The first principle of community development is that the people are not the problem, people are the asset.

Angela Blanchard is the president and CEO of Neighborhood Centers, Inc. Through her more than 25 years of experience, Ms. Blanchard has reached an epiphany: a community should be defined by its strengths, resources, achievements, and hopes, not its degree of “brokenness.” By focusing on strengths, Ms. Blanchard has found success with her work at Neighborhood Centers, Inc., and giving speeches around the world on the power of the human spirit, community development, and overcoming personal and communal tragedy. Ms. Blanchard has been honored by a number of organizations for her advocacy on behalf of working immigrants as well as her excellence in nonprofit leadership and community service initiatives, including being named as the ARAMARK Building Community 2011 National Innovation Award Leadership Honoree.