Faculty - Led Course | Any Level

Foundations of Community Building & Engagement

Learn how to assess your organization’s current approach and develop a plan to enhance collaboration and connection with residents.

What You'll Learn

This course introduces four community participation strategies—services, building, engagement, and organizing—and helps you understand their distinct roles in fostering community collaboration. You’ll assess your organization’s current practices and explore how to shift toward more inclusive and empowering approaches. Through interactive discussions, you’ll learn how to align staff and resident roles, address power dynamics, and create a 30-60-90 day action plan to enhance community engagement. Whether you're new or experienced, this course equips you with practical tools to strengthen your community impact. 

  • Compare four community strategies to understand their unique benefits and when to use each.
  • Assess your organization’s approach and create a plan to strengthen resident collaboration and leadership.
  • Build practical skills to engage, empower, and connect with residents for lasting community impact.

Live Session Schedule

Day 1:

Monday, May 4, 2026 | 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM EST
Kickoff session covering course overview, introductions, and foundational concepts


Day 3:
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM EST
Live instruction on advanced strategies and case studies

Who This Course Is For

Ideal For:

  • Nonprofit staff supporting affordable housing programs
  • Anyone working in communities
  • Government employees seeking opportunity to support communities

Come Prepared for the Course

Welcome to this accelerated 4-day faculty-led course which is designed for optimal interactivity and engagement. Days 1 and 3, are each comprised of a total of 4 hours of live online instruction, divided into two sessions with a 1-hour break in between. Days 2 and 4 are dedicated to self-paced completion of all activities and assignments. All required coursework is due by 11:59 p.m. PT on the designated day of class.

Pre-Work & Preparation

Pre-Work & Preparation

Complete all pre-work by provided deadlines

Active Participation

Active Participation

Attend live sessions and engage in collaborative activities

Software Requirements

Software Requirements

Microsoft Excel and Zoom proficiency required

Hardware Setup

Hardware Setup

Dual monitors, webcam, and file management capabilities

Your Instructor

Maura Camosse-Tsongas

Maura Camosse-Tsongas

Faculty Member | Neighborworks

Maura Camosse Tsongas is a current faculty member at NeighborWorks America, teaching courses in affordable housing development, financial modeling, and community development. She has extensive experience in housing policy, program development, and community engagement. Maura holds a BA in African Studies from Mount Holyoke College and a Master’s in Environmental Science from the University of Wisconsin and a Master’s in Urban and Regional Policy from Northeastern University.

What Learners Are Saying

"This course gave me exactly what I needed to get started in housing counseling. The practical tools and real-world examples made it easy to apply what I learned immediately with my clients."

Maria Rodriguez

Housing Counselor, Urban CDC

"As someone transitioning from social work into housing counseling, this course provided the perfect foundation. The content was incredibly relevant to my daily work."

David Chen

Community Development Specialist

"The instructor's expertise really shines through in every module. I appreciated the balance of theory and practical application."

Sarah Johnson

Housing Program Manager

Community Engagement Master Credential

Community Engagement Master Credential

CB105vcx is one of five courses that make up this Master Credential

Courses needed to earn this credential:

  • CB105vcx
  • CB106vcx
  • CB107vcx
  • CB108vcx
  • CB200vcx
Learn More

Ready to Get Started?

Join hundreds of housing counselors building the skills to create lasting community impact

$595
Enroll Now