Congratulations to Eric VanDusen for being honored at City Hall for his

20 years of Service on Rochester's Zoning Board

Eric VanDusen has over 28 years’ experience as a practitioner and administrator in the field of community development in the Rochester area. Eric began his extensive career at Group 14621 Community Association as a Housing Program Director. During his 8-year tenure with Group 14621, Eric was responsible for the organization’s community organizing, economic development, and housing development activities. Additionally, he was a co-facilitator for the Sector 9 Neighbors Building Neighborhoods Planning Committee and, as a member of the Progressive Neighborhood Federal Credit Union Task Force, helped create the first community development credit union in Rochester. While at Group 14621, Eric attended the Pratt Institute for Community and Environmental Development where he studied neighborhood-based commercial and housing development principles and methods; financing; negotiation and management skills; and creation of feasible, neighborhood-based development projects.

Eric then worked at The Housing Council as Program Manager and Assistant Director for 5 years. At The Housing Council, Eric was involved with strategic planning and collaboration to address widespread housing issues. Additionally, he managed the day-to-day operations for the organization’s housing counseling programs, including mortgage default, pre-purchase and HECM counseling, emergency housing, housing hotline, landlord/tenant education, housing choice, and rental housing rehab programs. He was also responsible for program reporting and the management of program staff, as well as oversight of staff training and development. During his tenure, The Housing Council was given a HUD Best Practice Award for their Mortgage Default Counseling Program, which he oversaw. Eric left The Housing Council to become the Executive Director for Grace Urban Ministries (GUM). Over the three years that Eric lead GUM the organization grew, providing the Northwest section of Rochester with afterschool and tutorial programs, food cupboard and hot meal programs, homeless case management, street outreach, GED classes and more.

Eric then went to work at NeighborWorks® Rochester, where he has been for almost 12 years, first as the organization’s Chief Operating Officer and more recently as the Director of Community Initiatives. As COO Eric oversaw the day-to-day administration of NeighborWorks® Rochester’s CDFI lending program, Energy & Tech Services programs, Homeownership Education, and Healthy Blocks. As the Director of Community Initiatives, Eric helps oversee the strategic planning and program development for the organization, as well as NeighborWorks® Rochester’s program evaluation. He also oversees the Healthy Blocks Initiative and represents NeighborWorks® Rochester on neighborhood and community coalitions and initiatives.

In addition to his professional positions, Eric has been a member of several community boards. From 1998 until February 2017 he was a member of the Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals where he served as Chair (2001 to 2003) and Vice Chair (2016 to 2017). He is currently a member of the Teen Empowerment Advisory Board and is a member of the Board of Trustees at First Universalist Church. His is also a member of NeighborWorks® America’s National Community Initiatives Advisory Committee. He was a silver medalist at the Empire State games in both the marathon and cycling, and was a two time New York State Cycling Champion, representing New York State at three National Cycling Championships.