News Release

October 21, 2010

Contact: Omar Velarde-Wong, 202.220.2461, ovelradewong@nw.org

Third Annual NeighborWorks Community Leadership Institute
More than 1,000 Community Leaders Descend on Louisville, Kentucky

Washington, D.C. – NeighborWorks Community Leadership Institute (CLI) is celebrating its third annual national conference in Louisville, Kentucky, from October 21 to 24 at the Kentucky International Convention Center. The CLI is the cornerstone of the NeighborWorks Network commitment to emerging community leaders. This year’s conference will be the largest among all past events.

“The theme for this year’s CLI is Building Leaders and Sustaining Communities, which perfectly captures the challenging economic moment that our country faces,” said Susan Naimark, director, National Community Building and Organizing Program. “The recovery will be led by regular folks who step up and take charge to drive and sustain the recovery of their own communities. The CLI gives them the tools and know-how to make it happen.”

Since the early 1990s, thousands of residents, volunteers, nonprofit board members, NeighborWorks organization partners, executive directors, and others have come together through this unique training experience to sharpen their abilities and discover tools and techniques to improve their communities and help neighbors empower themselves to take action.  More than 80 percent of CLI participants volunteer in their communities.

Participants take part in a variety of workshops, learning labs, presentations and interactive group discussions. The CLI workshops are taught by expert practitioner-instructors who have vast experience in improving local communities. Additionally, participants take a tour of 14 neighborhood sites showcasing the great work of NeighborWorks affiliate, New Directions Housing Corporation, which is based in Louisville.

During the conference, NeighborWorks America will also celebrate the eight volunteers who were nominated to receive the Dorothy Richardson Award. Jesse Clayton from Philadelphia; Paul Lopez from Chicago; Emily MacRae from Fitchburg, Massachusetts; Linda Miller Allen from Birmingham, Alabama; Tammy Hoth from Great Falls, Montana; Marron McLeod from Utica, New York; David Pottinger from Goshen, Indiana; and Victor Aguilar from Oxnard, California will be honored by their peers during a special night.

About NeighborWorks America

NeighborWorks America creates opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. Since 1991, we have assisted nearly 1.2 million low- to moderate-income families with their housing needs. Much of our success is achieved through our support of the NeighborWorks network ― more than 235 community development organizations working in more than 4,400 urban, suburban and rural communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $15 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.