While NeighborWorks America officially got its start 45 years ago, the first big NeighborWorks Training Institute (NTI) wasn't held until 1987, with the goal of offering affordable housing and community development staff a concentrated way to learn more about the things they knew — and the things they didn't. NeighborWorks' classes helped staff hone their skills and do more. So many people — 79,000 both inside the NeighborWorks network and out of it — have attended NTIs and stand-alone courses since NeighborWorks started keeping track in 2003.