Pilot Projects

FII San Francisco Pilot Started
The next generation of FII pilots, called “Invest in Family Initiative” have started in San Francisco. With support from the Mayor’s Office of Community Development, FII – National has begun the recruitment of low income families in San Francisco and the streamlining of the data and tracking system to not only capture the progress of the core families, but to also track any “ripple” effect in the broader community.

The initial 2 pilots in Oakland and Hawaii focused on learning about the capacity of the families to take initiative to improve their own lives. This second generation will use the lessons learned to date and experiment with structures and benefits that can create a ripple effect of success in the community This pilot will explore whether the success of a few “typical families” can create new paths to self sufficiency for their friends and neighbors. “Invest in Family Initiative – San Francisco” will test award and policy structures that will encourage self help as well as mutuality.

This second generation of pilots will both encourage and reward initiative, as well as test a new transition system of incentives that can overcome the current disincentive for families that want to leave government support.

FII Oakland Families Host Foundations!
On January 24, 2007, with the help of FII – National, two of the original communities that FII works with will host staff and trustees of local and state foundations. Visitors will meet in West Oakland to see the changes in the community that many of the families continue to lead. They will see first hand what the West Oakland families are doing in developing a vibrant African American cultural and economic district in West Oakland. They will also talk with families and leaders from the Iu Mien community who are developing their own community center and temple as well as helping one another to self sufficiency.

This gathering will be just one of the ways that FII works to connect the natural leaders and families in the community to those with the resources and connections needed to support local indigenous efforts for community improvement and growth.

FII Hawai’i
In partnership with the Hawai’i Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development (HACBED), an FII replication was launched in Oahu, Hawaii in 2004. Our sincere thanks to HACBED and the Hawai’i Community Foundation, the Castle Foundation and the Case Foundation for their support and partnership.