Donald Whitehead Jr. is a leading authority on homelessness, substance abuse, and racial equity, with over 30 years of experience and personal recovery from homelessness and active addiction. He is the Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless and co-founder of Racial Equity Partners. Donald also serves on the Homeless Veterans Advisory Committee for the Secretary of the Department of Veteran Affairs. His career encompasses a wide range of roles in homeless services, from outreach to executive leadership. Throughout his career, Donald has held prominent positions, including two terms as President of the National Coalition for the Homeless, membership on the Board of Directors for Faces and Voices of Recovery, and contributions to the Georgetown Center for Cultural Competency. He has served on the State of Maryland Drug and Alcohol Policy Council and the Baltimore Ten-Year Planning Committee to End Homelessness. Donald has testified before the 107th and 108th Congress, providing both oral and written testimony, and was instrumental in the creation and introduction of the "Bringing America Home Act," a landmark piece of legislation addressing homelessness in the U.S. His work has earned him accolades such as the Distinguished Service Award from the Congressional Black Caucus and a Special Recognition Award from Congress in 2008. Donald has spearheaded impactful housing initiatives, including providing homes for 300 chronically homeless individuals in central Florida in 2016 and housing over 200 unsheltered individuals in Prince George County, Maryland, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In 2025, he was appointed Reinvestment Commissioner in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, and elected Vice Chair of the DC Poverty Council. A frequent guest on major media platforms, Donald has appeared on the Dr. Phil show, CBS News, ABC News, FOX TV, CNN, MSNBC, C-Span, NEWSMAX, and various local stations. His radio appearances include CBS Radio, NPR, The Tavis Smiley Show, The Tom Joyner Morning Show, and international broadcasts in Great Britain, Germany, Canada, and Mexico. He has also been a dinner guest of former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Donald studied Communications and African American Studies at the City College of Chicago, The University of Cincinnati, and Union College and University in Ohio. He served as a journalist in the United States Navy. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Donald is a stand-up comedian and actor, with performances in six movies, multiple commercials, stage plays, and network television shows. He earned a regional Emmy for his role in the movie "Open the Sky." Donald resides in Laurel, Maryland, with his wife, Tracy Whitehead.

Adriana Abizadeh-Barbour is the executive director of Philadelphia-based Kensington Corridor Trust (KCT). The mission, duty, and purpose of the KCT is to utilize collective ownership to direct investments on the corridor that preserve culture and affordability while building neighborhood power and wealth in Kensington. Adriana is also an adjunct lecturer and policy fellow at Rutgers University. With deep interests in public policy, Adriana has taken every opportunity to utilize her privileged position as a nonprofit leader to speak out for what she believes in and to lift the voices of impacted community members. Immersed in policy initiatives, she has facilitated community collaboration to address the intersectionality between immigration status, housing, poverty, and race. Adriana has a BA in Political Science from Rutgers University with a minor in Security Intelligence and Counter Terrorism. She also has an MS in Public Policy from Drexel University. She has committed herself to serving on several boards that reflect some of her deepest passions: immigration, racial and health equity, and youth development.

Joelle Ballam-Schwan (she/her) is the Director of Programs and Engagement at the Supportive Housing Network of New York, a nonprofit advocacy and membership organization that represents over 200 nonprofits that develop and operate supportive housing across New York State. In this role, she also serves as a steering committee member of Correct Crisis Today (CCIT) – NYC, a coalition advocating for a peer-led, non-police, mental health crisis response system in New York City. Prior to the Network, Joelle worked at a national public transportation advocacy and philanthropic organization in New York and beforehand with housing advocacy organizations in Chicago, IL and Seattle, WA. She received her Bachelors of Arts from Seattle University and is originally from Juneau, Alaska.

Melissa Bellamy has over 25 years’ experience working with affordable housing and community development on a municipal and a county level. She has been employed by Middlesex County since 2006 and is currently the Division Head for the Division of Housing, Community Development and Social Services and also the Executive Director of the Middlesex County Public Housing Agency. The Division manages over $11M annually in federal funds from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development through various programs that benefit low-income households. She is also chairperson of the Middlesex County Housing Continuum of Care Committee (MCHC3), which is a collaborative body of service providers, consumers, funders, and advocates attempting to end homelessness in Middlesex County and effectively and efficiently use federal, state and local funding to benefit homeless individuals and families. Ms. Bellamy is a lifelong New Jersey resident, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from The College of New Jersey and a Master of Public Administration from Kean University.

