Community building takes time, creativity, and a lot of patience. For members of the Beekman Corridor Coalition (BCC), the work of creating meaningful connections—especially with political leaders—is how lasting change begins.
On February 26, WIN staff and BCC Housing Team members Saundra Davis and Ia Johnson traveled to Columbus for Statehouse Day, hosted by the Ohio Community Development Corporation Association. There, they met with legislators to share personal stories and advocate for home repair funding and expanded the Homestead Exemption for elderly homeowners.
That work paid off: the Ohio Housing Trust Fund, a vital resource for affordable housing and homelessness prevention, was preserved in the state budget.
In July, BCC members including Ia Johnson and Dorothy Bush hosted Representatives Dani Isaacsohn and Rachel Baker for separate tours of Beekman Corridor neighborhoods. The visits gave the lawmakers a firsthand view of urgent housing repair needs and environmental issues like landslides. “We wanted our representatives to see and feel what we see and feel,” Johnson said.
Through these conversations, residents asked how their elected officials work across party lines—and learned that both Isaacsohn and Baker are willing to help the BCC build bipartisan support for funding solutions.
“I’ve gained the knowledge and confidence to speak up,” said Johnson, who’s lived in her S. Cumminsville home for 28 years. “The BCC gives our neighborhoods a bigger voice.”
As Dorothy Bush wisely shared, “Community building is a process, not an event.” That process is moving the Beekman Corridor forward.