Video: How can we build better communities? Take it from this Southeast Fort Wayne nonprofit

If you ask Javier Mondragon, there are two common mistakes leaders tend to make in community development.

First, they seek out what needs work rather than what’s already working in the communities they’re trying to influence. Second, they come to the table with their own ideas and philosophies about what to do instead of listening to and trusting the people who already live there.

As Founder and CEO of Bridge of Grace Compassionate Ministries Center in Southeast Fort Wayne, Mondragon and his team are turning these paradigms on their heads in the Mount Vernon Park Neighborhood—and achieving real results.

Since 2013, crime in the area has decreased by about 55 percent, and burglaries alone have dropped 74 percent, according to FBI Uniform Crime statistics from the Fort Wayne Police Department.

In this video, Input Fort Wayne sits down with Mondragon to learn from his experience approaching community development from an asset-based, people-first perspective.

See for yourself what building better communities looks like in action.