Communities of West Lakes
A ten-year Purpose Built Communities collective impact initiative that delivered a $100M campus and a resident-led partnership in the heart of Orlando.
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Our Work
Where the POLIS Ecosystem Is Being Applied
From fatherhood and family networks to fellowships, public learning, research, and storytelling. Explore how POLIS works across Central Florida.
Programs & Initiatives
What We’re Doing Now
Where the POLIS ecosystem is currently being applied.
POLIS Collective at Work
MVP Strong Families
A network strengthening families through leadership development, literacy initiatives, coaching, and family engagement, in partnership with Florida Citrus Sports.
See MVP Strong FamiliesLetters to the City
A new POLIS program designed to empower churches in leading community transformation, launching with a new Bible study.
Coming October 2026
Wealth & Well-Being (WWB)
Stronger Families. Stronger Futures.
Workshops Begin October 2026
Our POLIS Collective division is launching our new financial well-being initiative, called Wealth & Well-Being. It is developed in partnership with Chase and focused on helping families strengthen their financial knowledge and move toward lasting financial well-being.
Through a free community workshop series on budgeting, credit and managing debt, participants gain practical financial skills while POLIS documents the behaviors, decisions, support systems, and opportunities that contribute to long-term economic mobility.
The question POLIS wants to answer:
What does it actually take for a family to move from financial instability to sustained financial health?
Space is limited. For registration or more information, email leanne@polisinstitute.org.
Partner Engagements:
- LIFT Orlando: collective impact
- Orange County Community and Family Services: strategic planning and team culture development
POLIS Media in Production
50 Fathers
A regional effort exploring the value and impact of fatherhood on families and communities, including interviews, listening sessions, leadership development and a docuseries.
View the 50 Fathers InitiativeLegacy on Location
A documentary preserving the stories, wisdom, and resilience of long-time residents, in collaboration with West Lakes Partnership.
Coming 2027
Fellowship & Publishing
The Fellowship Program
Fellows investigate the questions that matter to communities, funders and institutions, and turn what they learn into research others can act on.
Explore the FellowshipACTS
Authentic Community Transformation Systems, a new book from POLIS Institute Publishing on building collaboration and sustainable impact. Coming late September 2026.
See What POLIS Publishing Is ProducingCase Studies
Real Insight. Real Progress.
Each case study follows one community through the challenge it faced, what listening and research surfaced, what POLIS was engaged to do and what changed as a result.
Eatonville Culture of Health & Community Action Plan
Leadership training and resident-led action planning in the oldest incorporated Black town in the nation, contributing to a 10% poverty reduction.
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Historic East Winter Garden Culture of Health
Three phases of resident-led community action in a legacy Black community, alongside a 28% rise in per capita income.
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S.T.E.A.M. Wins with Representation
A multilingual enrollment campaign with Legends Academy that engaged more than 6,000 households across fourteen Orlando neighborhoods.
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Strong Families Build Strong Communities
The MVP Strong Families Partnership Network reaches more than 1,200 caregivers each year through grassroots partnership across Central Florida.
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Growing Leadership the Equitable Way
The Black Nonprofit Leaders Network gives sixty mission-driven leaders of color in Central Florida space to convene, learn, and be resourced.
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Impact
Experience Evidence
POLIS measures impact in the lives of people: parents, children, leaders and neighborhoods.
Impact Metrics
Outcome and indicator data tracked across initiatives and partners.
Outcomes
What changed for families, leaders and neighborhoods as a result of the work.
Geographic Reach
Where the work is happening and which communities are being reached.
GIS Maps
Geographic analysis showing where outcomes occur and where disparities remain.
Data Visualizations & Dashboards
Visual reporting that makes progress legible to partners and funders.
Research Findings & Reports
Published findings, evaluations and recommendations from POLIS work.
Partners & Collaborations
No Single Organization Transforms a Community Alone.
POLIS works with residents, civic leaders, nonprofits, educators, researchers, funders, and institutions that are willing to learn and act together.
Work With POLIS
Bring This Work to Your Community.
Partner with POLIS on an initiative, engage our services, or commission Fellowship research.