The Community Effect: A NeighborWorks America Podcast

In Part 2 of this conversation on The Community Effect, Marietta Rodriguez, president & CEO of NeighborWorks America, continues her discussion with Kathy Flanagan Payton, president & CEO of Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corp., on how Houston’s historic Fifth Ward responds to natural disasters, economic shocks and rapid neighborhood change.
Legacy, Inheritance and Resilience in Houston’s Fifth Ward (Part 2) explores how mixed-income development, disaster recovery and cross-sector partnerships strengthen housing supply and protect long-term community stability. From the award-winning redevelopment of St. Elizabeth Place to strategies that prioritize accountability and collaboration, this episode highlights what it means to rebuild with intention.

In this episode of The Community Effect, host Marietta Rodriguez, president and CEO of NeighborWorks America, explores how housing inheritance and tangled titles shape stability for families and communities. She is joined by Kathy Flanagan Payton, president and CEO of Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corp., to discuss the real challenges families face when legacy homes are passed down without clear ownership.
Drawing on decades of place-based leadership in Houston’s historic Fifth Ward, Payton explains how tangled titles can turn homes into “dead capital,” limiting access to repairs, insurance and disaster recovery resources. The conversation highlights why estate planning and clear title are essential tools for wealth building, housing stability and long-term community resilience. This is Part 1 of a two-part series examining how trusted community organizations help families protect what generations worked to build.

In this episode of The Community Effect, Marietta Rodriguez, president & CEO of NeighborWorks America, is joined by Brandee McHale, head of Community Investing and Development at Citi and president of the Citi Foundation. They discuss how philanthropy, finance and community development intersect to create lasting impact. The conversation explores first-mover partnerships, the role of philanthropic capital in seeding innovation and the importance of investing in people and places to support long-term economic opportunity and community resilience.

Innovation is redefining what’s possible in affordable housing. In this episode, NeighborWorks America President & CEO Marietta Rodriguez talks with Ernest Coney Jr., CEO of the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, and Nick Mitchell-Bennett, Executive Director of Come Dream Come Build in Brownsville, Texas. Together, they explore how modular construction and 3D-printed homes are helping communities build quality housing faster and at lower cost.
The conversation dives into the role of technology, workforce opportunity and community insight in shaping the future of housing. From DreamBuild’s flexible modular designs to Florida’s first 3D-printed homes, Ernest and Nick show how local innovation can create a lasting impact for families.
Listen to learn how NeighborWorks network organizations are charting a new path for affordability, resilience and opportunity.

When disaster strikes, rebuilding takes more than repairing homes — it takes time, trust and community.
In this episode of The Community Effect, NeighborWorks America President & CEO Marietta Rodriguez talks with Lori R. Gay, President and CEO of Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County. Together they explore how preparation, partnership and perseverance help neighborhoods recover after wildfires, floods and economic shocks. Hear stories of resilience from Los Angeles and learn what it truly means to rebuild stronger, safer communities.Learn more: neighborworks.org/podcast

Before a home is built, the foundation for success starts long before the first brick is laid. In this episode of The Community Effect, NeighborWorks® America president & CEO Marietta Rodriguez talks with Amy Schaftlein, Executive Director of United Housing in Memphis, about what it really takes to prepare families for homeownership.
Together, they discuss how financial education, credit building, and down payment assistance programs help families move from renting to owning and how organizations like United Housing are using innovative tools to make homeownership more attainable and sustainable.
🎧 Listen now to learn how financial readiness creates lasting impact for homeowners and communities alike.

In this episode of The Community Effect we are back with Rick Guzman, Executive Director of The Neighbor Project, to continue the conversation about how the Neighbor Project’s Breakthrough Rental program has reshaped lives, multiplied the reach of affordable housing, and created generational wealth for families once locked out of ownership opportunities. This conversation offers a fresh perspective on breaking the cycle of poverty and building stronger, more resilient communities. 

Not everyone is ready to buy...and that’s okay. In this episode of The Community Effect, we sit down with Rick Guzman, Executive Director of The Neighbor Project, to explore how rental housing can become a pathway to financial empowerment. The Neighbor Project’s Breakthrough Rental program challenges the idea that renting is a dead end. Instead, it helps families build credit, reduce debt, and save for a down payment; transforming affordable units into stepping stones toward long-term stability and homeownership.
 
This is a two-part episode, so be sure to tune in for episode 4 as the conversation continues.

What role can manufactured homes play in solving today’s housing challenges? In this episode of The Community Effect, Marietta Rodriguez, NeighborWorks America President & CEO, talks with Sarah Kackar (NeighborWorks America) and Ramsey Cohen (Clayton) about innovation, inclusive zoning and how partnerships are reshaping housing opportunities for rural communities.

Welcome to Season 2 of the Community Effect Podcast! Two decades after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we speak with three leaders who helped rebuild the Gulf Coast: Terri North (Providence Community Housing), Bill Bynum (HOPE Credit Union) and Kathy Laborde (Gulf Coast Housing Partnership). They share what it took to lead through crisis, what has changed since 2005 and how they are still building strong communities today.
Brought to you by The Community Effect, a NeighborWorks® America podcast.