In November of 2004, seven community development corporations from across Arkansas met to discuss their needs and concerns as developers of affordable housing, providers of homebuyer and financial literacy education, and managers of nonprofit businesses.

In January of 2005 a stakeholder meeting at the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce brought much needed attention to inadequate and substandard housing stock accessible to low and moderate income families in Arkansas. As a result of this meeting more than 50 public policy makers, local, state and federal elected officials and representatives, lenders, community development organizations and national intermediaries agreed to form a "working collaborative" to address deplorable housing conditions in Arkansas. In addition, seven Community Development Organizations (CDCs) agreed to unite to tackle substandard, inadequate and unobtainable affordable housing in Arkansas. The working collaborative quickly identified three challenges facing the community development industry: training and education; public policy development; and community preservation and growth. The group agreed to first focus on training and education.

In March of 2005 plans for a high quality community development and affordable housing training event were established. The working collaborative decided to officially adopt a name and a draft mission: The Arkansas Coalition of Housing and Neighborhood Growth for Empowerment (ACHANGE) serves as a collective voice of Arkansas community based organizations in the following distinct areas: education and training; public policy development; community preservation and growth.

In August of 2005, ACHANGE hosted its first Community Development Training Conference at the Hilton Little Rock. More than 100 local community development professionals participated in a variety of classes in homebuyer education and counseling, economic development, and management fields. A legislative symposium hosted by U.S. Senator Blanche L. Lincoln was the highlight of the event.

ACHANGE received financial and in-kind support for its first training event from NeighborWorks America®, Bank of the Ozarks, Arvest Bank, Regions Bank, Arvest Mortgage, Southern Development Bancorp, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Mid South Delta LISC, Enterprise Corporation of the Delta, and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Little Rock Branch.

Based on overwhelming positive feedback, ACHANGE committed to hosting annual Community Development Training Conferences.

From September to December of 2005 ACHANGE began accelerating its activities to organize itself and to operate on a more formal basis. It established working committees including membership, training conference and public policy forum. A membership drive was conducted that introduced ACHANGE to more than 40 interested community development professionals and organizations. ACHANGE also began developing and adopting a range of value activities including: homebuyer education and counseling standards; facilitating mentoring opportunities to emerging organizations; and facilitating regional workshops throughout Arkansas. Finally, ACHANGE agreed to seek nonprofit status and jumpstart the formation process with a strategic planning retreat on February 2-3, 2006 in Heber Springs, Arkansas.

At the retreat, 27 people attended representing 17 organizations from all parts of the state, as well as leaders from several key organizations from out of state. During the retreat members determined the mission of ACHANGE, as well as its core objectives and an organizational structure. This time was particularly important for members from different organizations to build a relationship with one another. The outcomes of this initial strategy retreat are discussed throughout this document.

Following the retreat in Heber Springs, ACHANGE members gathered at the Federal Reserve in Little Rock on March 10, 2006 to continue the momentum established at the retreat. Discussed at this meeting were a variety of important issues, including reports on the progress of the various committees, as well as discussion of finalizing the 501(c)3 status of the organization. ACHANGE also announced it was making preparations for the second annual Training Workshop. A tentative agenda for the Workshop was set to include offering training and certifications for housing and community development to the staff of the member organizations, as well as a Public Policy summit to discuss issues pertinent to the housing and community development sector. Lastly, nominations for permanent leadership were taken and it was agreed that the general membership will elect the executives at the next meeting on April 11, 2006.