What We Do
Valentine Communications is a leading social architecture firm specializing in the capacity building of urban political economies. We work at the intersection of community development, policy advocacy, and economic strategy, offering a holistic approach to revitalizing urban environments. Our mission is to empower communities by developing frameworks that foster sustainable economic growth, equitable access to resources, and strategic partnerships across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Innovative Approaches to Urban Revitalization
Strategic Framework
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Urban Capacity Building
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Economic Development Strategy
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Community Engagement & Advocacy
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Policy Analysis & Design
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Strategic Partnerships & Coalition Building
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Grant Writing & Resource Development
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Program Design & Implementation
Our Services
Urban Capacity Building & Leadership Development
Strengthening municipalities and community-based organizations through leadership development, strategic planning, and organizational resilience.
Community Engagement & Advocacy
Facilitating dialogues between communities and decision-makers, ensuring initiatives reflect the needs and aspirations of all residents.
Strategic Partnerships & Coalition Building
Building strong alliances between government, businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations to foster shared prosperity and sustainable development.
Economic Development & Policy Strategy
Designing inclusive economic growth strategies and providing expert policy analysis to drive equitable, long-term urban prosperity.
Grant Writing & Program Implementation
Securing funding and developing tailored programs that empower communities, from workforce development to infrastructure improvements.
Origin Story
Melvin and Michelle Valentine, who met in college as communications majors, began their journey of transforming communities well before founding Valentine Communications. Michelle had always envisioned marrying a community leader dedicated to changing the world—an aspiration Melvin passionately embraces from a young age. Armed with a degree in Human Communications, Melvin is driven by his own experiences growing up in Black concentrated poverty. Together with Michelle, who holds a degree in Public Relations, they founded Valentine Communications in 2015.
Under Melvin's leadership, the firm secures its first government contract with the City of North Las Vegas, developing a future of work social infrastructure for at-risk youth. Melvin’s leadership also empowers Michelle’s vision for Women in Business, which leads to the creation of a social infrastructure where women excel, fostering opportunities for all women to achieve greatness.
Building on the success of their Future of Work campaign, the Valentines remain committed to their strategic framework of developing people, land, and the economy in a holistic way. They lead the community engagement and development efforts for the Jackson Street revitalization project, funded by a $1.7 million EDA grant for the City of Las Vegas. This project focuses on revitalizing Jackson Street, a historically significant area within Las Vegas’ Historic Westside, transforming it into an economic hub while preserving its cultural heritage. Valentine Communications plays a pivotal role in crafting a community-driven approach, uniting local stakeholders, minority landowners, and businesses to ensure that the revitalization efforts align with the community’s needs.
In addition to working with landowners, Valentine Communications spearheads outreach efforts targeting small businesses and potential investors. They organize events and meetings where business owners explore the economic potential of a revitalized Jackson Street and learn how they can contribute to and benefit from the process. A key component of their strategy is ensuring that new economic developments on Jackson Street remain in harmony with the community’s historical identity as the "Black Las Vegas Strip," with a focus on cultural tourism, social impact funding, and fostering a Black Silicon Valley initiative.
The Valentines are passionate about incorporating zero marginal cost community development strategies into the Jackson Street project, aiming to create a national model for addressing Black concentrated poverty and countering gentrification, while tackling the emerging challenges of workforce automation.
Mr. & Mrs. Valentine
Building the Future of Urban Economies