedi-Smith, Founder, Pellere Foundation Throughout March we’ve talked about investment – not just in the financial sense, but in what we choose to care about, build, and sustain for the future. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that the best investments take time. They start as ideas, sometimes ambitious, sometimes simple.… Read more
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Building Community, One Cup at a Time
For the past two weeks, we’ve explored how smart investments—whether in businesses, public spaces, or at home—shape the future of our communities. This week, we’re bringing that idea to life with a story about one local business owner who saw an opportunity, took a risk, and built something that is now an essential part of… Read more
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Smart Investments: How Thoughtful Choices Today Create a Stronger Future
Why do people buy quality tools instead of the cheapest option? Why do they spend time hunting, fishing, or gardening when the grocery store is right there? Because they know that making an investment upfront saves money, frustration, and time down the road. But beyond the practical benefits, there’s also a deep sense of accomplishment… Read more
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Investing Isn’t Just Money—It’s What We Choose to Care About
Most people don’t think of themselves as “investors.” That’s for big companies, real estate moguls, and people in fancy suits, right? But…we all invest in things, even if we don’t call it that. You buy quality work boots because they last longer. You fix the porch now instead of waiting for it to fall apart,… Read more
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Seeing Progress: A Designer’s Perspective on Community & Change
When I was younger, I thought I would end up in a city. I grew up in a small town, and like a lot of people, I imagined that my future was somewhere bigger—somewhere with more opportunities, more energy, more everything. But as it turns out, city life wasn’t for me. Instead, I found myself… Read more
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Kicking Off a New Year
By Selina Pedi-Smith As we step into 2025, we’re reflecting on the progress made last year while laying the groundwork for what’s to come: a regional coalition all working toward the common goal of resilience and equitable community redevelopment. But progress doesn’t happen overnight. It begins with a vision, a plan, and the determination to… Read more
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A Year of Firsts
By Selina Pedi-Smith As 2024 draws to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on a year filled with challenges, milestones, and plenty of lessons learned. At Pellere, this year has been a whirlwind of firsts: our first federal grant award, our first agency partnership, the launch of our first ambitious microgrid project, and our first… Read more