TLW Group INC

10/16/2024

Happy Wednesday!!

07/17/2023

🌿🌍 The power of one seed, the magic of a garden – these have always fascinated us, filling us with awe. Today, we share the journey of one such seed – a vibrant green seed of a unique collard variety that not only adds beauty to our garden but also deliciousness to our meals.

From adorning our garden with its color to gracing our diner plates, this seed grew through the seasons into a nourishing plant. We let it weather the winter, and watched as patiently as we possibly could as it matured and bore more seeds. Why? Each seed has the potential to begin a new cycle of life and because we are absolutely in love with this variety and the vibrant color it lends to our garden!

As we look at our garden, our growing seed bank - a collection that's blossomed over the years from our favorite foods - we're inspired to follow the path of this one plant, that started its journey as a single seed just like the one pictured on the plate.

The goal? To explore and share the immense potential that one seed holds. Whether it nourishes our bodies, enriches our minds, fosters engaging conversations, or potentially blooms into a not-for-profit initiative feeding thousands - the possibilities are endless.

We're dedicating an entire page to trace this seed's journey, to illustrate the powerful story of growth and potential that begins with just one seed. We invite you to come along, to experience the transformation, and to see for yourself the profound impact one little seed can have. Stay tuned! 🌿🌍

02/24/2021

We love finding new ideas to help build community. Our topics are often more directed toward informing community organizations or businesses how they can work to improve the communities, as that is one goal of this page. It may leave individuals feeling like there is nothing they can do unless they join an organization. That is not true. Here are some ideas. Considering they were written prior to COVID19, it is important to exercise caution.

Live in a neighborhood where kids play in the front yards and adults gather on the front porches. Here are 31 ideas to build community in your neighborhood.

02/23/2021

You don't necessarily have to reinvent the wheel. Our communities should look around and explore the various strategies other communities are using to build wealth. Take the fish, leave the bones!

The Kresge Foundation’s American Cities Program is convening a network of community development organizations and foundations in 13 cities to explore and seed Neighborhood Investment Trust models.

02/17/2021

More often than not, people are interested in building their communities, they just don't know how they can do that. Now that COVID has become a part of our lives, especially in how we interact with others, it's become more of a challenge to build community. Help can come in many forms, is not limited to finances or free time and can be done in a safe manner. Read below how others are doing the same and maybe you'll find inspiration that would benefit your own community!

Several ways that healthy residents can help their community while continuing to practice safe habits.

02/12/2021

It is more important to shop locally while the economy is suffering, if for nothing more than helping support local communities. Local businesses have a larger impact on the people and businesses within the community than online retailers.

Amazon may have it's benefits but one of them is not contributing to fixing the potholes you have to dodge during your commutes.

Working with locally-owned small businesses provides consumers with better customer service experiences, and allows consumers to promote entrepreneurship.

02/09/2021

Always consider wealth building an issue that has to be addressed from multiple angles. Distributing money doesn't change what happens to the money or where it goes when it's spent, just as passing legislation that isn't acted on won't change what's happening. Installing a community garden can only do so much. We have to address every aspect of the community's economy before we see a change in the community's wealth and the well-being of the people who live, work , learn and play there.

Based on Ted Howard’s remarks to the recent Alternative Models of Ownership conference, we’ve distilled the eight basic principles behind community wealth building—a transformative approach to local economic development—into this handy one page guide.

02/08/2021

Do you know of any Cooperative initiatives in the community? What are they?
They're just one way for members of a community to work together and begin helping improve quality of life for the neighborhood. Development takes time, however, any steps taken towards the final goal in the process will be beneficial. When people begin to see the active change in the community, they will be more likely to want to help and it will also attract more like minded neighbors.
One thing we always mention as key to the development of any community is having a group of people with a shared goal. This type of initiative will create and attract more people interested in the same goal for the community.

Cooperatives are businesses governed on the principle of one member, one vote. There are several common types of co-ops (as well as hybrids—which combine more than one type), including cooperatives

02/05/2021

What is community wealth building to you? Do you see any of these activities within your community? Are there any that you would like to participate in or create if it doesn’t exist?

Traditional economic development wastes billions of dollars of taxpayer money to subsidize the profit of corporations with no loyalty to the communities who ...

02/01/2021

Often, when there seems to be no way to get the results you're looking for, you have to create a way. Housing that was once affordable and oftentimes deteriorating is quickly being swallowed up, renovated and listed at rates higher than those who used to live there can afford. Here's an idea that has potential to preserve affordable housing with a profit for the owners. It begs the question, how many other ways are there to break the mold to support affordable and safe housing?

A $58 million fund is being used to buy up affordable buildings and keep the rents low.

01/30/2021

People are the souls of our communities. The purpose is to develop communities in which the people who live there prosper!