Allan is a self-employed contractor with 47 years of experience. He served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam era. Since his discharge from the Air Force, he has been a dedicated member of the American Legion, contributing his time and efforts to its many causes. He has served was the Commander of Post #3 in Westfield, New Jersey, demonstrating his leadership and commitment. Currently, he holds the position of 2nd vice-commander and Chaplain, as well as the project coordinator for the building of Post #3’s new home, which will include the housing and wrap around services for 22 Homeless and At Risk Veterans. Allan also serves on the committee for Affordable Housing for At-Risk and Aging Veterans with the NJ State American Legion as well as serving as the COO with the Foundation for Sustainable Veteran Housing, a NJ based non-profit organization dedicated to ending veteran homelessness.

Derek Bloom was born on occupied Lenni Lenape land north of Philadelphia and is of German, Italian and Polish decent. Derek self identifies as a white settler cisgendered antiracist queer male who currently lives on Sand Hill Nation Lenni Lenape territory known today as Asbury Park, New Jersey. Derek has organized with many organizations over the last twenty years. He was part of a solidarity collective called Black Mesa Indigenous Support that works against settler and resource colonialism in joint struggle with the Dineh (Navajo) people who are resisting a forced relocation in northeastern Arizona. He worked as a radical history teacher in Brooklyn and Harlem New York and was a Highschool counselor for youth coming out of the prison system in Flagstaff Arizona. He has been involved in counter military recruiting and the anti-war /anti-globalization movement, was a founding member of (Un)Occupy Albuquerque(ABQ) and ABQ Copwatch and was a live-in social worker and antinuclear activist at the ABQ Catholic Worker and has been working with people experiencing homelessness and housing issues for twenty years now. Derek is currently working as Trinity Church Asbury Park’s Food and Social Justice Director. Derek is compelled to help meet the immediate needs of hunger and housing in Asbury Park and to organize at the community level to prevent hunger and injustice in the future and has created and intersectional program to organize to end settler colonialism, racism, sexisim, trans/homophobia, economic injustices, ableism and LGBTQIATS+ injustices. He also is currently part of the Asbury Park Transformative Justice Project, Asbury Demands Police Oversight, The AP Affordable Housing Coalition, The Racial Justice Project at Trinity, The Asbury Park Voice, The Asbury Park Green Team, The Asbury Park Rent Leveling Board, The AP Dialogue Group, The Women's Hospitality Network and the Emergency Committee for Rojava and the Monmouth Housing Coalition. Derek enjoys long walks in what is left of wild places, reading, writing, surfing, liberation and earth theologies, and spending time with friends and family.

Tricia Bradly is an accomplished nonprofit leader with more than 25 years of experience in social services, program development, operations, grant management, and community engagement. As Director of Operations at Angels in Motion (AIM), Tricia oversees organizational operations and supports the effective delivery and continued growth of AIM’s programs. Throughout her career, she has led multidisciplinary teams, managed multimillion-dollar budgets, secured significant grant funding, and developed programs serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness and housing instability. Tricia holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Shippensburg University and a Nonprofit Executive Leadership Certificate from Bryn Mawr College.

Assemblywoman Brennan is a nationally recognized housing expert and has played a key role in shaping housing policy across the region, serving in leadership positions at the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, the Affordable Housing Alliance, and as executive director of the New York State Office of Resilient Homes and Communities. She helped secure the biggest influx of funding for affordable housing in New Jersey history and launched the first-ever statewide hospital and housing agency partnership, now a national model for building affordable housing for families with serious medical needs. “The system isn’t working for a lot of people right now, and we’re going to change that,” said Assemblywoman Brennan (D-Hudson). “We have the power to do big things in Trenton. Now we have to use it to build more affordable housing, fix our transit systems, and fully fund our schools. I want to thank everyone who put their trust in me. Let’s get to work.” Locally, Assemblywoman Brennan has been a tireless advocate for stronger tenant protections, reliable public transit, and stronger inclusionary zoning across Hudson County. Assemblywoman Brennan graduated from Xavier University and earned a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from Rutgers University. She and her husband Travis live in Jersey City.

