For NeighborWorks America's recent symposium, "Co-creating an Equitable Future at the Intersection of Health, Housing and Community Development," leaders created a series of case studies to help show how network organzitions are centering resident voice. Following is the study on Little Tokyo Service Center, based in Los Angels, centering on resident co-creation through culture, history and place.

On the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, an Oglala Lakota Indian reservation in South Dakota, the schools were aging. The only building that didn't need a rehab was the Oglala Lakota County School District Virtual High School — and that's because it only existed in cyberspace.

Since 2017, with generous support from the Kresge Foundation, NeighborWorks America has strategically invested in creative community development within its network of nearly 250 nonprofits. 

Through training, grants, research, learning cohorts and more, NeighborWorks America makes a difference in communities across the nation, in partnership with nearly 250 network organizations who do the "work on the ground." As 2022 draws to a close, some of NeighborWorks' senior leaders share what they see as the biggest impacts in 2022.  

Paul Singh, vice president of Community Initiatives 

Through training, grants, research, learning cohorts and more, NeighborWorks America makes a difference in communities across the nation, in partnership with nearly 250 network organizations who do the "work on the ground." As 2022 draws to a close, some of NeighborWorks' senior leaders share what they see as the biggest impacts in 2022.  

Paul Singh, vice president of Community Initiatives 

Culture and arts are often considered luxuries for the people that Better Family Life helps and empowers, says DeBorah Ahmed, co-founder and vice president of Cultural Arts at the NeighborWorks network organization. They shouldn't be.

Diosselyn Tot-Velasquez, an associate relationship manager in the Midwest Region, was named one of four changemakers by BeGreat Together. The organization is highlighting her course on how to replicate some of her youth programming and mural painting, in a series they call DocuCourse, along with her personal story. The video will be released Sept. 18 as part of a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. 

Diosselyn Tot-Velasquez, an associate relationship manager in the Midwest Region, was named one of four changemakers by BeGreat Together. The organization is highlighting her course on how to replicate some of her youth programming and mural painting, in a series they call DocuCourse, along with her personal story. The video will be released Sept. 18 as part of a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. 

Paul McLaughlin, Homeownership Program Director at NeighborWorks Southern New Hampshire, says NeighborWorks America's training on LGBTQ+ inclusion sparked ideas.