In part two of this inspiring conversation, Katie continues her discussion with Sarah Kahn, President and CEO of Housing Forward, about their transformative work in combating homelessness. Sarah shares insights into how Housing Forward addresses family homelessness, the critical role of supportive resources like furnished homes, and the importance …

In this episode, Katie sits down with Sarah Kahn, President and CEO of Housing Forward, to explore the impactful work being done to combat homelessness in Dallas and Collin counties. Sarah shares her journey into the field, driven by a deep-seated commitment to social equity and sustainable housing solutions. As the head of the lead agency for the …

Katie looks back at her inspiring conversation with ChangeMaker Jennifer Keogh, Vice President of Operations and Affordable Housing at Progress Residential. With over 20 years of leadership in affordable housing, Jennifer brought a wealth of experience and insight to the discussion. Formerly Deputy Executive Director at the Minneapolis Public Housi…

Katie revisits her inspiring conversation with Grace Ruiz-Stepter, Director of the Housing and Community Development Department for the City of Anaheim. With over 20 years of experience managing housing programs at federal and local levels, Grace was a passionate leader dedicated to expanding affordable housing access and fostering community develo…

Katie welcomes ChangeMaker Ali Solis, the Managing Principal at Solis Strategic Solutions (S3) and a leading advocate in housing policy. Ali shares her inspiring journey from private sector beginnings to a pivotal role in national housing initiatives, including the ACTION Campaign. She delves into the challenges of manufactured housing, the importa…

In the second part of Katie's conversation with Tess Hembree, Executive Director of COSCDA, they delve deeper into the technical assistance her organization provides to state agencies navigating the complexities of federal funding. They explore the challenges faced by state and local governments in administering programs like CDBG and CDBG-DR. Tess…

In this episode, Katie is join by ChangeMaker, Tess Hembree, Executive Director of the Council of State Community Development Agencies (COSCDA). Tess is a seasoned advocate for state-level community development and affordable housing. From her early days as a temp worker to her current leadership role, Tess shares her inspiring journey and valuable…

In Part 2, Katie Goar continues her conversation with Marion McFadden, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development at HUD. Marion highlights a wide array of HUD programs, from homelessness prevention to affordable housing creation, and discusses their recent accomplishments. She emphasizes the success of HUD's Pr…

Katie Goar speaks with Marion McFadden, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development at HUD. Marion shares her journey, beginning with her unexpected involvement in disaster recovery after 9/11, and reflects on how this shaped her passion for community resilience. She discusses the evolving role of HUD in addressi…

In this compelling second part of Katie's conversation with Tyrone Roderick Williams, CEO of Fresno Housing, they dive deep into how modern technology is reshaping public housing and resident services. Williams shares valuable insights about cybersecurity challenges in housing authorities and discusses the innovative Beyond Housing Foundation, whic…

Katie welcomes ChangeMaker Tyrone Roderick Williams, CEO of Fresno Housing, to explore the remarkable journey of an architect-turned-housing innovator who's reshaping affordable housing in California's Central Valley. Williams shares his "scenic route" from Prairie View A&M University to MIT and explains how his diverse experience in architecture, …

In Part Two of our conversation with Lisa Gutierrez on ChangeMakers, we explore the human side of affordable housing development. Lisa shares inspiring stories from her portfolio, including groundbreaking projects like one of the nation's first LGBTQ+ senior housing developments and the revitalization of a historic Bracero farm worker housing compl…

In this episode of ChangeMakers, host Katie Goar sits down with Lisa Gutierrez, Senior Vice President and Director of Business Development for Affordable Housing at U.S. Bank. As a 2023 inductee into the California Housing Consortium's Hall of Fame, Lisa shares invaluable insights from her 20-year career in affordable housing and commercial real es…

In the second part of the ChangeMakers podcast, Frank Woodruff discusses the rebranding of his organization to the Community Opportunity Alliance, inspired by a moment of reflection during the summer of 2020. He shares the organization's goals, including doubling in size over the next three years and increasing engagement with private philanthropy …

In this episode of ChangeMakers, Katies speaks with Frank Woodruff, Executive Director of the Community Opportunity Alliance, who shares his journey from a small Wisconsin tourist town to becoming a champion for community-based development. Frank discusses the "80-20 dilemma" in community development funding, where 80% of resources go to only 20% o…

In this encore presentation of Changemakers, Katie sits down with Mark Thiele, CEO of NARO, the largest and oldest industry organization representing over 3 million affordable housing units and 20,000 housing agencies. Mark looks back on his 23-year career, which spans roles at the Chicago and Houston Housing Authorities, as well as disaster recove…

