Prime the next generation of diverse talent

Affordable housing organizations want and need to attract and grow new, diverse talent. Many students are unaware of rewarding career opportunities in the field, including those with lived experience.

The Next Gen Talent Academy connects diverse college students to nonprofit and for-profit affordable housing leaders and practitioners across the country. It exposes participants to multiple career pathways in the industry and provides students with a scholarship and an opportunity to earn college credit. 

The aim is to build a foundation that will support diverse college students and lead to meaningful employment and mentor opportunities across the sector.

350+

Colleges including public universities, HCBUs, MSIs, and Ivy League

180

Students trained and mentored

>50%

With lived experience in affordable housing

13

Recruits hired at members and investors

The program is a venture between Housing Partnership Network and Project Destined, another national nonprofit which has deep experience partnering with schools, corporations, and other nonprofits to train underrepresented college students in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and real estate.

How does it work?

The 7-week program is conducted three times per year, during the summer, fall, and winter semesters. It is offered exclusively to junior and senior diverse college students from over 350+ universities who have already received 45+ hours of instruction on real estate.  In addition to lectures and instruction provided by Project Destined, it includes virtual courses with weekly speakers from the affordable housing industry, and an optional site visit to the sponsoring organizations’ affordable housing communities.

150 Centre St Site 2

Students join Boston-based sponsor organizations for a site visit.


Who can be a sponsor? What are the benefits?

Any company or organization involved with affordable housing can be a sponsor. In addition to supporting the 7-week program, sponsoring organizations have the benefit of recruiting for open positions or for internship opportunities by accessing Project Destined’s database of 5000+ diverse candidates who are interested in our work and have received training in real estate and affordable housing. You would also have the opportunity to host an optional one-day site visit for the students you sponsor so they may experience some of your work and learn more about your organization.

Participating members