Hatha

Since 2006, The National Alliance of Community Economic Development Association, NACEDA, brings together members from across the country on the unified mission to improve community development nationwide. Those interested in learning more about NACEDA and community developement nationwide are urged to attend their Annual Summit on May 22nd - 25th, 2011 in Washington D.C.

TACDC sat down with NACEDA Executive Director, Sam Yoon, to learn more about NACEDA and their upcoming Summit.

Tell Us About NACEDA

Yoon: "NACEDA works to increase the value of our neighborhoods and communities everywhere by strengthening the networks of organizations and people who develop and invest in them.
Out network includes: community development corporations, non-profit housing organizations, community service providers, community development financial institutions, community land trusts, community organizers, workforce development agencies, advocates for the homeless, the disabled, the elderly, public agencies for housing and community development at the state, local, and county levels, national and local financial institutions, for-profit developers, lawyers, architects, planners, and concerned citizens—over 4,600 organizations and people who belong to one of NACEDA's 34 state or city/regional membership associations.
By investing in NACEDA, you are the strengthening the growing extended family that is community development today. Learn more at www.naceda.org."

What Are Your Goals For NACEDA in 2011

Yoon: "We know NACEDA is only as good as the strength of the relationships with its members. NACEDA had a complete staff turnover in 2010. This year our top goal is to develop relationships with and among our members and their staff. This is why we attended and participated in TACDC's conference in March.
One of our goals this year is to put into place the tools we need to communicate with our members and to faciliate communicatiom among our members. We believe good communication and solid relationship-building are the necessary steps toward accomplishing what is NACEDA's ultimate goal – a transformation and renewal of the community development field by the people who work in it."

What Do You Enjoy The Most About Working For NACEDA?

Yoon: "I have a map of the United States in my office with push-pins in the states and cities where our members are located. What I enjoy is being able to throw a dart at that map and hit an organization that is working to make neighborhoods and communities better places to live for everyone. I often hit Texas because Texas is a huge state!
I also like the fact that our tiny, cheap office is three blocks north of the White House. If I stand in the middle of the street with a pair of binoculars, I could theoretically see Barack Obama's front door. No, I haven't done this."

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Tell Us About the Upcoming NACEDA Summit

Yoon: "The summit will be held May 22-25, 2011, in Washington, DC. It will include two days of networking, peer-learning and sharing new and innovative practices. And the third day will be set aside to take Capitol Hill to meet with your local members of Congress."

What Are Your Main Priorities For The Summit?

Yoon: "Working in the community development industry is a truly unique vocation. When I asked people at the TACDC conference, "Who has trouble explaining what it is you do," Steve Carriker's hand went up the highest. In some ways the only people who truly understand what you do are other practitioners. This is why we need to gather and break bread together. Our goals are to:

Get to know each other
Share new ideas, trends and best practices in community development (including how to explain your job!)
Have fun!

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What Did You Think of The TACDC Conference You Attended in March

Yoon: "At the conference I truly got a feeling for the tremendous size and diversity of Texas. Sessions on green development and social media made the conference topical. Speakers like Mark Pinsky of OFN and Elisha Harig-Blaine of NLIHC really forced me to think more expansively and creatively about the tools available to practitioners. Esther's Follies made the conference fun. Fun for you, at my expense. And meeting practitioners working hard every day to improve the lives of all Texans made it all inspiring. You all did a tremendous job.
We are putting together the video diary of our trip to Texas. Much like the Maryland trip video, it will chronicle our experience with TACDC and a visits to few of your members in Austin, PeopleFund as well as TSAHC. I hate to say wait for the movie… but stay tuned!"

What Was Your Favorite Moment of the Conference

Yoon: "Only those at Esther's Follies will remember this, but it was definitely the "GRRR"

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TACDC would like to perosnally thank Mr. Sam Yoon for taking the time out of his schedule to talk with us, and we encourage all of our members to attend the NACEDA Annual Summit this March in Washington D.C.

For more informaion on NACEDA please visit their website at www.NACEDA.org.
To contact Sam Yoon, please email him at syoon@naceda.org