In an encore presentation of Changemakers, Katie sits down with George Guy, CEO and Executive Director of the Fort Wayne Housing Authority, who has spent over 25 years improving the lives of underserved communities. George shares his inspiring journey from growing up in public housing to becoming a national leader in affordable housing solutions. H…

In part two of this ChangeMakers conversation, Katie continues her engaging discussion with Shannon H. Longino, exploring Shannon's impactful roles and achievements beyond her work in affordable housing. Shannon shares the immense pride she felt being honored at the Atlanta Hawks' She Leads Women's Empowerment Summit, where she inspired a room full…

In this episode of ChangeMakers, Katie sits down with Shannon H. Longino, a dedicated advocate for affordable housing and community revitalization. Shannon shares her personal story of growing up in the East Lake public housing community in Atlanta, and how her grandmother Eva Davis' tireless efforts to transform the struggling neighborhood inspire…

In this continuation of Katie's conversation with Ailrick Young, Executive Director of the Laurel Housing Authority, they delve deeper into the future of affordable housing in Laurel, Mississippi. Ailrick shares details about an ambitious 30-acre development project, highlighting the importance of community involvement and strategic planning. He di…

In this episode of ChangeMakers, Katie welcomes Ailrick Young, Executive Director of the Laurel Housing Authority in Mississippi. Ailrick shares his unique background, including his time in the Army National Guard and how it shaped his leadership skills. They discuss the charming town of Laurel, made famous by HGTV's 'Home Town', and explore how th…

In this continuation of ChangeMakers with Katie Goar, Dr. Vincent Atchity, President & CEO of Mental Health Colorado, delves deeper into the complex relationship between mental health, housing, and criminal justice. Dr. Atchity discusses the "Care Not Cuffs" initiative, emphasizing the need for a shift from over-criminalization to a more supportive…

In this episode of ChangeMakers, Katie explores the complex intersection of mental health, housing instability, and substance use with Dr. Vincent Atchity, President & CEO of Mental Health Colorado. Dr. Atchity shares insights from his career in mental health advocacy, discussing how stable housing is crucial for mental wellbeing and the challenges…

In the second part of this ChangeMakers episode, Katie continues her conversation with Ruth White, now focusing on recent legislative efforts and Ruth's new career developments. Ruth discusses the Campus Housing Affordability Act, which aims to allow former foster youth to use housing vouchers for college dormitories. She explains the potential imp…

Katie speaks with Ruth White, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware, about her career in improving public policy and expanding housing resources for families and youth in child welfare. Ruth discusses her work with the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare, explaining the importance of the Family Un…

In the second part of the ChangeMakers episode, Katie Goar and Denise Muha discuss current policy objectives, including efforts to increase tax credit allocations for affordable housing and potential legislation to provide housing authorities more flexibility. Denise explains how the National Leased Housing Association (NLHA) manages its diverse me…

In this episode of ChangeMakers, Katie Goar is joined by Denise Muha, Executive Director of the National Leased Housing Association, who brings over three decades of experience shaping affordable housing policies. Denise reflects on the evolution of the industry since the 1980s, discussing her journey as one of the first women leaders in the field …

In Part 2, Katie Goar and Carol Jones-Gilbert, CEO of the Palm Beach County Housing Authority, dive deeper into the challenges and innovations shaping affordable housing today. Carol shares her vision for maximizing limited land resources in Palm Beach County and discusses creative approaches to expanding housing options. The conversation takes an …

In this powerful episode of ChangeMakers, Katie sits down with Carol Jones-Gilbert, CEO of the Palm Beach County Housing Authority. Carol shares her inspiring journey from experiencing homelessness to leading innovative affordable housing initiatives. Listeners will hear Carol's unique perspective on addressing the housing crisis, including explori…

In Part 2, Elizabeth Strojan acknowledges the tension in the affordable housing industry between simply providing housing versus a more comprehensive approach that addresses residents' broader needs, like mental health services. Despite the challenges of limited resources and partnerships, she is committed to pursuing the latter, more expansive mod…

ChangeMaker Elizabeth Strojan shares her path to becoming the Executive Director of the Louisville Metro Housing Authority, drawing on her prior experiences in the Peace Corps and various housing organizations. She outlines the current challenges facing the housing authority, including deteriorating physical conditions, high rates of mental illness…

Part Two of Katie's conversation with Carmen Romero dives deeper into APAH's innovative partnerships with local churches to create affordable housing opportunities. Carmen shares details on their recently opened Central United Methodist Church project, co-locating 144 affordable homes with a new church facility, daycare center, and commercial kitch…

