Volume 2, Issue 6

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AUGUST 2012

BIG PICTURE THINKING:   

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN 2012 

Volume 2, Issue 6

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ACHANGE’S MISSION:  

To collectively promote quality

affordable housing and community

economic development in Arkansas.

 

 

 

 

 

Pictured  on cover:  CDI 2012 Classes. Year 3: Susan Forte,  top 

picture, 2nd row; Year 2: Ken Pyle, Year 2 , middle, 3rd row, 4th 

from le ; Andrew Pack, middle, 2nd row, 5th from le ; Debra 

Banks, Class 2 Director, middle, 1st row, right; Year 1: Frances 

Newsome, bo om picture, 4th row, 2nd from le .   

IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE

3 Time for ACHANGE!

4 Chairman’s Corner

5 ACHANGE & CDI

6 August Meeting Highlights

7 Federal News

8 Coming Attractions

9 Digital Resources

10 Executive Committee/

Contact Info

 

 

 

 

HOW CONNECTED IS YOUR

ORGANIZATION?

LET US KNOW!

Complete a short online survey by clicking here!

The survey is still open! Tell us about your organization today!

Volume 2, Issue 6

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TIME FOR ACHANGE! The first week of August has, for the last 11 years, been a time of

renewal for me—a time to recharge my batteries for the rest of the

year. What is it that makes me so energetic? It’s my time to serve as a

Class Director for the Community Development Institute at the

University of Central Arkansas. Spending time around people who

embrace the possibilities that all communities possess. They come to

learn, to network and to encourage each other in the difficult work

that we all do.

For the past 25 years, CDI has provided a one-week training course for community

development and economic development professionals. The course is taught over the course of

three years, with an advanced year option. Participants are provided with the latest strategies to

improve communities and increase economic opportunities, in a supportive environment that

balances information with motivation. A variety of speakers and activities help to illustrate the

lessons learned, and with each passing year, participants build upon those lessons learned during

the previous year.

This was a banner year for ACHANGE and CDI. ACHANGE was represented in all three

years. Frances Newsome (Year 1), Ken Pyle (Year 2) and Susan Forte (Year 3) were all active

participants in the process. You can read more about their experiences on page five.

One of the things that ACHANGE wants

to ensure is that housing is considered an

important part of Arkansas’ economic de-

velopment picture. Today, our organiza-

tions must also embrace the bigger

picture. It may mean the difference in

economic survival and closed doors.

We can do it. That’s why it time for

ACHANGE.

Debra Banks

Program Manager 2012 Year 2 Champion of CDI winner Ken Pyle

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CHAIRMAN’S CORNER “Headlines don’t sell papes, Newsies sell papes”

My favorite movie for many years is a musical called Newsies. It is set in 1899 and stars Christian Bale (Batman) and, yes, he sings and dances, very well I might add. It is about a group of newspaper boys who stand up against the tyranny of the big newspaper companies when the owners decide to increase the price of the papers to the boys, but not to the customers. The boys are mainly orphans or out on their own because their parents couldn’t afford to raise them.

What I love about this movie is how it shows that a group of “nobodies”, or what this world may consider as such, can get together and make a difference. They decide to go on strike. At the sound of the whistle every morning, the gates would open for the newspaper boys to go inside the Pulitzer or Hurst newspaper headquarters and purchase their newspapers (“papes”) for the day. Right before the whistle blows for the day, they sing:

