PROVIDENCE – Greater Elmwood Neighborhood Services has been accepted into the NeighborWorks America community-building program, as one of 44 member organizations nationwide and the first in Rhode Island.
Through membership in the group’s Community Building and Organizing Initiative the nonprofit will be able to tap the experience of other member organizations by taking part in yearly meetings with about 40 peer organizations throughout the country. In addition, Greater Elmwood will gain access to NeighborWorks’ leadership training programs and other resources that occur quarterly.
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Greater Elmwood Neighborhood Services won admission to this national program for the strength of its outreach programs to residents and other organizations in the city. For example, GENS has facilitated meetings with the city’s local police personnel to communication neighborhood concerns, and has helped R.I. PBS produce a television program on predatory lending.
Founded in 1978 as Elmwood Neighborhood Services, a partnership initially focused on affordable housing loans, the nonprofit changed its name in 1997 to reflect its shift in focus to revitalization and real estate and community development. Today, it has a staff of eight and an operating budget of $1.2 million.
NeighborWorks America’s focus is bringing together residents to help revitalize their neighborhoods and create affordable housing.
Its community-building program sees developing and assisting community leaders as a “core community development strategy”; it provides training, support and networking opportunities to groups involved in “community building, resident leadership development and neighborhood revitalization.”
Greater Elmwood’s community building department is guided by a committee of board members, community leaders and neighborhood residents. Since it’s founding, the organization has worked on projects whose value comes to about $25 million, including a lead abatement program, among others.
People interested in learning more, investing in Greater Elmwood or joining its community-building steering committee may contact Ronnie Young, GENS’ director of community building, at ryoung@greaterelmwood.org or 455-0810, ext. 209.
Additional information on GENS is available at www.greaterelmwood.org. Information about NeighborWorks and its community-building program is available at www.nw.org.
