When deciding whether to exercise, many people think a long jog or an intense weight-lifting session is required. But for the residents of Trinity House and St. Peter apartments in Columbia, Pennsylvania, exercise as simple movement while sitting down is effective. The apartments are operated by Housing Development Corp. MidAtlantic.

Prior to NeighborWorks America's national Community Leadership Institute in Columbus in October, Mary Richards had modest expectations for the conference, or where it would lead.

"I didn't know what it was about," Richards said.

Cynthia W. Burton, Executive Director & Jacqueline Standridge, Director, Planning and Development, Community Service Programs of West Alabama

Jackie Mayo, President and CEO, HomeSource East Tennessee

Tim Bolding, executive director, United Housing
 

John Niederman, President and CEO, Pathfinder Services, Inc.

Challenge: To provide independent living facilities for seniors and people with disabilities in Huntington, Indiana, that provide support services and safety mechanisms, and still facilitate privacy and independence.

A team of NeighborWorks America staff, partners and a representative of network member Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County toured three Los Angeles communities for a day of outreach to inform the public about loan modification and foreclosure prevention scams that can cost unsuspecting homeowners thousands of lost dollars — and in some cases, their homes.

NeighborWorks America is well known for its training of professionals, but training residents at the local level is equally important. At NeighborWorks member Chinatown Community Development Center (CDC), a foundational principal is to develop the leadership potential of the residents it serves.