May 14, 2003 -- Approximately 1,000 community development professionals from across the country gathered for a week of learning and networking at the NeighborWorks^® Training Institute in Chicago April 22-26.

One of the Institute’s highlights was the symposium on "The Vitality of America’s Working Neighborhoods: Meeting the Challenges to Multifamily Housing", attended by approximately 250 people. The Symposium opened with Nicolas Retsinas'presentation of the Joint Center for Housing Studies'new research on America’s Working Neighborhoods. The research findings made the case that multifamily housing can be a cornerstone for healthy communities – where incomes and property values increase over time.

Mayor DeStefano, president of the National League of Cities, spoke at the Symposium and stressed the need for cities to plan their communities for long term success. He stressed the variety of benefits offered by multifamily housing – such as to live affordably or to use land more responsibly.

Mayor Menino, President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, discussed the challenges to affordable housing nationwide, and the need for the federal government to devote more attention to the problem.

Symposium participants split into working sessions to explore the "fit" of multifamily housing to various types of communities and different aspects of the local public policy tool kit for advancing mixed housing stock for healthy communities. At the Symposium luncheon, Norman B. Rice, president and CEO of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle and former mayor of Seattle contended that multifamily housing helps to meet families'changing housing needs without sacrificing quality of life."

Institute participants attended a networking reception to connect with colleagues and network with others in the field. Networking reception attendees enjoyed a performance by Chicago-based CrickettHill, a Native American dancing and drumming group. CrickettHill performed several traditional Native American dances such as "Women’s Jingle Dress" and "Men’s Northern Traditional Dance".

The Institute’s Author Luncheon featured Richard Rodriguez, author of Brown: The Last Discovery of America. In Brown, Rodriguez explores the meaning of the growing "Hispanic" influence in the United States. He also examines the issues of class and ethnicity and offers provocative, often humorous meditations on the growing racial and cultural diversity within America.

At the Faculty Reception, Joanne Wilson was presented with the Faculty Award for the commitment to excellence and quality that she has shown at training institutes over the years. Wilson has recently revised and combined two of her courses into one more comprehensive course, "Achieving Organizational Success through Financial Management".

The next Training Institute will be held in New Orleans June 16 - 20.

back to top