Mike Cassidy is a Senior Development Project Manager for The Community Builders, Inc., New York/New Jersey region. Mike has over 20 years of experience working in communities throughout New Jersey to bring about neighborhood revitalization through development of affordable housing and public infrastructure. Mike has overseen projects involving the creation of affordable and supportive housing, schools, community centers, public parks and play spaces. Prior to joining TCB, Mike worked as the Director of Real Estate for a place-based non-profit located in Northern New Jersey. As the Director of Real Estate, Mike engaged residents, stakeholders and municipal officials through planning and design initiatives to ensure the incorporation of community input. Mike is an active member in the Housing Community Development of New Jersey (HCDNNJ), and New Jersey Supportive Housing Association (NJSHA). Mike maintains professional licenses for planning and engineering. Mike holds a Bachelor of Science from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and Masters of City and Regional Planning from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.

Chris Colley is a Principal at Topology who has worked as an urban planner in both the public and private sectors since 2014. Chris’ specialty is in conceptualizing, negotiating, and implementing transformational redevelopment projects. His work has been recognized by New Jersey Future and the New Jersey Planning Officials, and he serves on the New Jersey Advisory Committee of the Regional Plan Association. Chris is passionate about creating vibrant, walkable communities, an advocate for affordable housing and growth around transit nodes, and is a believer in the value of a great downtown. He takes pride in leveraging development to secure community benefits, and satisfaction from seeing projects to completion. Prior to joining Topology, Chris worked in economic development in the City of Newark for four years, where he led the redevelopment of a vacant bank into 27 units of affordable artist live-work housing. Chris earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from The George Washington University, his Master of Science in Education from The Johns Hopkins University, and his Master’s in Urban Planning from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. He lives in Somerville, NJ and in his free time enjoys shopping for books and records.

Jeffrey M. Crum is a highly motivated community development and affordable housing executive with more than two decades of experience in the sector. He has a track record of building impactful and sustainable businesses, projects, capital funds, and programs. He is passionate about revitalizing communities and creating affordable/workforce housing through innovative approaches. During his career, Mr. Crum has lead more than $2 billion in affordable housing and community development transactions/investments. Mr. Crum was recently appointed the Chief Executive Officer at Ellavoz Impact Capital, LLC (EIC) after serving as the firm’s President and Chief Operating Officer for the past two (2) years. Under his leadership, EIC has significantly increased its managed fund offerings as well as its total assets under management. Mr. Crum has transformed EIC from exclusively serving as a Limited Partner investor and fund manager to a more comprehensive real estate firm that acts as a sponsor/General Partner (GP) and Co-GP in partnership with experienced, but under capitalized local sponsors. Mr. Crum has also streamlined operations and reset the firm’s business plan and vision to exclusively focus on impactful housing investments. Prior to joining EIC, Mr. Crum served as the Chief Operating Officer at Community Investment Strategies, Inc. (CIS) in Lawrenceville, NJ, a vertically integrated affordable housing company focused on developing, building, and managing affordable/LIHTC and mixed-income properties throughout New Jersey. In this role, he worked with the CEO and real estate development department to develop new affordable and mixed-income residential properties throughout New Jersey as well as lead CIS’s real estate recapitalization and repositioning activities. Mr. Crum also served as Vice President of Equity Originations at Community Development Trust (CDT) in New York, NY. CDT provides long-term capital to support the creation and preservation of high-quality affordable housing and community facilities throughout the United States. At CDT, Crum led the acquisition of the “Essential Housing” portfolio, which consisted of 90 affordable housing properties and nearly 10,500 units. The $1.2 billion acquisition was completed in partnership with The Michaels Organization (TMO) and Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group (GSUIG) and represented one of the largest affordable housing transactions in the history of the US. The transaction ensured that the properties would remain affordable even after the affordability restrictions expired. Crum also fostered relationships and partnerships with for-profit and nonprofit owner-operators/general partners of affordable housing across the United States. Crum spent the majority of his career at New Jersey Community Capital (NJCC) in New Brunswick, NJ, a nonprofit community development financial institution seeking to create thriving communities through strategic investments and knowledge. During his time at NJCC, he held various positions, including Chief Investment Officer and Director of Real Estate. Crum grew NJCC’s real estate affiliate, Community Asset Preservation Corporation (CAPC), from an annual operating budget of $300,000 to more than $13 million in less than ten years. Under Crum’s leadership, CAPC became one of New Jersey’s leading nonprofit real estate entities completing more than 2,500 housing units. During his tenure, CAPC became the largest nonprofit acquiring distressed residential real estate in the country. When Mr. Crum departed NJCC and CAPC, he left the organization with more than $300 million in real estate holdings and over $60 million in market value equity in that portfolio. During his tenure, he oversaw the management team and operations of CAPC’s real estate lines of business, including single-family asset management, multifamily development, construction management, realty brokerage services, and property management. Mr. Crum conceptualized and operationalized these four social enterprises to support and advance CAPC’s mission and programs. Crum began his career at New Jersey Community Development Corporation and Build with Purpose developing affordable housing and community facilities projects that included charter school and nonprofit office buildings. These projects used Low Income Housing Tax Credits, US Department of Housing and Urban Development subsidies (Section 202 Program, CDBG, and HOME), New Market Tax Credits, New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency debt and subsidy, and tax-exempt bonds. The projects totaled more than $250 million in total capitalization. Crum has secured financing from various public and private lenders, including large financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs and Prudential, regional banks, CDFIs, and governmental agencies. He has engaged community leaders, nonprofits, foundations, and municipalities to facilitate the rehabilitation of abandoned properties in distressed neighborhoods and partnered with numerous nonprofits and socially-motivated for-profit companies to advance catalytic projects that revitalized communities. Mr. Crum holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the Catholic University of America and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.

