Our Mission
Link is a network of residents and partners who connect, inspire, and train in the way of good neighboring and holistic development.
Neighbors · Faith Community · Neighborhood Association · Housing · Historic Preservation ·
Neighbors · Faith Community · Neighborhood Association · Housing · Historic Preservation ·
Nonprofits · Business · City Government · Wellness Facilitators · Funders and Donors ·
Nonprofits · Business · City Government · Wellness Facilitators · Funders and Donors ·
What is Link CCD?
Link is a grassroots organization that assists partner neighborhoods in Waterloo, Iowa in community development processes, such as:
Connecting and engaging neighbors and partners
Guide strategy and collaborate to determine goals and priorities
Facilitate learning communities and conversations that lead to the growth
Our Vision
People engaged in using their passions and gifts together to create a flourishing community.
Partner Neighborhoods
Welcome to Walnut and Church Row!
Walnut’s history and location
The Walnut Neighborhood is in a historic section of East Waterloo, IA, approximately eight square blocks bordering on the northeast edge of Downtown Waterloo. The boundaries are Franklin Street, E. 4th St., Dane Street and Highway 63. According to the 2020 Census, the neighborhood population is approximately 500 people, ethnically mixed, and there are 274 housing units, with several dating back to the turn of the 20th century. The architectural mixture is large Victorian houses and smaller two story and single story houses intermixed with many new homes constructed by Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity. Walnut Court Apartments, a grand structure with over ninety senior residents, was built in the 1920’s and remains a pillar in the neighborhood. Along with neighbors who live in Walnut, there are many positive nonprofits, businesses, and churches who add to the charm and promise of the neighborhood. Link CCD began by working in the Walnut neighborhood in strengthening social ties, and has launched many notable efforts in Walnut neighborhood prior to expanding its partnership with more neighborhoods outside of Walnut.
Church Row’s history and location
The Church Row neighborhood is located just across Cedar River from downtown and was historically home to many of the city’s notable churches and families. Now home to nearly 3,900 people, the area is seeing greater diversity with growing Hispanic and Asian populations. The neighborhood’s demographic profile is 49% white, 27% Black, 9% Hispanic and 15% other (2020 National Census). The area’s rich architectural history can easily be seen with examples of notable structures representing styles from across the 19th and 20th centuries. As the Church Row neighborhood stabilizes and grows, home ownership is a key focus, as nearly 80% of residents currently rent their homes. Iowa Heartland Habitat has been building in Church Row Neighborhood since 2004, with Link partnering alongside the Church Row Historic Neighborhood Association and committed resident leaders to work towards holistic flourishing.
Link Christian Community Development formed as a 501c3 in 2011 from a church partnership between Harvest Vineyard Church and Orchard Hill Church, as well as the support of the Walnut Neighborhood Association (WNA), under the leadership of Laura Hoy as Executive Director.
Christian Community Development Association, or CCDA, has been an invaluable national vehicle of training, connection, and inspiration for Link and its CCD philosophy of neighborhood revitalization and wholistic development. Link has also been a part of Eastern Iowa CCDA, a regional faith-based network of partners committed to cultivating healthy neighborhoods.
Over the past 12 years, Link’s network has grown into many dynamic partners who have been focusing and strategizing together in Waterloo, Iowa’s Walnut Neighborhood for wholistic neighborhood development and the flourishing of all involved.
Try Pie and Youth Art Team are two youth development programs that were incubated during Link’s early years and have since become their own nonprofits, now serving and partnering across the broader Cedar Valley community.
In more recent years, the focus in the Walnut Neighborhood has been on affordable housing, historic preservation, and economic development through partners such as Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity, JSA Development, and the City of Waterloo.
Link CCD now also serves to connect and support residents and their initiatives in Church Row Neighborhood.
In the ongoing work of neighborhood transformation, Link is committed to building a strong social fabric, helping us to build healthy relationships and engage neighbors and partners toward a flourishing community.
Link’s history & founders
Board of Directors
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Laura Hoy
Walnut Neighbor, Ex-Officio Board Member, Founder of Link CCD
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Andy Conger
Construction Director, Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity
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Molly Juza
Orchard Hill Church Representative
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Steve Sesterhenn
Orchard HIll Church representative, Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity Board
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Ali Parrish
Executive Director, Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity
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Sarah Helleso
Try Pie Co-Director, Youth Development Representative
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Donita Clark
Partner Engagement Specialist, Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity
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Stephanie Shavers
Impact Church of Hope, Waterloo Neighborhood Services
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Jean Seeland
First Presbyterian Church partner
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Jenna Petersen
Neighborhood Impact Coordinator, Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity, Ex-Officio Board Member
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Pat Oehler
Orchard Hill Church representative, Link Board President