Experience

Grounded Solutions Network

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Community & Technical Assistance Principal

  • Jan 2022 - Present

  Jason has over 30 years of experience in community organizing and revitalization. He was instrumental in the revitalization of a community in Roxbury Massachusetts called “Dudley Street,” as highlighted in the awarding winning documentaries Holding Ground, Gaining Ground and in the book called Streets of Hope. As the Community and Technical Assistance Principal Jason oversees training and technical assistance for cities, nonprofit organizations, and community groups. He assists with exploring, adopting, and implementing housing policies and programs with lasting affordability that advance racial equity and inclusion. Jason has developed essential tools that have helped hundreds of groups learn about the community land trust model such as the “Community Land Trust Start-up Hub”. Jason served as Co-Chair of the staff committee for racial equity and inclusion from 2020 to present.

• Senior Community and Capacity Building Specialist

  • Jan 2019 - Dec 2021

  Drawing on over 25 years’ experience in and community organizing and revitalization, specializing in housing in Roxbury Massachusetts, Jason oversees membership strategy and capacity building of start-up groups. Before coming to Grounded Solutions,’ Jason worked 15 years for Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) and Network Member Dudley Neighbors Inc. (DNI), serving in several capacities such as Director of Real Estate and Technology, Director of DNI “The Community Land Trust,” and Director of Administration and Finance. He oversaw the development of several community land trust developments and created a youth development/youth jobs program called CommunityScapes.

• Community & Capacity Building Specialist

  • Jan 2016 - Dec 2018

  Grounded Solutions Network is a national organization that is deeply invested in local communities. We have offices in Oakland, CA; Washington, DC; and Portland, OR, and our staff members work throughout the country, in four time zones. More importantly, we have members in 45 states and the District of Columbia.We might have a new name, but we’ve been working on inclusive housing issues for more than 10 years.



National Community Land Trust Network

• Community & Capacity Building Associate

  • Sep 2014 - Dec 2015

  The National CLT Network is a non-profit membership organization of community land trusts & other organizations that promote strategic community development and permanently affordable housing to benefit lower income households throughout the United States. The heart of the work is the creation of homes that remain permanently affordable in order to provide successful homeownership opportunities for family after family. The National CLT Network is a non-profit membership organization of community land trusts & other organizations that promote strategic community development and permanently affordable housing to benefit lower income households throughout the United States. The heart of the work is the creation of homes that remain permanently affordable in order to provide successful homeownership opportunities for family after family.



Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Real Estate, Innovation and Technology

  • Apr 2012 - Jun 2014

  • Oversees all housing, commercial and open space developments• Develops and communicates the organization’s real estate strategy for investors, management, staff, partners, residents, and other stakeholders• Oversees space management & planning of organization’s two corporate offices• Provides lead staff for joint DNI/DSNI Real Estate Committee • Develops and implements plan for quality assessment, refurbishment, renovations and replacement of organizations critical technology infrastructure

• Director of Administration and Finance

  • Jan 2009 - May 2012

  • Oversaw all financial, project/program, and grants accounting• Oversaw and managed annual budgets which included revisions and reporting on the budget status in conjunction with the ED• Coordinated annual audit process• Presented financial reports to senior management and the board of directors• Monitored progress and changes keeping senior leadership team apprised of the organization’s financial status

• Director of Sustainable & Economic Development

  • Jan 2001 - Jan 2009

  • Supervised construction of new developments in the Roxbury and Dorchester areas • Coordinated meetings with residents, city representatives, developers, foundation representatives & legal counsel• Assisted residents in planning land usage and architectural design for developments in Roxbury & Dorchester• Addressed resident concerns about new developments in the Roxbury and North Dorchester areas

• Volunteer, Committee

  • Jan 1989 - Jan 2001

  Planning events for community residents. Organizing youth for community development lobbying activities. Committee Chairman for Sustainable Development Committee that over sees housing standards for Roxbury and North Dorchester Area, Trash Transfer Working Group, An ad hoc committee that worked with the trash transfer station in Roxbury to deal with residents concerns about their operation. Activities documented 'in Peter Medoff and Holly Sklaes, Streets of Hope: The Fall and Rise of an urban Neighborhood, 1994



Dudley Neighbors Incorporated

• United States
• Real Estate

• Director

  • Jan 2001 - Apr 2012

  • Respond to homeowners concerns about new developments in the Roxbury and North Dorchester areas. • Assist new homeowners in buying a home on community land trust land. Process monthly collections of ground lease fees for the community land trust. • Coordinate meetings with leaseholders, city representatives, developers, foundation representative & legal counsel. Controller for the community land trust with an annual budget of $800k • Respond to homeowners concerns about new developments in the Roxbury and North Dorchester areas. • Assist new homeowners in buying a home on community land trust land. Process monthly collections of ground lease fees for the community land trust. • Coordinate meetings with leaseholders, city representatives, developers, foundation representative & legal counsel. Controller for the community land trust with an annual budget of $800k



Best Buy

• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Part-Time Sales Consultant - Best Buy Mobile

  • Aug 2006 - Jul 2010

  • Created community partnerships with Orchard Gardens Pilot School • Engaged with customers utilizing selling skills to build connected solutions while maintaining a balance of high velocity and high service • Handle all aspects of the sale including: customer contracts and warranties, customer payments, cash and credit card/check transactions. • Created community partnerships with Orchard Gardens Pilot School • Engaged with customers utilizing selling skills to build connected solutions while maintaining a balance of high velocity and high service • Handle all aspects of the sale including: customer contracts and warranties, customer payments, cash and credit card/check transactions.



Dover Stores Incorporated

• Office Manger

  • Jan 1996 - Jan 2001

  • Addressed customer's questions and concerns with regard to merchandise. • Supervised a team of 25 individuals, which enabled our business to achieve fiscal goals • Assisted with bookkeeping and revenue sales totaling $1.5 million. • Addressed customer's questions and concerns with regard to merchandise. • Supervised a team of 25 individuals, which enabled our business to achieve fiscal goals • Assisted with bookkeeping and revenue sales totaling $1.5 million.



Sears and Roebuck

• United States
• Individual and Family Services

• Night Stock Manager

  • Jan 1994 - Jan 1996

  Managed night crew in warehouse and other employees who replenished inventory onto the sales floor. Supervised and catalogued new inventory. Managed night crew in warehouse and other employees who replenished inventory onto the sales floor. Supervised and catalogued new inventory.



Nubian Roots Youth Committee

• Co-Founder

  • 1990 - 1990

  Nubian Roots provided professional development training to 200 youth from Roxbury and Dorchester. Members worked on revitalization initiatives in Roxbury and Dorchester. Nubian Roots provided professional development training to 200 youth from Roxbury and Dorchester. Members worked on revitalization initiatives in Roxbury and Dorchester.