Maryland, talking with Lisa Chavis, lead case manager at New Community’s Harmony House transitional living
facility.
NCC chosen as “Exemplary” CDC by University of Maryland
New Community has been chosen as an exemplary community development corporation (CDC) by a think-tank based at the University of Maryland that is showcasing successful community wealth-building initiatives from throughout the country.
A report being prepared by the think-tank, The Democracy Collaborative, will shed light on NCC’s ability to successfully empower its low income stakeholders and the lessons to be learned from its 45-year history in the development field. Keane Bhatt, a community development associate with The Collaborative, recently paid a visit to New Community and walked away impressed after touring its programs.
“I very much admire the fact you have maintained your vision in terms of the kind of important social supports you are providing the community,” he said. “Despite having to weather pretty severe financial and economic storms that have impacted many non-profits, New Community is still focused on these kinds of life-lines and servicing low-income people.”
Bhatt co-authored an article, “Ten Ways to Democratize Our Broken Economy,” with University of Maryland Professor, Gar Alperovitz, at billmoyers.com. In the story, appearing on September 2013, New Community Corporation is cited as one piece of a larger puzzle to build up community power throughout the country.
During his visit, Bhatt also met and had lunch with NCC founder and board chair, Monsignor William J. Linder and CEO Richard Rohrman.
Bhatt walked away with a wealth of information after learning about how New Community was founded and how it has gone about developing neighborhoods over the years.
