Research

NeighborWorks America's strategic plan calls out the need to better assist underserved populations and to support diversity, equity and inclusion in its programs. One strategic objective includes a goal to develop and resource a Native strategy and to identify opportunities to increase awareness about Native communities including cultural competency and sovereignty.

These three case studies are part of a series designed to share lessons learned and key findings from the Healthy Communities Demonstration Project, a collaboration between NeighborWorks America, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps Program.

Between 2018 and 2019, NeighborWorks America brought together six community development organizations to form a learning community on trauma-informed community development. The NeighborWorks Trauma and Healing Learning Community collaborated, shared and grew together over an eight-month period. Together, we built the capacity of our organizations to prevent and respond to trauma. And we also created a guidebook to support other community development organizations adopting trauma-informed practices.

We know that where we live affects our health. Life expectancies can differ by more than 20 years between neighborhoods. But how do you change that? In other words, how do residents, community-based organizations and cross-sector partners start to close the life expectancy gap between our healthiest neighborhoods and our least healthy neighborhoods?

We developed the NeighborWorks America Financial Capability for Renters Pilot to learn how best to effectively provide financial capability services to the renters living in affordable multifamily rental housing owned by NeighborWorks organizations. 

Over the course of a year, we sought to capture what art, culture and creativity can contribute to creating equitable and engaged communities that offer opportunity to all. Our creative community development report describes our exploration process and findings.

Our goal is to make every place a community of opportunity. Unfortunately, some areas are being left behind more than others as our global and national economies continue to shift. Rural communities are among them. 

Our Catalytic Grant Program was inspired by our mission to support efforts to build vibrant local communities that provide equitable opportunities for people to thrive. Noting that even years after the Great Recession had officially ended, many communities across the United States were still suffering from housing disinvestment, foreclosures and concentrated poverty, we set out to create a program that could build on the assets in these communities, strengthening the capacity of local organizations to tackle complex issues. 

The places where we live, work, learn and play critically impact our health and well-being. In many places across the United States, there is significant variation in life expectancy between neighboring geographic areas. Housing, in particular, affects health. Through this survey, we analyze health activities and highlight areas with potential to catalyze partnerships between community development and health organizations.