National NeighborWorks® Week is a celebration of the accomplishments of the NeighborWorks® network working in more than 4,000 communities across the nation.

Here are a few highlights from NeighborWorks® Week 2010:

New Haven HomeOwnership Center Open House
On Thursday, June 10, guests met with NHS staff, enjoyed music, barbequed and learned about our programs and services.  Sponsored by TD Bank, the Open House launched the Loan Modification Scam Alert Campaign. Loan modification scams are proliferating at a rapid pace: every day, scam artists prey on unsuspecting homeowners facing foreclosure. Invited speakers from NeighborWorks® America, HomeOwnership Center clients who were scam victims, and local elected officials addressed the issue and shed light on how it impacts our communities.

Neighborhood Beautification Days
Neighborhood residents along with NHS board, staff and volunteers joined together to clean up West Division Street and to build a fence for a local resident.

Mural Project
During NeighborWorks® Week, we began creating a neighborhood monument that reflects the culture and history of the Newhallville community. The beginnings of the mural were painted on an old, boarded-up grocery store covered with faded graffiti that was an eyesore in the neighborhood. (Area residents have repeatedly expressed frustration with the state of this building.) Local residents sketched ideas for the mural, following the theme “Our Community, Our History, Our Future.” In collaboration with a muralist from Newhallville and local youth, we created a cohesive design.  Work on the mural will be completed during Neighborworks® Week 2011.

Documentary Premiere
The premiere screenings of “Stories by Our Resident Leaders” and “Real Scam Stories” were featured during the HOC open house. The short documentaries provided a glimpse into the experiences of New Haven residents, told in their own words, about their efforts to take on leadership roles in their communities or to keep their homes in the face of foreclosure.

Learn more about National NeighborWorks® Week