Meet LCC’s new communications manager Liza Davitch

Liza Davitch

Important Organizational Update

Longfellow Community Council has several openings on its board. Consider joining! Learn more by visiting longfellow.org or attending the LCC Pizza Party on Oct.10, 6-7:30 p.m. at SquirrelHaus Arts.

Audio

Meet LCC’s new communications manager Liza Davitch_Liza Davitch.mp3

I am excited to join LCC as the new Communications Manager. I’ve worked for neighborhood organizations for the last eight years at both Seward Neighborhood Group and Prospect Park Association in communications and administration roles. My background before that is in media as an independent documentary filmmaker. My documentaries have included an investigation of the after-effects of the Chornobyl nuclear tragedy on children in Belarus and portraits of families in America and Eastern Europe. I was able to make my films through generous grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and Minnesota-based foundations such as the Bush Foundation and Jerome Foundation.
I grew up in the Seward neighborhood. After graduating from Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) in media arts, I lived in Belarus and Poland on grants and a Fulbright scholarship for many years. After a stint in New York, I returned to Minneapolis to raise my daughter. There was just nowhere else I could imagine raising her.

What drew you to Longfellow and this position?
I’m deeply connected to this community and appreciate the rich history of the neighborhood, the cultural diversity, the significance of the river, the variety of small businesses and ethnic restaurants, the arts offerings and events, and the quality of schools.
It’s not by accident that I’ve sought to work for organizations in the neighborhoods where I’ve lived and benefited from. In Prospect Park, my daughter attended Pratt Elementary and summer programs at Luxton Park, and it was a joy to be able to work in the Prospect Park neighborhood and contribute to that community in a small way.
I was educated at Longfellow by the inspiring faculty at Sanford Middle School and Roosevelt High School. As a neighborhood, Longfellow has contributed so much to our well-being and quality of life. So, it is an honor to be part of the LCC team now and help share and promote their activities, programs, and committee work.

What value does LCC bring to the community?
Our organization seeks to engage residents, businesses and nonprofits in planning and implementing initiatives to build understanding, listen to and support the community, to share relevant information about local events, resources, and programs that can benefit our neighborhood.
I’ve been reading LCC’s newsletters and was aware of their work for years before coming on board. In past years, they’ve sponsored or hosted activities that promote connecting after the pandemic, healing after the unrest, and listening sessions regarding the rebuilding or relocation of the 3rd precinct, helping to ensure that the community's voices are heard.

What are your goals for this role?
I will continue to listen to the diverse and vibrant community voices of residents and business owners and work with the LCC team to further meaningful engagement. I believe there is always room for improvement in ways to reach the community, and that sometimes means finding alternative methods of communication than the typical social media avenues, especially for non-English speakers or community members who may not have frequent access to the internet.