“When you got a hundred voices singin', Who can hear a lousy whistle blow? And the world will know that this ain't no game That we got a ton of rotten fruit and perfect aim So they gave their word but it ain't worth beans Now they're gonna see what "stop the presses" really means And the day has come And the time is now And the fear is gone And our name is mud And the strike is on And I can't stand blood And the world will know And the world will learn And the world will wonder how we made the tables turn And the world will see that we had to choose That the things we do today will be tomorrow's news And the old will fall And the young stand tall And the time is now And the winds will blow And our ranks will grow and grow and grow and so The world will feel the fire and finally know! (MetroLyrics, nd) I’m not suggesting that ACHANGE is about going on strike or throwing fruit at anyone. What I am suggesting is that we, too, can make a difference. We don’t have a million voices, but we do have a collective hundred. Truly, “the things we do today will be tomorrow’s news” if we use our voices and don’t remain silent. Change is brewing at this very moment. Will ACHANGE be a catalyst that moves the winds of change in the right direction? Well, that is up to you.       NEWSIES - THE WORLD WILL KNOW LYRICS . Retrieved August 24, 2012, from http://www.metrolyrics.com/the-world-will-know-lyrics-newsies.html#ixzz24TOBZPao

Karen Phillips ACHANGE Board Chair

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ACHANGE and CDI—Partners in Development As you’ve read in earlier pages, ACHANGE was well represented at this year’s Community Development Institute. Here’s a recap of the week, in the participant’s own words.

1. Frances Newsome, Year 1 I have desired to attend this event for the last few years and am very grateful that ACHANGE made it possible. It was everything I had heard and expected. It was well organized with a comprehensive agenda that centered around building and supporting thriving communities. It was a time of networking with old and new associates in the industry. The simulations provided the most real life experiences in navigating the complexity of increasing the economics and quality of life for citizens of the community. I would recommend this training to all individuals interested in community and economic development and look forward to attending the next two years.

2. Ken Pyle, Year 2 (and Year 3 panelist)

Year two in 2012 was a very enjoyable, enlightening and inspiring week. The presenters, without exception brought practical lessons learned and insights into the world of community and economic development beyond what the “book” might teach. Bravo to the staff and class leaders. My favorite was the talk on how to work with entrepreneurs in your community. The insight that stuck with me was that we forever hire or engage tutors to address a child’s weaknesses or shortcomings. What about finding mentors and/or tutors to work with them on their strongest areas, areas where the student excels and build upon that success, enjoyment and passion for that area? Nearly every presenter brought to the class similar deeper insights which enriched the learning experience and inspired me to try similar approaches in Fort Smith.

3. Susan Forte, Year 3

My week at CDI was exciting, mainly because it was my 3rd year

and I was graduating with the class that I started with. My class

had various expertise and knowledge that will be helpful as we

continue our work in community and economic development.

Here’s a quick view of my 3 years at CDI. Year 1 gave us the

opportunity to go through "New Town" and see how political

community development can be. In Year 2, we were able to make

decisions that can effect townships and we learned how competitive

it can be to bring new businesses to your town. In Year 3, we put

everything together that we had learned in the last two years and

were more hands-on with real life community development issues. I enjoyed the CDI experience so

much that I will be returning for my 4th year; after that, I will be taking my PCED Test. Overall

CDI gets an A+ for a job well done!

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Introducing…..some of ACHANGE’s new members for 2012!

August 14, 2012, Meeting Highlights

LaVerne Paige,  

Pulaski County  

Community Services 

Steve Clark, 

Clark and Associates 

Stephen Blackwood, 

Alex Blackwood 

Founda on 

Karen Phillips welcomes new members, 

The Reata Founda on. 

Karen Phillips welcomes new member 

Shawn Futch of HomeSource, Inc.  

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FEDERAL NEWS

Section 8 Renewal Guide Comment Period Open.

HUD has made changes to the Section 8 Renewal Policy Guide and is seeking comments on

the proposed changes. The proposed changes would incorporate the requirements set forth by

new laws since the last update in 2009. Project owners are offered six options when considering

whether to renew. One option included is to keep rental rates at or below market rates.

Interested persons are invited to submit comments by October 9. Please refer to the proposal

by name. Send comments to Reports Liaison Officer, Depart of Housing and Urban

Development, 451 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20410, Room 9120. You may also call

1-800-877-8339.

To read the text of the request, click here.