Jorge Cruz serves as executive director of LISC-New Jersey, a decades-long community investment program that has delivered more than $1.6 billion to New Jersey neighborhoods, businesses and community organizations to support economic opportunity and growth. He’s leading the deployment of nearly $40 million in all financial capital into those target communities in tandem with many public and private sector partners. Jorge has been recently recognized by among New Jersey’s most influential Hispanic leaders by Insider NJ (Bridges of Impact 2025) and BINJE (BINJE'S Best Hispanic Business Leaders 2025: A to D - BINJE | New Jersey Business News) Jorge has deep roots in impact investing and community development across New Jersey. Most recently, he served as vice president for community development at Citizens Bank, building alliances with community leaders to deliver financial products and services to underbanked communities and leading the bank’s Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) market strategies. During his LISC tenure, innovative efforts include helping lead the formation of the New Jersey CDFI Capital Growth Fund, developing the local platform for LISC’s Entrepreneurs of Color Fund, forming the New Jersey Child Care & Early Learning Fund, and extending LISC’s Financial Opportunity Center model to new communities to help people build their skills, find quality jobs and better manage their finances. Jorge has also been instrumental in expanding the geographic scope from the initial Greater Newark focus to now covering the full State of New Jersey, with the primary emphasis on the State’s most financially impaired communities. Prior to arriving at LISC, Jorge has spent nearly 30 years working as an executive and consultant to nonprofits, government and other community investment organizations supporting efforts to raise capital, develop sound grant-making practices and bridge health, economic and racial equity gaps that impact quality of life, as well as serving as chief external affairs officer for New Jersey Community Capital; chief strategy officer at the Jewish Renaissance Foundation; and executive director of Garden State Episcopal Community Development Corporation. In addition to his professional experience, Jorge also volunteers his time to benefit local organizations and communities. He serves as vice-chair of the Triple C Housing board, a board member for the Newark Community School for the Arts, and a member of the La Casa de Don Pedro board. For the last two years, he has served as a member of the Jegna Advisory Council, a statewide working group guiding the grantmaking strategy and priorities for the New Jersey office of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He also serves as a steering committee member of the Doing Good Better advisory council, a state-level collaboration of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and the Center for Nonprofits, which are working together to form a trust-based philanthropy platform. Jorge and his wife Ivonne also recently formed the Cruz Memorial Scholarship Fund in partnership with the Boys to Leaders Foundation to benefit young men of color entering college, or currently attending college. He formerly served as an executive officer for the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits and Jewish Renaissance Foundation boards as well. Jorge earned his undergraduate degree from the College of New Jersey. He lives in North Brunswick with his wife, Ivonne, and their 23-year old son, Sammy. He can be reached at jcruz@lisc.org.

