RISE Northwest Development Corporation Named Purpose Built Communities® Network Member
05/08/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DAYTON, OH — RISE Northwest Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Omega Community Development Corporation (Omega CDC), has officially been named a Purpose Built Communities® Network Member, joining a national network of organizations dedicated to advancing upward mobility and improving health outcomes in communities across the country.
The announcement was made this week at the 2026 Prosperity Starts With Place™ National Conference in Jacksonville, Florida. There leaders, practitioners, and partners gathered to share strategies that strengthen place-based work and drive long-term success for families and communities.
“Being named a Purpose Built Communities Network Member is both an honor and a responsibility,” said Vanessa Ward, CEO of Omega CDC and RISE Northwest. “For years, residents and partners in Northwest Dayton have been building pathways to stability, investing in our children, and strengthening community health. This partnership allows us to deepen that work with a proven model and a national network behind us.”
RISE Northwest launched in 2025 with housing as its first priority, already committing 50 new homes through the Pathway to Homeownership and Welcome Home programs, engaging more than 120 families in homeownership education, and supporting $9 million raised by housing partners for additional development. It is supported through a mixed board of local leaders, community partners, and residents, including chair and vice chair Dr. Alonzo Patterson III, MD Chief Medical Health Equity Officer at Dayton Children’s Hospital and Tim Mislansky President/CEO of Wright-Patt Credit Union.
As a Network Member, RISE Northwest will serve as the local Community Quarterback Organization, leading the implementation of the Purpose Built Communities model across five Northwest Dayton neighborhoods. The model integrates four interconnected pillars: mixed-income housing, cradle-to-career education, community wellbeing, and economic vitality. Building on Omega CDC’s 30-plus years of trusted relationships, this work is anchored in the voices, strengths, and priorities of Northwest Dayton residents.
“This recognition builds on years of intentional, resident-led planning. Through our partnership with Learn to Earn Dayton and the Power of Place Plan, residents have been at the center of shaping the vision for Northwest Dayton’s future,” said Rachel Ward, President, Omega CDC. “This designation affirms that their leadership, priorities, and vision are the foundation this work stands on and now, with Purpose Built Communities behind us, we have the national support to carry it forward at scale.”
RISE Northwest will now access national technical support, peer learning, and resources across the Purpose Built Communities network as it advances this work across five Northwest Dayton neighborhoods.
“This moment builds on the strength, vision, and leadership already present in Northwest Dayton,” said Tanisha Burns-Martin, Community Development Manager of RISE Northwest. “This model is designed to work alongside residents and build on what’s already there. When we align resources and amplify community assets, we can create lasting pathways to self-sufficiency.”
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About RISE Northwest Development Corporation
RISE Northwest Development Corporation (RISE Northwest) is a subsidiary of Omega Community Development Corporation focused on advancing place-based development and coordinated neighborhood investment in Northwest Dayton. Through cross-sector partnerships with residents, public agencies, businesses, and philanthropic organizations, RISE Northwest works to strengthen neighborhood infrastructure, expand economic opportunity, and support long-term community revitalization. For more information, visit www.omega-cdc.org
About Omega CDC
Omega Community Development Corporation (Omega CDC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded by Omega Baptist Church in 1997, exists to inspire hope and forge pathways to self-sufficiency in Northwest Dayton. Our mission is to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty by driving change and empowering families through cradle-to-career, place-based services. Serving thousands of children and adults, Omega CDC partners with public, private, and philanthropic organizations to deliver wrap-around support, building healthy and prosperous communities. For more information, visit www.omega-cdc.org.
About Purpose Built Communities
Purpose Built Communities is the national leader in strengthening neighborhoods and opening pathways to prosperity and opportunity for all. As a philanthropically funded nonprofit organization, Purpose Built Communities forms long-term partnerships with Community Quarterback Organizations, which are hyperlocal nonprofit organizations that work with residents and partners to advance a comprehensive strategy that supports the vision of the community. Through the determination and creativity of these organizations—and the expertise, resources and advocacy of Purpose Built Communities—the foundational elements of a thriving neighborhood begin to take shape. This includes high-quality, mixed-income housing; excellent schools; inclusive spaces that nurture physical and mental health; and an active commercial core that keeps the neighborhood economically vibrant.
Purpose Built Communities currently supports more than 60 neighborhoods across the U.S., half of which have achieved Network Member status. Together with strategic partners, Purpose Built Communities is strengthening neighborhoods so that everyone can prosper in the places they call home. For more information visit www.purposebuiltcommunities.org
