Experience

Center for Community Progress

• United States
• Public Policy Offices
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Associate Director, National Leadership and Education

  • Feb 2022 - Present

• Senior Program Officer - National Leadership and Education

  • Jan 2021 - Feb 2022

• Program Officer - National Leadership and Education

  • Jan 2019 - Jan 2021



National Low Income Housing Coalition

• United States
• Public Policy Offices
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Housing Adovocacy Organizer

  • Jun 2018 - Jan 2019

• Program Officer - National Leadership and Education

  • Jul 2017 - Jun 2018

  Serve as the Program Officer for National Leadership and Education at the Center for Community Progress. In addition to the responsibilities of the Program Associate, I also perform duties and responsibilities:• Lead development and implementation of the organization's monthly webinars programming (Cornerstone Webinars)• Lead logistical development and implementation of small learning exchanges and roundtable between both local government leaders, non-profit groups, and community residents from cities and towns across the nation.• Assisted in the planning and implementation of the organization's Reclaiming Vacant Properties conference, VAD Academies, and Place Based Trainings.

• Program Associate - National Leadership and Education

  • Oct 2014 - Jul 2017

  Served as a program associate for the organization’s National Leadership and Education program and aid in the facilitation of projects and events aimed at ensuring practitioners have the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively deal with blight and vacancy as well promoting cross-jurisdictional learning and problem solving.• Assisted in the facilitation and planning of activities and research related to organizational explo-ration of gentrification and neighborhood revitalization in legacy cities. This included the development of a literature review aimed at capturing perspectives on the topic, providing logistical planning and facilitation support for a discussion on the topic with expert thinkers and practi-tioners, and summarizing discussion findings into distilled concepts and ideas.• Assisted in the facilitation and research for the Community Progress Leadership Institute, a week-long training program aimed at providing leaders with the knowledge and networks needed to catalyze revitalization in their communities. This included gathering political and statistical re-search on participant communities as well as facilitating logistical and planning needs.• Facilitated activities aimed at building networks among local practitioners looking to share best practices and experiences related to vacant land maintenance as well as state advocates looking for new methods for championing policy related to blight and revitalization. Specific tasks included the development and maintenance of online surveys and basecamp project spaces, facilitation of in-person meetings for network members, and overseeing the development of a website for state policy members.



MZ Strategies, LLC

• United States
• Political Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Subcontracted Research Assistant

  • Jan 2014 - Aug 2014

  MZ Strategies is a consulting firm providing strategic assistance on infrastructure, housing, and development matters to policy makers, planners, and community leaders working to create inclusive and thriving communities.Served as a subcontractor providing research assistance on projects which explored state/regional policies and frameworks for equitable transit-oriented investments and community development.• Assisted in the research and authoring of a report examining best practices and models in corridor investment frameworks for transit oriented development projects, particularly those that crossed jurisdictional boundaries. Research focused on appropriate station site investment models for initiating catalytic TOD and specifically discussed approaches utilized in Portland, OR; Denver, CO; and Baltimore, MD.• Aided in the drafting of a report examining the lessons and best practices that emerged from transitway corridor planning projects in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota. Particular topics included the importance of collaborative partnerships, the need for creative methods to meet implicit TOD challenges, and the corridor context impact on development potential.



Reconnecting America

• United States
• Public Policy Offices
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Policy Intern

  • May 2013 - Aug 2013

  Professional internship aimed at providing advocacy and policy experience to graduate students studying in fields related to transit oriented development and place making.Served as the organization’s policy intern and made contributions to the national non-profit’s mission of “integrating transportation and community development” through technical assistance, policy development, and education.• Assisted in the research and authoring of a guidebook for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) examining the intersection of public transit and affordable housing in small and mid-sized cities. Project focused on creating greater access to transit, health, jobs and opportunities for low and moderate-income households.• Researched best practices for livability focused regional grants programs in light of new MAP-21 requirements for regional transportation spending targeting affordable housing, community engagement, transit access, and multi-modal connectivity. Research culminated in the authoring of a brief document highlighting unique policy approaches from regional planning organizations across the country. Also assisted in coordination of webinar to discuss research findings and highlight salient regional cases.• Assisted in design, distribution and data collection for a TCRP study examining the communication between transit agencies, land use organizations and property developers. Analyzed data and developed initial findings for team consideration.



ACT for Alexandria

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

• Intern

  • May 2011 - Aug 2011

  A ten-week program organized by the Virginia Tech School of Public and International Affairs, the Washington Semester offered the opportunity to work for non-profit and government organizations. The program also provided professional development training and educational opportunities in the city’s political, planning, and urban design history.• Evaluated and tested community indicators that would be useful in creating an index to measure and track overall standard of life in the City of Alexandria.• Assisted in the development of a web presence for the project• Performed outreach through informing community members and organizations oflunchtime forums aimed at discussing the index project and concepts of socialphenomenon measurement.• Interviewed influential professionals in government, academic, and non-profit fieldsabout indicators specifically pertaining to transit, including the director of Transportation and Environmental Services for the city.