Nicole Cyr works as the Assistant Director of Planning for the Monmouth County Department of Health & Human Services, where she leads strategic planning initiatives focused on strengthening the county's housing and human services systems. Throughout her career, Nicole has been dedicated to improving outcomes for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness through both direct practice and systems-level planning. Prior to her current role, Nicole worked as a social worker serving individuals and families experiencing housing instability and homelessness before transitioning into county leadership. Today, Nicole oversees integrated planning across the Department of Health & Human Services and provides leadership for multiple housing and human services initiatives, planning bodies, and community partnerships. She is a licensed social worker in New Jersey and earned her Master of Social Work from Rutgers University.

Andrew Davis is chair of Shipman & Goodwin’s Environmental Practice Group and has more than 30 years of experience advising clients on complex environmental matters. With graduate degrees in marine science and ecology, Andrew combines legal, scientific and business perspectives to help clients understand environmental risks and develop practical, results-oriented solutions. He counsels clients across industries on environmental regulatory compliance, permitting and enforcement; contaminated property remediation; environmental due diligence and transactions; crisis management; and emerging issues including PFAS and climate change. Andrew is also internationally recognized for his work involving oil spills, natural resource damages and marine casualty events, and regularly supports domestic and cross-border corporate, real estate and energy transactions. A frequent author and speaker on environmental law and policy, Andrew is an adjunct professor at Connecticut College and a Fellow at its Goodwin-Niering Center for the Environment.

Secretary Jake Day leads the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development under Governor Wes Moore. Secretary Day has championed nationally renowned policies and programs to address the housing affordability crisis, create lovable communities, reduce homelessness, and right historic injustices. He previously served as Mayor and City Council President of Salisbury, Maryland, and as president of the Maryland Municipal League. Secretary Day is a Veteran of the Global War on Terror and is a US Army Major assigned to the Maryland National Guard. He earned degrees in environmental policy, urban design, and architecture from Oxford University, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Maryland. He is the proud father of Lilly and Olivia.

Evan Delgado serves as President of Programs at the Turrell Fund, where he leads the organization’s grantmaking strategy and works with nonprofit, philanthropic, government, advocacy, research, and community partners to support children and families across New Jersey and Vermont. His work focuses primarily on early childhood, child care, family well-being, and systems change, with growing involvement in the broader conditions that shape family stability and opportunity, including housing and the range of supports families need to thrive. Evan is particularly interested in how organizations and funders can work together — bringing different perspectives and strengths to the table — to address complex challenges facing children and families. Evan believes philanthropy should be more than a source of funding. He values being a thoughtful, engaged partner to organizations, learning from research and lived experience, and helping build the relationships and trust necessary for lasting change. Prior to joining the Turrell Fund, Evan worked at the Burke Foundation in Princeton, New Jersey, where he supported the development of the Foundation’s early childhood and prenatal strategy through research, stakeholder engagement, and strategy development.

Maseta Dorley, MA is a housing and homelessness systems strategist with more than 20 years of experience building partnerships across faith communities, homeless service providers, and Continuums of Care (CoCs). As a Senior Associate with Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC), she provides consultation, training, and technical assistance to state and local governments on housing, homelessness, systems transformation, governance, and strategic planning initiatives. Throughout her career, Ms. Dorley has supported communities nationwide in strengthening coordinated entry systems, advancing equitable housing solutions, engaging people with lived expertise, and improving system performance. Her experience includes roles where she managed complex federal and state-funded initiatives, facilitated community planning efforts, and provided guidance on governance, program implementation, and continuous quality improvement. Ms. Dorley is recognized for her expertise in coalition-building, needs assessment, governance, rural homelessness, and authentic engagement with people with lived experience. She holds a Master of Arts in Human Services from Liberty University and bachelor's degrees in Human Development and Family Studies and Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is in progress to become a Doctoral Candidate for Industrial and Organizational Psychology at North Carolina State University. Maseta currently sits on several national workgroups for system-level programs and policies including HUD CoC Governance Workgroup, HUD Rural Communities Workgroup, and NAEH Capacity Building Network.

