Communities for Generations, Inc. (CFG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering underserved, underrepresented, and undereducated Black communities through civic literacy and engagement. Our mission focuses on cultivating lasting civic infrastructure that connects residents to resources, promotes community ownership, and embraces co-governance.

Founded by a group of advocates committed to social equity and civic empowerment, CFG has established itself as a trusted entity working to bridge the gap between underserved communities and civic institutions in New Haven, CT—particularly within the Dixwell and Newhallville neighborhoods. CFG envisions a New Haven where underserved communities actively participate in civic life–exercising co-governance with its local officials– and build sustainable pathways to economic and social empowerment. 

Our flagship project, “Empowering Under-represented Neighborhoods through Civic Literacy and Engagement,” implements the Power in Practice Community Economic Development (CED) framework developed by the W8CED Think Tank (Washington, DC). This framework empowers communities to:

• Identify issues, priorities and concerns
• Build consensus around actionable solutions
• Develop strategies for effective civic engagement

We have already conducted pilot workshops within Dixwell and Newhallville, engaging over 100 residents with structured civic literacy training. Enthusiasm and demand for continued engagement underscore the need for scalable, community-driven solutions. We are planning our third annual Community Economic Development Summit for August 2025.

The current decline in civic engagement, as noted by researchers like Robert Putnam, Carolyn Lukensmeyer and Tiffany Manuel, threatens to further isolate communities already marginalized by systemic inequities. By investing in civic literacy and infrastructure, CFG aims to create a model of community empowerment that can be replicated across New Haven’s underserved neighborhoods and beyond.