HHQ Board Member Paula Durant Graduates From NeighborWorks America Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 21, 2026) - Home HeadQuarters announced this week the graduation of Paula Durant from the NeighborWorks® America Excellence in Governance Program and received the NeighborWorks America Board Governance Leader Certification. The program – over 60 hours of governance training over 18 months – is designed for board members, chief executives and board support staff who are ready to sharpen their leadership skills, strengthen their governance strategies and experiment with promising practices. This credential recognizes board leaders, senior executives and board support staff who demonstrate a strong understanding of governance fundamentals, value multiple perspectives and help organizations navigate decisions with confidence and care.

Each cohort accepts just over 70 participants to work on these strategies through peer learning, training and tailored resources.

“At NeighborWorks America, we know how important it is to have an engaged and informed board that keeps us connected – and looking forward – in the communities we serve,” said NeighborWorks President & CEO Marietta Rodriguez. “It not only helps the organization; it helps the whole community. I’m already anticipating the impact our newest graduates will make in their respective communities.”

Jennifer Christian, senior director of Network Leadership Development, said that NeighborWorks invests in board members knowing that the training will have what she calls a “multiplier effect.” “Participants become leaders not just on this board, but in other ways in the community. Their impact grows exponentially.”

Kerry Quaglia, Home HeadQuarters CEO said they were proud to have a graduate of the program.

“Paula has served on our Board of Directors for almost 10 years as a resident member,” said Home HeadQuarters CEO Kerry Quaglia. "We are so proud of and thankful for the dedication she brings not only to this worthwhile NeighborWorks' program, but also to our Board, Residents Committee and our overall organization."

"I took heart with Excellence in Governance.  It spoke to me.  A path to community success and generational wealth, that’s what it said to me… because the more you know, the more you can enhance your community.  We’re all in it together!” said HHQ Board Member Paula Durant.

The success of Paula Durant adds to the strength of Home HeadQuarters, which serves the needs of Central New York through keeping homeownership accessible, attainable and affordable.

About Home HeadQuarters

Home HeadQuarters is a non-profit neighborhood and housing development organization and certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that, since 1996, has helped nearly 6,000 families become first-time homebuyers; provided more than $185 million in home improvement loans and grants, and $128 million in down payment assistance and first mortgage financing; and redeveloped almost 1,500 properties through substantial rehabilitation of formerly vacant properties, new single-family construction, selective demolition and other strategies. The organization is recognized nationally for its innovative and equitable lending products and currently ranks as the leading lender by dollars amongst the 250+ NeighborWorks America network members. Home HeadQuarters is the country’s first designated Community Based Development Organization (CBDO), a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and a Neighborhood Preservation Company (NYS NPP).

Learn more at www.homehq.org.

About NeighborWorks America

For nearly 50 years, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp., a Congressionally chartered national nonprofit known as NeighborWorks® America, has strived to make every community safer and more prosperous. Our network of excellence includes nearly 250 nonprofits in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and on Native lands. NeighborWorks offers grant funding, peer exchange, technical assistance, evaluation tools and access to best-in-class training as the nation's leading trainer of housing and community development professionals. NeighborWorks network organizations build homes and apartments, expanding the supply of affordable housing in every community; provide financial counseling and coaching that increases self-sufficiency; encourage resident leadership, and collaborate with local stakeholders in the areas of health, economic development, employment and education. In Fiscal Year 2025, for every dollar received from Congress, NeighborWorks network and NeighborWorks America attracted an additional $74 of investment from other sources.  

For more information, visit neighborworks.org.