Episode 108 | Part One: Frank Woodruff, Executive Director, Community Opportunity Alliance

ChangeMakers with Katie Goar

In this episode of ChangeMakers, Katies speaks with Frank Woodruff, Executive Director of the Community Opportunity Alliance, who shares his journey from a small Wisconsin tourist town to becoming a champion for community-based development. Frank discusses the "80-20 dilemma" in community development funding, where 80% of resources go to only 20% of organizations, and highlights the rising insurance costs threatening affordable housing projects. He explores the impact of Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) on neighborhood revitalization, offering examples from Detroit's urban renewal to Youngstown's neighborhood restoration. Frank provides insights into the challenges and opportunities in federal funding for community development, emphasizing the need for program evolution to meet changing community needs. The episode showcases the transformative power of community development organizations and the pressing issues they face in shaping America's communities. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the vital role local initiatives play in community development and the complexities of funding and implementing these crucial projects.