Blanca Velez Beauchamp, Executive Director, Puerto Rico Neighborhood Housing Services

Challenge: Due to the current financial uncertainty, high unemployment rates and a devalued real estate market, residents of Puerto Rico have been afraid to invest money or buy houses; 500 families are migrating from the island every month.

Colin Kelley, CEO, NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania

Challenge: To revitalize two struggling Pittsburgh neighborhoods by investing in people and leadership within those communities.

Sheila Rice, Executive Director, NeighborWorks Great Falls

Merten Bangemann-Johnson, CEO, NeighborWorks Umpqua

Challenge: The southern Oregon fishing industry was struggling as it faced global competition, with its seafood often sold to corporate buyers for export instead of to local residents. As a result, access to fresh seafood was limited.

By Endya Watson, communications and outreach fellow

David Price Executive Director, Nuestra Comunidad

Malik Ahmed, CEO, Better Family Life, Inc.
 
Challenge: Over 80 percent of the residents in North St. Louis are barely able to make ends meet and suffer from low rates of high school graduation, substance abuse, long-term unemployment and blighted neighborhoods.

When Omar Faust, housing development manager for Interfaith Community Housing of Delaware (ICHDE), was working to redevelop 12 condos for artists in Wilmington's creative district, he saw the same group of men hanging around every day with nothing else to do. All were ex-offenders, and no one wanted to take a chance on them.
 

In 1982, Maria Garciaz began volunteering for NeighborWorks Salt Lake, an organization that focuses on homeownership services, community building and economic development. NeighborWorks Salt Lake also offers programs to help young people learn trade and work skills by building and revitalizing homes.

Peggy Hutchison, CEO, Primavera Foundation