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Stanley Keasling Selected for NeighborWorks® Achieving Excellence in Community Development Program
October 7, 2008
Sacramento, Calif. — Stanley Keasling, chief executive officer, Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) has been selected to participate in the NeighborWorks® Achieving Excellence in Community Development program, which includes three residential modules at Harvard Kennedy School.. Keasling is one of 50 leaders selected for this Achieving Excellence class – a prestigious and highly selective training program offered by NeighborWorks®
America
.
“Focusing on performance is a key issue for me as the CEO at RCAC, and I am looking forward to gaining new tools from this program,” Keasling said.
Achieving Excellence is an 18-month educational program for senior leaders in community organizations that have a focus on affordable housing, community revitalization or community economic development. At the beginning of the program, participants select a specific and significant challenge facing their organizations for which solutions will not only dramatically change how their organizations do business, but also enable them to make lasting change in their communities.
Independent evaluations have shown tremendous results for organizations that have participated in this program. In just the most recent class alone, just a few of the achievements so far by Achieving Excellence graduates include the following:
-
The average number of clients served has increased by 146%. The mean number of clients served attributed to the AE program is 63 per organization. The total increase in clients served attributed to this third class of the AE program is 53,887.
-
The mean number of new homeowners created has increased by 15%.
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The average number of units of affordable housing developed (ground broken) has increased by 32%. Organizations attribute on average 72 new units of housing developed to the AE program for a sum of 1,153 new units.
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All of the class participants (100%) agree that Achieving Excellence has given them “a better understanding of how to lead their organization” and 100% of surveyed board members of AE participants feel that the AE program has led to positive changes in the organization.
According to Kenneth D. Wade, chief executive officer of NeighborWorks®
America
, only the most experienced and sophisticated executive directors and senior level staff participate in this program. “The
participants’
selection is a testament to their exceptional skills and long-term commitment to improving our nation’s communities and the lives of their residents,” said Wade.
The only comprehensive, intensive training of its kind, Achieving Excellence includes three residential modules at Harvard Kennedy School, as well as executive coaching, intensive peer learning and guidance from Douglas K. Smith, principal designer of the program and renowned expert on performance, learning, innovation and change. The first module at
Harvard
Kennedy
School
will take place in October, with additional modules planned for March and October 2009 with a final session and graduation in spring 2010. Between modules, participants will be actively working on a challenge critical to their organization’s success and will be working closely with their executive coach and peer group.
“One of my first goals is to develop the new strategic plan that will guide our efforts for the next three years. Making sure that we frame our work in terms that are measurable and outcome oriented is extremely important,” Keasling said. “Skills that I learn in the achieving excellence program will help make this a reality.”
For more information about the NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence program, please contact Erin Angell, 202-220-6317. For more information about Stanley Keasling and RCAC, please contact Sharon Wills, 916-447-9832 ext. 1005.
About NeighborWorks®
America
NeighborWorks®
America
creates opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. To date, we have assisted nearly 850,000 low- to moderate-income families with their housing needs. Much of our success is achieved through our support of the NeighborWorks network more than 230 community development organizations working in 4,400 urban, suburban and rural communities in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia
and
Puerto Rico
. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $12.4 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks
America
is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals. www.nw.org.
About Rural Community Assistance Corporation
Founded 30 years ago, RCAC provides a wide range of community development services for rural and Native American communities, agricultural workers and community-based organizations in 13 western states.
RCAC offers expertise in housing, environmental infrastructure (water, wastewater and solid waste), leadership training, economic development and financing. RCAC is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and operates a $65 million Loan Fund that finances affordable housing, community facilities, and water and wastewater systems. For more information, visit www.rcac.org.
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