Leverage: Strengthening Neighborhoods through Design

In 2011 the Community Design Collaborative celebrated two decades of providing pro bono design services to nonprofit organizations in Philadelphia and the region. Leverage showcases the approach and success of this groundbreaking community design center. Profiles of 20 key projects highlight how the Collaborative transforms its values into three dimensions, on projects large and small, and the successes of its volunteer architects, planners, engineers and community leaders in revitalizing Philadelphia's underserved neighborhoods. A series of essays consider the role of designers as advocates and policymakers, the future of design activism, and how the Collaborative has contributed to design excellence in Philadelphia and beyond. With inspiring design projects and compelling graphics, Leverage is for readers interested in the role of cities, as well as for architects, designers and nonprofit leaders who view thoughtful, innovative design as a strategy to create and sustain vital urban places.