The Preserve at Emerald Villas, a 55+ community run by Orlando Neighborhood Improvement Corporation (ONIC), has become a beacon of shared experiences for residents who otherwise might be in isolation. Part of the success comes from the community's dedication to dismantling social barriers and nurturing connections among its residents. 

The Preserve at Emerald Villas, a 55+ community run by Orlando Neighborhood Improvement Corporation (ONIC), has become a beacon of shared experiences for residents who otherwise might be in isolation. Part of the success comes from the community's dedication to dismantling social barriers and nurturing connections among its residents. 

During Women’s History Month, NeighborWorks America looks back on its own history, which is rooted in the work of Dorothy Mae Richardson and her neighbors. Working together, they saved their Pittsburgh neighborhood, convincing landlords, bankers, businesses and government officials to engage – and to halt – years of neglect and disinvestment.

In Missouri, a NeighborWorks network organization partners with a school district to improve educational outcomes for youth. Another network organization in California preserves cultural assets while combatting gentrification and displacement. In Ohio, they're collaborating with the healthcare sector to improve social determinants of health. 
 

In Vermont, the stereotype you hear about independence and self-sufficiency often holds true, says Dawn Cross, HomeOwnership Center director and the sole housing counselor at Rural Edge. As a result, the people who walk through her door needing housing help often wait until they've exhausted every possible resource. "They go into credit card debt. They empty their savings. And when people come knocking on the door to shut off the lights or take the house away, that's when they finally look for help." 

In Vermont, the stereotype you hear about independence and self-sufficiency often holds true, says Dawn Cross, HomeOwnership Center director and the sole housing counselor at Rural Edge. As a result, the people who walk through her door needing housing help often wait until they've exhausted every possible resource. "They go into credit card debt. They empty their savings. And when people come knocking on the door to shut off the lights or take the house away, that's when they finally look for help."