Nicole Dorrity is the Program Manager for JBJ Soul Kitchen, where she connects individuals and families with food, resources, and support while strengthening community partnerships across the organization's restaurants. Nicole is a woman in long term recovery after overcoming a 27 year battle with addiction. Since beginning her recovery journey in 2016, she has dedicated her life to serving others facing similar challenges. Before joining JBJ Soul Kitchen, she worked in the recovery field as a Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist, helping individuals access recovery resources, housing, transportation, harm reduction services, and other basic needs. She also developed a Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist training program with Brookdale Community College, where she continues to teach and mentor future peer professionals. Nicole joined JBJ Soul Kitchen in 2020 as the Community Coordinator for the flagship Red Bank location and was later promoted to Program Manager. Today, she supports the Community Coordinators across JBJ Soul Kitchen's locations, strengthening partnerships and ensuring guests have access to the resources they need beyond the meal served at JBJ Soul Kitchen. She is passionate about the organization’s mission of building community and treating all with dignity.

Carl Gershenson is Managing Director of the Eviction Lab at Princeton University, where he focuses on the creation of public data tools to enhance understanding of the nation’s housing crisis. He has published on the causes and consequences of housing instability, with a special focus on how eviction leads to further economic and residential insecurity. He received his Ph.D. in Sociology from Harvard University.

Barbara Gonzalez is a Reentry Case Manager at Helping Arms in Trenton, NJ, dedicated to supporting individuals transitioning from incarceration through housing, employment, and mental health solutions. Grounded in lived experience, Barbara serves as Chair of the Mercer County CoC Lived Experience Advisory Board and is a 2026 graduate of the Garden State Leaders Advocacy Program. A certified Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advocate and Soroptimist Women’s Award recipient, she combines academic studies in psychology and business with deep community insight to passionately advance housing equity and systemic justice.

Having started as a front-line shelter staff in the late 90s and spending the last 25 years in the sector, Chris has finally found the perfect balance of being both hopeful and jaded. He has worked in communities across Canada, the US, and Asia in everything from overnight staff to system designer to funder. Over the last decade, his roles as Director of Homelessness Data and Impact in Eastern Canada, and, more recently, Senior Associate with OrgCode, have afforded him the opportunity to learn from hundreds of emergency shelter staff and guests and he is excited to share whatever he can.

Joanne Gwin is the Community Coordinator at JBJ Soul Kitchen Toms River, where her work is rooted in walking alongside individuals and families as they search for safe and stable housing. In her role, Joanne helps clients navigate a system that can often feel overwhelming, connecting them with state and local agencies and offering guidance, encouragement, and compassion throughout the process. Her daily work gives her a close, personal perspective on the barriers people face when trying to secure housing and the difference that strong community partnerships can make. Joanne also serves on the boards of Family Promise of the Jersey Shore and the Toms River Housing and Homelessness Coalition, where she continues to advocate for practical, community-centered solutions to homelessness and housing insecurity. Joanne is committed to helping neighbors move toward stability with dignity and hope.

Keith Jones II, serves at the Director of the Department of Human and Community Services for the City of New Brunswick. Oversees numerous quality-of-life issues that are of critical importance to residents. Prior to his current role, he served as the city's first Chief of Staff for Mayor Jim Cahill. Born and raised in New Brunswick, Mr. Jones strives every day to provide opportunities, services and resources that improves the quality of life for all the city's members.

