WELCOME TO SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO!
GREETINGS!

I am delighted to welcome you to the 2027 NeighborWorks Training Institute (NTI) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, an island defined by resilience, ingenuity and deep community roots. It is the perfect setting for NeighborWorks® America to bring together professionals who are committed to building stronger communities and sharpening the skills that make that work possible.

This year’s theme, De Aquí, Pa’l Mundo, from here, for everyone, reflects a simple truth about this Institute: Puerto Rico is not our backdrop. It is our faculty. The practitioners, organizations and leaders doing housing and community development work across this island are meeting challenges that communities everywhere are beginning to face. This week, we come to learn from them, exchange knowledge, and carry what we learn home.

I invite you to explore our courses, designed to equip you with practical tools and strategies you can put to work immediately. By choosing to attend NTI Puerto Rico, you are making a deliberate investment in your own growth and in the communities you serve. We know it takes commitment to step away from your daily responsibilities to focus on learning. That commitment speaks volumes.

This training is an opportunity to pause, connect and sharpen your approach. It is also a moment to take pride in the work you do every day to create stable, affordable housing and resilient communities.

Join us in San Juan for expert-led courses designed to expand your skills and deepen your impact. In addition to classroom learning, you will find insight and inspiration through peer networking, the opening plenary, our signature convenings and other opportunities to connect throughout the week.
As industry leaders, we take pride in offering courses that reflect the evolving needs of our field.

A few highlights include:

• Mobilizing Youth for Community Building(CB122)

• Building AI Strategy in Community Development Organizations (ML350)

• Organizing Neighborhoods for Emergency Response (ML396)

When you are not in sessions, we encourage you to take advantage of opportunities to connect with colleagues and deepen your understanding of the local context in which the work takes place. Puerto Rico offers a unique opportunity to observe housing, economic, and community dynamics firsthand, including how these dynamics are reflected in the historic neighborhoods of San Juan and in communities across the island. These experiences can provide valuable context for our work, strengthen relationships, and broaden our understanding of the communities we collectively support.

Register early to secure your preferred courses. I look forward to seeing you in Puerto Rico and learning alongside you.
De Aquí, Pa’l Mundo—from here, for everyone.

Marietta Rodriguez

President & CEO | NeighborWorks America