NeighborWorks America ‘Comeback Communities’ summit, and day of service events in New Orleans garner support from JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo Housing Foundation
New Orleans – June 17, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — NeighborWorks America today announced that lead grants from JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo Housing Foundation are underwriting the Comeback Communities summit and enabling dozens of nonprofit professionals to attend the one-of-a-kind event here. Comeback Communities is the first step in a national effort designed to identify, explore, celebrate and nurture the essential ingredients of strong, resilient communities. The summit features a full-day of thought provoking discussion, and in-depth examination through immersive mobile tours in the communities of New Orleans of what has worked to make New Orleans the resilient city that it is, and how these efforts could be replicated appropriately elsewhere.
The summit’s full agenda, including a list of speakers featuring Michele Norris, NPR host/special correspondent and founder of the Race Card Project, Dr. Scott Cowen, president emeritus of Tulane University, and Jim Kelly, executive director, Covenant House can be found atwww.neighborworks.org/comebackcommunities
Comeback Communities also features a day of service that will see hundreds of volunteers from the summit and other supporters fan out across the city to work side-by-side with residents, local businesses and area nonprofits. Highlights of the day of service are six home rehab projects done in partnership with the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together New Orleans. It is believed that this is the first time that the three national housing nonprofits – NeighborWorks America, Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together — have joined to work on so many rehab projects simultaneously.
“I anticipate that this two-day event will invigorate all of us, and illustrate that when people work together, real change can occur and lives be improved,” said NeighborWorks America CEO Paul Weech. “We’re grateful to JPMorgan Chase and the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation for helping to finance these activities, and to make it possible for so many to be here to learn what works to bring a community back, one helping hand at a time.”
“Since 2008, Wells Fargo Housing Foundation has provided over 1,500 scholarships for
community development professionals to attend NeighborWorks America’s training and development opportunities,” said Martin Sundquist, executive director of the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation. “Through Comeback Communities, we will provide 60 more scholarships and, in addition, several Wells Fargo team members will volunteer to rehabilitate four homes in New Orleans. We are proud to support impactful public-private collaborations like this that empower individuals to revitalize communities.”
Additional partners include Capital One Foundation and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
About NeighborWorks America
For more than 35 years, NeighborWorks America has created opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $24.5 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.
Contact:
Douglas Robinson
202-760-4062
@neighborworkspr
