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NeighborWorks America is well known for its training of professionals, but training residents at the local level is equally important. At NeighborWorks member Chinatown Community Development Center (CDC), a foundational principal is to develop the leadership potential of the residents it serves.
Staff members refer to their tenants as “residents” because they don’t want the traditional renter-landlord relationship. Instead, they hope each resident can learn to be an agent of change for the needs of the community. Chinatown CDC’s Director of Resource Development Winnie Chu says, “When people are informed about issues, they can support our work, regardless of income.”
In service of this mission, Chinatown CDC runs an annual program called Grassroots Leadership Training, which trains residents at its properties. During the training, which takes place over several weeks, participants learn about a range of issues affecting their quality of life, such as affordable housing and public transportation.
Chu says the training benefits not only the attendees, but also those with whom they are in contact. It inspires other seniors to become more active. “It keeps them young! Many older residents have lost family members. Keeping people active and engaged keeps them healthy and mentally alert,” she says.
Chinatown CDC staff members hope that, in the long term, they will have a resident council in each of the 25 buildings Chinatown owns. These leaders will take responsibility for voicing the needs of all of the residents who live there.
Zilou Situ, a resident of Chinatown CDC’s Notre Dame property, is the embodiment of resident leadership. He is 74 years old, but has not slowed down. In the past two years, he attended Chinatown CDC’s Community Leadership Training and the national NeighborWorks Community Leadership Institute.
He says, “These trainings helped me learn about community service and acquire management experience, which also motivated me to become a volunteer. Every week at the coffee hour held at the building I live in, I lead all residents in karaoke and teach them to sing, which improves everyone’s physical and mental health while livening up the meetings. I thank Chinatown CDC and its staff for giving us support, assistance and motivation.”
Additionally, after they attend trainings, residents are more willing to speak up for themselves and their needs. Situ was part of a team of seniors that advocated to keep a bus stop accessible to seniors. MUNI, the local transportation agency, wanted to move a bus stop from right outside of Situ’s building to a location up one of San Francisco’s steep hills. He advocated to keep the bus stop in front of Notre Dame by collecting comments, meeting with public officials and speaking at a rally in front of city hall. As a result of his efforts and those of his fellow residents, the bus stop remained in its original location.
With leaders like Situ, the other residents are in good hands, and Chinatown CDC is well on its way to accomplishing its goals of empowering residents.
Staff members refer to their tenants as “residents” because they don’t want the traditional renter-landlord relationship. Instead, they hope each resident can learn to be an agent of change for the needs of the community. Chinatown CDC’s Director of Resource Development Winnie Chu says, “When people are informed about issues, they can support our work, regardless of income.”
In service of this mission, Chinatown CDC runs an annual program called Grassroots Leadership Training, which trains residents at its properties. During the training, which takes place over several weeks, participants learn about a range of issues affecting their quality of life, such as affordable housing and public transportation.
Chu says the training benefits not only the attendees, but also those with whom they are in contact. It inspires other seniors to become more active. “It keeps them young! Many older residents have lost family members. Keeping people active and engaged keeps them healthy and mentally alert,” she says.
Chinatown CDC staff members hope that, in the long term, they will have a resident council in each of the 25 buildings Chinatown owns. These leaders will take responsibility for voicing the needs of all of the residents who live there.
Zilou Situ, a resident of Chinatown CDC’s Notre Dame property, is the embodiment of resident leadership. He is 74 years old, but has not slowed down. In the past two years, he attended Chinatown CDC’s Community Leadership Training and the national NeighborWorks Community Leadership Institute.
He says, “These trainings helped me learn about community service and acquire management experience, which also motivated me to become a volunteer. Every week at the coffee hour held at the building I live in, I lead all residents in karaoke and teach them to sing, which improves everyone’s physical and mental health while livening up the meetings. I thank Chinatown CDC and its staff for giving us support, assistance and motivation.”
Additionally, after they attend trainings, residents are more willing to speak up for themselves and their needs. Situ was part of a team of seniors that advocated to keep a bus stop accessible to seniors. MUNI, the local transportation agency, wanted to move a bus stop from right outside of Situ’s building to a location up one of San Francisco’s steep hills. He advocated to keep the bus stop in front of Notre Dame by collecting comments, meeting with public officials and speaking at a rally in front of city hall. As a result of his efforts and those of his fellow residents, the bus stop remained in its original location.
With leaders like Situ, the other residents are in good hands, and Chinatown CDC is well on its way to accomplishing its goals of empowering residents.
