Organizational Background
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) believes that everyone should have the right to live in a safe, prosperous neighborhood full of opportunities. Since 1981, Boston LISC has been working toward this vision by providing funding, financing, and technical assistance to Community Development Corporations (CDCs), Non-Profit Developers, and Policy & Advocacy Organizations in Greater Boston. With Boston LISC’s support, community developers have been able to and will continue to provide affordable housing, spark economic development, and increase access to highquality education, transportation, and other crucial resources.
There is much energy in Boston these days and a considerable part of this energy is focused on holistic and coordinated community development strategies to improve neighborhoods. In early 2011, Boston LISC launched a comprehensive planning initiative called Resilient Communities/Resilient Families which will fund multi-year community engagement initiatives in the Codman Square/Four Corners (Dorchester), Mattapan, and Warren Street (Roxbury) neighborhoods. Following a one-onone relational organizing effort, community residents will develop Quality of Life Plans to serve as the platform for neighborhood revitalization. An integral part of this platform is telling the story of the sustainable and positive changes that result from this initiative.
Purpose
Boston LISC is seeking qualified writers to serve as a “neighborhood scribe” in a single Resilient Communities/Resilient Families neighborhood. Scribes will work with the Boston LISC Communications staff to create a documented framework and parameters for this communications project. Preference will be given to individuals who are accustomed to writing in news style and journalism experience is strongly desired. Boston LISC wants stories written about neighborhood events and conditions as if they were going to appear in a newspaper.
Scope of Work and Desired Outcomes
Scribes will work with Boston LISC Program Officers and Communications staff to produce detailed content about neighborhood events, meetings or other activities. This content could be used for website publication, newsletter content, e-blasts, press releases, or other print and social media outlets. Each story must provide vivid and detailed descriptions and specific examples of the progress being made in these communities. Examples include: how residents and neighborhood organizations are reacting to the engagement process; the unique collaborations and partnerships that are flourishing; and the successful outcomes and accomplishments that are resulting. Each story must be written for multiple audiences, including community development corporations (CDCs) and other community development partners, the business community, foundations, corporations, government agencies, political leaders and elected officials, the media, and residents. Each quarter, scribes will be expected to produce a minimum of three stories and one multimedia component (video or photo-slideshow). Payment is contingent upon satisfactory deliverables.
Proposal Format
Submissions should include the following:
1. A Statement of Qualifications (maximum 2 pages) that includes:
a. An overview of the respondent’s background, including a description of experience working with community-based organizations, familiarity with community economic development, and expertise in journalism and writing.
b. Description of availability/current workload, demonstrating the ability to complete the scope of work.
2. A Resume
3. A Writing Sample – Please include a brief writing sample (maximum 3 pages) that demonstrates the respondent’s capacity to write in news-style and capture the story of Boston neighborhoods.
Conditions and Limitations
1. This RFQ is a request for the submittal of qualifications, but it is not an offer and under no circumstances will be construed as an offer of a contract.
2. LISC reserves the right to modify or withdraw this RFQ at any time, regardless of whether qualifications have been submitted.
3. LISC is under no obligation to select any of the proposals it receives in response to this RFQ and may reject any or all proposals prior to entering into a written contract.
4. There are no enforceable obligations of any kind against LISC as a result of this RFQ, and until written contract is executed, there will be no enforceable obligations against LISC for the requested assistance.
5. LISC will not reimburse the respondents for any costs associated with the preparation and submission of responses to this RFQ or during contract negotiations.
6. Respondents waive all rights to protest or seek remedies regarding any aspect of this RFQ, the selection of respondents for negotiations, and the rejection of any or all proposals.
7. LISC will not share with anyone the texts of the proposals from respondents not selected, except any external reviewers involved in the selection process.
8. If your proposal is selected by LISC, a Consultant Services Agreement will be entered into between the consultant and LISC.
Submissions Process
RFQs will be reviewed on a rolling basis but the deadline for the summer quarter is May 20, 2011. Please submit your application to Marcus Haymon electronically. Boston LISC will review qualifications and subsequently hold interviews with qualified candidates/teams. We also encourage you to visit our websites: www.bostonlisc.org and www.rc-rf.org. Other questions about Boston LISC, the RFQ, and/or the selection process can also be directed to Marcus Haymon.
Marcus Haymon
Manager, Communications and Special Projects
95 Berkeley Street, Suite 202
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: (617) 338-0411 ext. 231
Fax: (617) 338-2209
Contact Information:
For inquiries: mhaymon@lisc.org
For submissions: mhaymon@lisc.org
Website: http://www.bostonlisc.org
