About

Building ONE America was launched in September 2009 at a national gathering in Washington, DC of 700 local leaders from several Mid-Atlantic and Mid-West states who came together to discuss the common challenges confronting older, developed towns in their regions and states as well as to create a national network for shared organizing, training and leadership development.

Building ONE America advances its agenda through education, organizing and mobilization of diverse constituencies in metropolitan regions – with an emphasis on economically stressed and increasingly diverse older suburbs and small towns. Building ONE America promotes the goals of social inclusion, sustainability and economic growth by addressing regional housing policy, land use, municipal and educational fiscal structures and major infrastructure investments. 

On July 17, 2010, In Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the Building One Pennsylvania Summit convened 600 local elected and constituency leaders, state and federal officials, including John Pocari, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Transportation.

On July 24, 2010, in Princeton, New Jersey, Building ONE America held the Building ONE New Jersey Summit where 400 local leaders, elected officials and state and national leaders, including Deputy Secretary of HUD Ron Sims, attended.

Building ONE America and its members has trained hundreds of leaders in the techniques and skills of community organizing and won state level and regional breakthroughs on policy issues including the fair housing act in New Jersey, fair school funding in Pennsylvania, and inclusionary housing and regional mobility in Maryland.