CFPB Comment Period Open on Proposed New Rules for Mortgage Servicers

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has proposed new rules for mortgage servicers that

would take effect after a public comment period ending October 9. The rules would require the

following:

Monthly mortgage statements,

Advance warning before any interest rate adjustments,

Forced-place insurance rules to prevent servicers from requiring borrowers to buy

unnecessary insurance,

Early outreach for delinquent borrowers,

Prompt crediting of payments,

Accurate information management,

Error resolution and information requests,

Direct and ongoing access to servicer personnel,

Evaluation for alternatives to foreclosure.

To learn more about these rules and to take advantage of the opportunity to comment, click

here.

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Free Community Stabilization eLearning Courses NeighborWorks is able to offer our community stabilization-related eLearning courses – a $195 value – free of charge until December 31, with support from FDIC. Choose from REO Acquisition, Rehab, Disposition and Management, Fundamentals of Asset Management, Counseling Buyers of REO Properties (code: FDICHO260a), Counseling Clients Seeking Rental Housing, or Stabilizing Neighborhoods in a Post-Foreclosure Environment (code: FDICHO265a). For the last two courses, enter the FDIC code; for the others simply select your course, and the tuition that will appear is $0. The courses may count toward a professional certificate. Learn more.

The 2012 Low Income Advocates Leadership & Community Development Conference is

scheduled for September 20-21, 2012.

Featured speakers:

Dr. Fitz Hill, Arkansas Baptist College

Paul Clayton, P.E. Clayton and Associates

Julie Munsell, Entergy Arkansas

Glendell Jones, Jr., Henderson State University

For more details soon at www.cadc.com

The Arkansas Community Development Society will hold its annual

Community Development conference on November 1, at the University of

Central Arkansas. Featured speaker: Ed Morrison of Purdue University’s

Center for Regional Development. For more information or to register, click

here.

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DIGITAL RESOURCES FOR

HOUSING PROFESSIONALS Highlighting the tools that can help you succeed in the digital age

WalkScore

More communities are concerning themselves with how

walkable their communities are. An iPhone app, Walk

Score allows users to calculate the walkability of

metropolitan areas. Users are also able to find

apartments and rentals. Users can search by commute

time or near pubic transit. Cost: FREE

Webinar: Streamline Refinances

This FREE Streamline Refinance Webinar will cover

recent Mortgagee Letters and Updates to FHA’s

Streamline Refinance program since 2009, Credit

Qualifying streamline, maximum mortgage calculations

and scenarios, and documentation requirements. This

Webinar will be helpful for all experience levels in the

processing and underwriting of Streamline Refinances.

Registration required, no fee. Please hold on to the e-mail you receive after you reg-

ister, you will need it to access the webinar. This webinar will be archived for those

unable to attend.

Arkansas.gov

Need an email address or phone number for a state employee? Look-

ing for the address of a particular office? Maybe you need to know

what meetings are occurring this month. You can find this and more

with this app. Acquiring this app also means that you will have press

releases, consumer alerts, court orders and other information at your fingertips.

Volume 2, Issue 6

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ACHANGE Executive Committee Board Chairman—Karen Phillips

1st Vice Chairman—Susan Forte

2nd Vice Chairman—George Holcomb

Secretary— Frances Newsome

Treasurer—Cathy Carlock

Associate At-Large Board Member—Martie North

At-Large Board Member—Darryl Swinton

Program Manager—Debra Banks

Committee Chairs

Education and Training Committee Chairman—Roma Isom

Finance Committee Chairman—Cathy Carlock

Membership & Marketing Committee Chairman—George Holcomb

Public Policy Committee Chairman—Darryl Swinton

Resource Development Chairman—Charles Vann

Ad-hoc Committee Chairman—Martie North

 

 

 

 

 

 

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North Little Rock, AR 72114

501-766-3941 Fax: 501-244-9670

At ACHANGE, your membership matters.

Come grow along with us!