NTIC staff meets with foundations
from across the country during 2003's first quarter
By Amalia NietoGomez
During the first three months of the 2003, National Training and Information Center staff have worked tirelessly to update foundations on the organization's latest work and accomplishments.
Under a 28-inch blanket of snow in mid-Febraury, NTIC National Housing Organizer Cathy Klump, NTIC Board Member Inez Killingsworth and Mark Seifert, Director of Cleveland's East Side Organizing Project visited foundations in New York City to "spread the news" about the great work NTIC and ESOP are doing throughout the country. They met with long-time NTIC partner, the Ford Foundation to update them on NTIC's efforts to protect the homeownership assets of low-income communities. NTIC and ESOP also met with the Rockefeller Brothers Foundation and Funding Exchange to introduce the foundations to NTIC's work on predatory lending, community reinvestment and neighborhood revitalization.
A few weeks later, NTIC Youth Project Director Aaron Wagner and NTIC Development Director Amalia NietoGomez journeyed to New York to discuss NTIC's work on youth organizing. They met with the Funders' Collaborative on Youth Organizing to discuss NTIC's work on building the capacity of youth organizing groups. Wagner and NietoGomez also met with the Ford Foundation to talk about Ford's priorities on youth and NTIC's work on increasing access to higher education for low and moderate-income youth.
Wagner and NietoGomez highlighted the Youth Service Scholarship Act, which is the first bill created by youth, in consultation with NTIC, to reward youth volunteering in their community. Wagner and NietoGomez also met with the Active Element Foundation to share information on NTIC's training and technical assistance to new and emerging youth organizing groups.
In February and March, NTIC met with two vice presidents of the Northern Trust Community Affairs Department and representatives from the Fannie Mae Foundation to discuss the organization's work on housing and banking issues. NTIC also met with the Field Foundation to discuss the Gale Cincotta Fund for Leadership and Organizational Development. The fund will provide the opportunity for NTIC to expand its programs to meet the growing needs of community organizations and continue to develop the neighborhood leaders who shape America's future.
NTIC staff met with the Woods Fund, Marguerite Casey, and the Mayer, Morris, and Kaplan Foundation about NTIC's training and technical assistance in building the capacity of organizing groups in its national network. NTIC staff also met with the Retirement Research Foundation and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development on NTIC's predatory lending work in Illinois.
AMALIA NIETOGOMEZ IS THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AND THE ILLINOIS PREDATORY LENDING ORGANIZER AT NTIC. NIETO GOMEZ HAS BEEN WORKING ON STATE-WIDE PREDATORY LENDING CAMPAIGNS THAT HAVE DEVASTATED NEIGHBORHOODS. BEFORE WORKING AT NTIC NEITO GOMEZ WORKED AT THE U.S. CONSULATE IN GUADALAJARA AND WORKED IN GUANAJUATO, MEXICO AS A HEALTH WORKER. SHE GRADUATED FROM PRINCETON UNIVERSITY WITH A DEGREE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.
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NTIC receives honors, awards and
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Partnerships and New Relationships
NTIC staff meets with foundations
from across the country during 2003's first quanter
On the Road
NTIC staff provides training
and technical assistance to grassroots organizations around the country