Nana Asantewa has lived in the same house in Louisville, Kentucky, for more than 50 years. But recently, edema hindered her mobility, especially when navigating her clawfoot bathtub.

Nana Asantewa has lived in the same house in Louisville, Kentucky, for more than 50 years. But recently, edema hindered her mobility, especially when navigating her clawfoot bathtub.

Creative placemaking, or placekeeping, is essentially a resiliency tool. Normally in discussions of placemaking or placekeeping, the stress or disturbance communities face have to do with economic factors, like displacement due to shifting development, or sometimes even environmental factors. In 2020, placekeeping projects designed by organizations in the NeighborWorks cohort faced an unanticipated outlier: the COVID-19 pandemic. 

It's not coming until just after Christmas, but one thing that Nevada HAND senior living residents will be able to receive this month is the new COVID-19 vaccine. Staff and medical staff will receive the vaccine, too. In case there are side effects, half the staff and residents will be inoculated in December, and the other half will be inoculated two weeks later. 

Ribbons of lights twinkle in silver and gold. Trees. Stars. A sleigh. The light display at Mustard Seed Hill attracted thousands of people last year, part of the plan to make the spot a destination. This year, organizers expect thousands of people again – masked and at a distance -- for the outdoor event they call "Christmas at Mustard Seed Hill." After all, light is something you can see from far away. Light brings hope. Plus, it's a good reminder for families that free, socially distanced activities still exist this season.

At their core, nonprofits are set up to help people. But in times like this, the need for help can be overwhelming. Here’s how two NeighborWorks organizations are working to meet the needs of their communities and the needs of their staffs.

David Snyder was sitting at his desk at New Directions Housing Corporation in Louisville, Kentucky, when a series of texts from New Directions staff flashed across his phone. As he read through, the chief development officer discovered that a COVID-19 testing site had just been set up across the street from the housing corporation.