RAPID CITY, S.D. – A decade after 90 community members first gathered to address structural barriers facing Rapid City, the John T. Vucurevich Foundation is marking the anniversary of an initiative that has reshaped how the city tackles poverty, housing and public health.
Sunday, May 24, marks 10 years since Rapid City Collective Impact held its founding convening on May 24-26, 2016, bringing together individuals from across sectors to align around shared goals rather than work in isolation.
The effort has since led to the construction of nearly 650 affordable apartments, the creation of a food security network, a transitional housing campus serving hundreds of residents, expanded behavioral health and substance use support, and ongoing development of a Native American community center in Rapid City.
Named Rapid City Collective Impact, or RCCI, the initiative began with the vision of several local philanthropists before expanding across the community with a focus on improving quality of life for all Rapid City residents.
“After a decade of Rapid City Collective Impact, the progress is undeniable. When people battling addiction get treatment instead of jail time, when families can finally afford a stable place to live, and when job training opens the door to real careers, we don’t just reduce recidivism – we rebuild lives,” said Pennington County Sheriff Brian Mueller. “This partnership proves that public safety grows strongest when we tackle the root causes, not just the symptoms.”
Many goals established at the original convening remain active today, including work carried out by organizations such as OneHeart and West River Mental Health, both of which focus on addressing root causes rather than immediate symptoms.
Since 2016, JTVF has invested $23 million into initiatives tied to the RCCI work, representing nearly one-third of the foundation’s total grant funding over the past decade.
“Our community is better off because of the Rapid City Collective Impact work,” said Jacqui Dietrich, JTVF President and CEO. “Community alignment and collaboration between the city, businesses, nonprofits, and generous community members requires constant communication and trust.”
The John T. Vucurevich Foundation is a locally rooted community investor serving the Rapid City area. Since 1989, the foundation has awarded $121 million to area nonprofits.
