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NeighborWorks Speakers Bureau

Deborah Boatright
Regional director, Northeast Region

An acknowledged expert in affordable housing and community development, Deborah Boatright specializes in developing partnerships that unite the public and private sector in efforts to improve housing options for low and moderate income families, and address community needs.

In April 2011, Boatright was appointed to be the regional director of NeighborWorks Northeast Region, where she oversees operations and develops strategic alliances in 11 states from Maine to Delaware, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. She is responsible for the provision of resources and support to 80 affiliated community development organizations, which together comprise 33 percent of the national NeighborWorks network.

Boatright first joined NeighborWorks America in 2006 as the district director for the Northeast District, which then included New York State, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. She was instrumental in forging new partnerships that reached underserved communities throughout the district while assisting its 29 affiliate organizations to sustain capacity and impact during the economic downturn.

Prior to joining NeighborWorks America, Boatright served as an assistant commissioner, Office of Community Development of the New York State (NYS) Division of Housing and Community Renewal (now NYS Homes and Community Renewal) where she supervised housing and community development activities of regional offices; oversaw community based housing programs statewide as well as the Housing Trust Fund and Tax Credit Programs. Boatright’s many accomplishments throughout her career include the implementation of New York City’s breakthrough anti-abandonment housing initiative.

Boatright currently serves on the board of directors of the Center for New York City Neighborhoods and is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Community Advisory Committee and the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Affordable Housing Advisory Council.

Boatright earned her master’s degree in Policy Analysis and Urban Affairs at The New School and was a Fannie Mae fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.

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