In this episode, Katie is joined by ChangeMaker Carmen Romero, President and CEO of the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH). Carmen shares her inspiring journey from corporate finance at major companies like Marriott to finding her true calling in affordable housing development. Carmen provides an inside look at the monumental chall…

In the second part of the interview, Bryan Greene discusses his transition from enforcing fair housing laws at HUD to joining the National Association of Realtors (NAR) as its first Director of Fair Housing Policy in 2019. He provides eye-opening details about the Newsday exposé on housing discrimination on Long Island that motivated him to quickly…

In this episode, Katie speaks with Bryan Greene, the Vice President of Policy Advocacy at the National Association of Realtors. Bryan has spent over two decades at the forefront of fair housing policy, serving as the highest-ranking official in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. Brya…

In part two, the conversation shifts gears as Ned weighs in on how local governments can foster or hinder the growth of affordable housing developments through policies, zoning, and public-private partnerships, sharing his perspectives on what municipalities can do to incentivize critically-needed affordable projects. Katie also taps Ned's expertis…

Katie sits down with Ned Williams, Executive Vice President at The Michaels Organization. Under Ned's visionary leadership, Michaels has emerged as an innovator in developing attainable housing solutions to meet the needs of the workforce. Ned brings decades of experience and a profound passion for creating inclusive communities where people across…

In Part 2, Katie shifts the conversation to the future of New Life Village.Mariah thoughtfully outlines her ambitious yet grounded vision for scaling the organization's reach. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining New Life Village's family-oriented culture and personalized approach as it extends its services to more children and families in …

This week on ChangeMakers, Katie sits down with Mariah Hayden, the Executive Director of New Life Village. Mariah has been tirelessly dedicated to providing safety and stability for children affected by trauma and mental health challenges, drawing from her academic training and personal experiences to oversee the expansion of New Life Village's cam…

The conversation turns to the Tulsa Housing Authority's major recent accomplishment: being awarded two significant and highly competitive Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grants by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Katie congratulates Aaron, noting that these federal grants are extremely difficult to obtain, and asks him to d…

This week on ChangeMakers, Katie welcomes Aaron Darden, the President and CEO of the Tulsa Housing Authority. With nearly a decade of leadership experience at the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency in Nashville, Darden has hit the ground running since taking the helm at THA, securing $80 million in Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grant…

In the second half of this inspiring conversation, Mike Loftin dives deeper into the long-term impact and vision behind his pioneering work at Homewise. During part one, Mike discussed leveraging HUD and FHA programs to open up homeownership opportunities for underrepresented groups that have historically faced barriers to achieving this core aspec…

Katie Goar sits down with ChangeMaker Mike Loftin, a true visionary in the affordable housing space. For over 30 years, Mike has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Homewise, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making homeownership accessible in New Mexico. Under Mike's steadfast leadership, Homewise has pioneered an innovative and comprehen…

In the second half of the episode, Jennifer reflects on her tenure as Deputy Executive Director at the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd. She opens up about the lessons learned from navigating those turbulent times while continu…

This week, Katie is joined by ChangeMaker Jennifer Keogh, Vice President of Operations and Affordable Housing at Progress Residential. With over 20 years as a leader in the affordable housing space, Jennifer brings a wealth of experience to the conversation. She previously served as Deputy Executive Director at the Minneapolis Public Housing Author…

After discussing how Bob.ai helped the Dallas Housing Authority launch a new artificial intelligence-based module for its Housing Choice Voucher program, Bejoy shares how Bob.ai plans to scale and impact more housing authorities around the country. Leveraging the success in Dallas, Bejoy has set his sights on rolling out Bob.ai's technology to hous…

This week on ChangeMakers, Katie sits down with Bejoy Narayana, CEO, Chief Product Architect, and Founder of Bob.ai. Bob.ai is a company that leverages AI to automate cumbersome processes, share information, and improve outcomes for low-income families seeking housing. With his unique background in technology and business transformation, Bejoy lead…

In part two, Scott shares some advice for incorporating new developments within existing communities in a harmonious way. He discusses the importance of community engagement, transparent communication, and holistic planning when introducing new housing and amenities. Scott also shares more about RiseBoro’s innovative conversion of an empty hotel in…

This week's ChangeMaker is Scott Short, CEO of RiseBoro Community Partnership. As a visionary leader, Scott leads the charge to break down barriers and bridge divides, working tirelessly to ensure that one's zip code does not determine their access to healthcare, economic mobility, or housing security. Under Scott's leadership, RiseBoro has made in…

In the second part of this week's ChangeMakers podcast, Katie continues her inspiring conversation with La Shelle Dozier, Executive Director of the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency. Dozier talks about the importance of inviting her support staff to ceremonial events related to the agency's housing development projects. She believes these…