NeighborWorks network hits the ground running in 2020

As we begin a new year — and a new decade — NeighborWorks America's network organizations are hard at work, doing what they do best. Some are exploring on new partnerships. Some are focusing on matching residents with new homes, with workforce training and with resources for staying sober or aging in place. Network leaders say they're finding inspiration in last year. And the lessons they've learned are serving as a roadmap for the year ahead.

NeighborWorks network leaders share thoughts on what's to come for them as we kick off a new decade: 

"This year, the largest affordable housing project in the Fifth Avenue Committee and the neighborhood's history — Gowanus Green — will begin the formal public approval process. Gowanus Green is a project that will bring over 950 units of affordable housing, a public park and public school to the community.

"I had a chance to visit the incredible National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., during the break and am inspired to share this quote from Martin Luther King Jr. as we embark on this important year and decade together, 'You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.'" 
 


"We're focusing all our work on combatting negative social determinants of health for older people, primarily through affordable housing and service coordination solutions. Our 2020 projects include creating a statewide service coordination network, developing an affordable-living health-care campus for seniors and implementing technology solutions within our properties to allow residents to better connect with service providers. We want to allow people to get older without having to move from their apartment homes, and to continue living near their family and friends."
 


"When NeighborWorks Columbus started its targeted redevelopment in a neighborhood just before Thanksgiving, it started with the most crime-infested three blocks on Fourth Avenue. As the last units were being demolished, a lifelong resident approached our communications specialist, Taurez Russell, to thank him. She said that North Highland deserved the attention, and they were all very thankful for our work and were excited about what was coming. That's hope, and that's beautiful."
 


"Fahe has been working in the area of drug recovery for more than 10 years. We've been a consultant on several different recovery projects, including large multifamily housing developments that combine recovery services and housing. Initially, our work with the Kentucky Recovery Model was an initiative for the intersection of recovery and housing. Our current approach has a holistic view, as we examine areas of recovery that may not typically be addressed. Our hopes for the year ahead are to continue the program and create new partnerships and pilots that will help us move forward in addressing the needs of individuals in recovery. We want to take what we are doing in Kentucky and replicate it with our members in other states."
 


"MPDC (Madison Park Development Force) is excited to become a 2019-2020 Life Science Cares partner organization. This partnership and funding will support our innovative and growing adult workforce initiatives, led by Katrina Conrad, MPDC's workforce diversity project manager, which leverages MPDC's expansive network of construction industry partners to provide credentialing, training and job-site placement assistance for residents of Roxbury and other Boston neighborhoods. MPDC and residents will also gain access to a transformative network of skilled volunteers from Greater Boston's life-sciences industry."
 


"We're coming off an 18-month engagement with the Center for Equity and Inclusion. We are just embarking on our next round of strategic planning and are excited to take the equity work we've done and incorporate that into our planning efforts. We're expecting that it will be unlike any strategic planning we've done in our 31-year history. Oregon had some pretty big wins in the 2019 legislature around affordable housing and tenant protections. Fifteen million dollars was earmarked for manufactured housing (MH), which is essential for our work around creating resident-owned MH communities. My hope for 2020 is to complete four conversions to resident-ownership and begin the decommissioning of dilapidated manufactured homes with new, energy-efficient ones."
 


"CDCLI (Community Development Corporation of Long Island) just closed out its 50th year of service! As we step into 2020, we are invigorated and committed to continuing the work we were created to do: to create opportunity. We know there is an extricable link between race, place and opportunity. By working closely with our communities — not just those we serve, but all community residents, our elected officials, our supporters and community allies — we can address these barriers, barriers like zoning policies, credit constraints, access to capital and affordable housing in opportunity areas. It's a big lift, but we're up for it."
Share your own hopes for the year ahead and tag us @neighborworks!