PLACEMAKING IS GREAT, BUT…

do you know WHAT YOU’re actually READY FOR?

Placemaking turns empty spaces into vibrant places for community connection.

BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR CHURCH IS READY FOR PLACEMAKING?

Introducing: THE READINESS WORKSHOP

The Readiness Workshop is a live, virtual teaching session with Sara Joy Proppe during which she will guide participants through a dialogue about a biblical understanding of place, the value of placemaking for churches, and the Five Pillars of Readiness.

This workshop is designed to help your church group or committee discern what your church is realistically ready for when it comes to doing a placemaking project.

What are the Five Pillars of Readiness?

  • When the going gets tough, are you the tough who can get going? Moxie is a demonstrated “can-do” attitude and innovative spirit when it comes to trying something new, like placemaking. Minor setbacks or challenges are met with adaptability and a willingness to learn and try again. Having moxie is a valuable attribute for piloting placemaking work with creativity and success.

  • Why do you do what you do? When it comes to placemaking, being able to align a project with your church’s mission, vision, and identity is critical for generating support from the congregation. Being on the same page will make for a stronger team and a stronger project.

  • What can you reasonably sustain with a placemaking project? Even with moxie and motivation, you will need to consider your timeline and your resources for putting together a project that makes sense for your church’s capacity.

  • How many funds are available for a placemaking project and where should you invest the first dollar? Placemaking does not have to be expensive. In fact, placemaking is an opportunity to try something relatively inexpensive and small but allocating a budget and knowing where to put your resources is foundational to being ready to push go.

  • Do you know your neighbors? Placemaking is centered on creating places for community connections. The more you know about who you will serve and how to connect to them in meaningful ways, the more community support and energy you can foster to make a great project.

I'm interested, tell me more!

who is this for?

This workshop is best suited for churches that —

  • Want to invest in a small, low-cost placemaking idea

  • Are looking to take action in the next 6 months

  • Can form a team that is committed to the workshop process, which includes:

    • A 2-hour live workshop session

    • Follow up group exercises

    • A group debrief to discuss our findings and recommendations

This workshop will help you answer questions about capacity, congregational buy-in, timing, available resources, and so much more.

South Minneapolis Grant Opportunity

South Minneapolis Grant Opportunity

Are you a church located in South Minneapolis?

There are grant funds available to help cover the costs of this workshop!

We are looking for interested churches that fall within these geographic boundaries:

  • Franklin Ave on the north 

  • 54th St on the south

  • Lyndale Ave on the west

  • The Mississippi on the east

The grant requires completion of the workshop by the end of 2025 and a $500 investment from the church.

Click the button below so we can meet you and determine whether your church is eligible for receiving grant funds!

Yes, I am interested in this grant opportunity!

outcomes YOU CAN EXPECT

You will walk away from this workshop with:

  • A clear understanding of your church’s strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for growth in the Five Pillars of Readiness

  • Greater confidence for communicating about a placemaking vision with the church at large

  • A framework for identifying a feasible placemaking project based on your level of readiness

  • A roadmap outlining specific next steps you could take to get your church ready for placemaking

I'm interested, tell me more!
“When Trinity City Church purchased a new building, we asked Sara Joy from Proximity Project to help us develop a plan to use the property for the common good of our city. She not only gave us the framework to cast a vision for this plan, but she also gave us tangible examples and steps to take in order to accomplish it.”
— Bryan L. | Trinity City Church

Meet your READINESS coach

Sara Joy Proppe

Sara Joy is passionate about equipping churches to be the hands and feet of Jesus in their neighborhoods through faithful and creative property stewardship.

With over a decade of professional experience in leading community placemaking work and real estate development throughout the Midwest, she uses these skills to guide churches in reimagining and renewing their properties.

She is the founder of Proximity Project and co-author of two placemaking toolkits:

get started with Free ideas

Download Five Easy Placemaking Ideas