Media Advisory
June 15, 2005
Contact: Becky Fleischauer, NeighborWorks America, 202-220-2360 or 202-270-9350; bfleischauer@nw.org
Boston Hosts Nation’s Largest Homeownership and
Community Development Training Institute
(Boston, MA) – On June 20-24, Boston will host the largest training force of housing and community development advocates in the nation – the NeighborWorks® Training Institute. More than 1,000 city, county and state officials and community development leaders from across the nation will convene to become certified and trained in the most effective ways to close the homeownership gap among white and non-whites; improve financial literacy; empower families to get the most out of the homebuying process; and use community development strategies to improve safety and build wealth. (See attached at-a-glance agenda.)
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino will deliver the opening keynote address, highlighting Boston’s experience creating affordable housing and commercial development. The theme of the Boston symposium is “Balancing Act: Blending Housing and Commercial Development to Build Thriving Communities.”
NeighborWorks America CEO Kenneth D. Wade said the New England district is a prime location for participants who want to learn how to effectively blend affordable housing and commercial development. “The thirty-four NeighborWorks organizations in the New England district have been on the forward edge of community development, shaping housing and development, lending, and public education practices that truly serve residents well,” said Wade.
To keep pace with the growing demand for green and healthy buildings, NeighborWorks® America will offer a new slate of green and healthy building courses at its Boston Training Institute. The classes are made possible through the support of The Home Depot Foundation, which is providing $237,600 to support new and advanced courses and will provide scholarships for practitioners to learn the latest green building techniques, planning and development. “There is a rapidly growing recognition of the savings and benefits of greenbuilding in affordable housing markets,” said Kenneth Wade.
If you would like to receive media credentials to attend and cover the Training Institute held at the Sheraton Boston Hynes Convention Center at Boston Park Plaza, please contact Becky Fleischauer at bfleischauer@nw.org or 202-220-2360.
June 20-21
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Institute courses begin. Tracks include affordable housing; asset management; community building and organizing; economic development; construction; homeownership and community lending; management and leadership; and neighborhood revitalization. Courses range in length from one, three, and five days.
Highlights:
- Greening affordable housing development
- Fair housing
- Working in diverse communities
- Financial fitness: teaching financial management skills
- Reaching immigrant populations to create homeownership
- Strategies for creating neighborhoods of choice through revitalization
June 22
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Institute courses continue: Tracks include affordable housing; asset management; community building and organizing; economic development; construction; homeownership and community lending; management and leadership; and neighborhood revitalization.
Highlights:
- Reading a neighborhood: what a block walk can tell you
- Combating predatory lending
- Increasing resident involvement in affordable housing
- Invigorating your economy with small business incubators
- Financial fitness training
Symposium -- “Balancing Act: Blending Housing and Commercial Development to Build Thriving Communities”
8:30 a.m. Welcome: NeighborWorks® America CEO Kenneth D. Wade
8:50 – 10:00 a.m. Panel discussion: “How do commercial and mixed-use real estate help our communities thrive?”
Douglas I. Foy, Secretary of the Massachusetts Office for Commonwealth Development
Jair Lynch, President & CEO, The Jair Lynch Companies
10:15 – 11:30 a.m. Case studies from a variety of markets and locations: “Where are some models? Characteristics of success in diversified development for healthy communities"
Evelyn Friedman, Executive Director, Neustra Communidad
Keith Zimmerman, Director, St. Lawrence County Planning Office
Gilda Gonzalez, Exectuive Director, Spanish Speaking Unity Council
12:00 p.m. Luncheon and keynote address: “How do regional trends impact the strategic use of commercial real estate and business development?”
Thomas M. Menino, Mayor, City of Boston
1:15 – 2:45 p.m. Concurrent workshops: “Building new skills and partners – facing new challenges
* Urban/Suburban revitalization
* Small town development
* Financing mixed-use and commercial real estate
* Governmental tools to advance mixed-use and commercial development
* Partnering to develop mixed-use and commercial real estate
3:00- 4:00 p.m. Closing discussion: Putting it all together – all the symposium moderators will present observations from the day, focused on future policies and practices that strengthen communities.
June 23-24
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Institute courses continue – tracks include: affordable housing; asset management; community building and organizing; economic development; construction; homeownership
Highlights:
- Strengthen your economy with skilled workers: workforce development working in diverse communities
- Introduction to healthy homes
- Credit counseling for maximum results
- Beginning to intermediate foreclosure prevention
12:00 (June 23) Luncheon speech by Paul S. Grogan, Director of the Boston Foundation and author of Comeback Cities
About the NeighborWorks Network
The NeighborWorks network is a nationwide network of more than 235 community development organizations working in nearly 2,700 urban, suburban and rural communities across America. These organizations engage in revitalization strategies that strengthen communities and transform lives. NeighborWorks America provides financial support, technical assistance and training for the NeighborWorks network. In the last five years alone, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $8.5 billion in reinvestment and helped more than 500,000 families of modest means purchase or improve their homes or secure safe, decent rental or mutual housing.
