Tuesday, February 22, 2011

An Interview with Dan Kornelis and Danny Haire: Cofounders of the IDA Program with a Heart; and IDA Clients Share why Financial Literacy is Important to Them

In November of 2010, I along with AmeriCorps*VISTA Alexandra Rhoton, interviewed cofounders of the New Century IDA Dan Kornelis and Danny Haire. Dan Kornelis is the Director of the Forsyth County Department of Housing, and Danny Haire is the former New Century IDA working group chair, and current Executive Director of YVEDDI. Over ten years ago Dan and Danny came together to form one of the strongest IDA programs in the country, and the program that produces the most graduates nationwide, per capita.

Whenever I conduct an interview I create a list of questions beforehand, and make the questions in depth just in case the person I am speaking to doesn't roll with the interview. In the case of this interview, I asked them one question, "How did the two of you get together to create the IDA program?" and they went into an hour long story that covered every single talking point I had prepared, along with stories that were all theirs. 

When the two of them sit down together their chemistry is evident in the way they communicate; with an anecdote from one, and a nod of the head from the other, you can see their long history of social action with every word uttered, and the amount of respect they hold for not only each other but for this wonderful program and their clients. Dan and Danny emphasize how every single thing they do is for the client. They shed their blood, sweat, and tears assuring that the New Century IDA is an organization that always puts the needs of the client first.

Danny explains how IDA programs are a new form of social welfare. Rather than leave those with need dependent on welfare, IDA programs teach financial literacy, and educates and supports individuals in their quest for asset building and successful homeownership. Here is the 4 minute "teaser trailer" for the full interview I put together with video editor Chris Zaluki.




Until next time, Andriana Bicanin, AmeriCorps*VISTA

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