Renee currently serves as Senior Policy Advisor for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Division of Housing and Community Resources. Her prior roles include, the Anti-Poverty Program Director of New Jersey Citizen Action where she led the statewide Anti-Poverty Network as she had since 2016, statewide Advocacy Coordinator of the National Association of Social Workers – NJ Chapter (NASW-NJ) and Assistant State Campaign Director for the Citizens’ Campaign, a New Jersey non-partisan movement of hundreds of citizens dedicated to innovative government reform and promoting citizen leadership. Renee is co-founder of Garden State Leaders, a leadership and advocacy institute for people impacted by poverty across New Jersey. In her various roles over the last two decades, Renee has educated thousands of people on issues of poverty, leadership, structural racism, and civic engagement. In 2017-2018, she served as co-chair for Governor-elect Philip Murphy’s Transition Team Housing Committee, was a Lead NJ 2019 fellow, and in May 2020 was named to the New Jersey Restart and Recovery Advisory Council by Governor Murphy.

Bakari G. Lee’s primary practice area is special counsel for affordable housing transactions involving low and moderate-income housing tax credits, the Rental Assistance Demonstration program and other federal, state and local financing programs, for public housing agencies and private developers alike. In recognition of this experience, Bakari was appointed to the Affordable Housing Advisory Council of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, where he currently serves as Chairman. Bakari has also served as bond counsel to multiple clients at the state, county and local level, as well as providing underwriter and trustee counsel services. In addition, Bakari provides general counsel services to public and private entities involving a wide array of issues. Bakari also serves as the firm’s Chief Diversity Officer and is a member of the Executive Committee.

Kiara Marie Lorenzana is a bilingual Licensed Master Social Work (LMSW) at Girl Scouts of Greater New York. She supports Troop 6000, a first-of-its-kind program designed to serve families living in temporary housing in the New York City shelter system. She ensures that Troop 6000's programming is trauma-informed and supports families through advocacy and connections to community resources. Kiara centers her work around the belief that families deserve to feel seen and supported. With a focus on accessibility and connection, she recognizes the strengths and expertise families bring as they navigate housing instability. Ultimately, her goal is to empower those she works alongside and create trauma-informed spaces where families can build a sense of belonging.

Tanika Moss is a housing advocate, social services leader, and Director of Programs at Heart of Hannah Women’s Center, where she oversees housing and supportive services for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. She serves as Executive Vice Chair of the Passaic County Continuum of Care and Chair of the Passaic County Lived Experience Advisory Board. Her work focuses on housing stability, homelessness prevention and diversion, Rapid Rehousing, supportive housing, Medicaid Housing Supports, and strengthening partnerships across systems to better serve vulnerable communities. Tanika brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. As a domestic violence survivor who experienced homelessness with her children, she understands firsthand the barriers families face while navigating housing and social service systems. Her journey from experiencing homelessness to becoming a homeowner, case manager, advocate, and nonprofit program leader continues to shape her commitment to ensuring that people with lived experience have a meaningful voice in the systems and policies designed to serve them. Tanika has participated in conferences, panels, advisory boards, and statewide initiatives focused on homelessness, housing as a human right, permanent supportive housing, Medicaid Housing Supports, and improving housing systems. Tanika graduated in 2023 with a degree in Human Services and is continuing her education in Social Work.

Cindy joined the Housing Families First direct services team in 2014 providing families in emergency shelter and community housing programs with housing case management support. She became the first Program Director for HFF in 2018 and created strategies in developing critical time intervention models of housing counseling as a direct means for housing opportunities and access to stabilization financial assistance to be a proven path to ending homelessness. Throughout her social work career, Cindy has combined 15 years of service within the housing and homelessness sector with families and single adults in emergency shelter, rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing, and transitional housing programs. Over the past year as Deputy Director of Programs, she continues working to assist HFF in the regional partnership efforts to manage, pilot, implement, and further expand HFF programs. Cindy aims to enrich organizational growth through sustainable staffing solutions and hopes to empower, encourage, and inspire service providers in their work to functionally end homelessness. Outside of work, Cindy enjoys serving as a volunteer youth ministry leader with middle and high school students at her local church and raising her young family in the Richmond area.

Caitlin Nascher is a founding member of the Asbury Park Tenants Association, a grassroots group aimed at protecting tenants' rights in Asbury Park. A renter in the city for several years, Caitlin joined the Munroe Towers Tenants Association in 2024 amid ongoing quality of life concerns within the building. Alongside her neighbors in the MTTA she worked with the city council to update an ordinance regarding security in large buildings, resulting in the implementation of 24-hour security not just in Munroe Towers but in a number of other residential buildings in Asbury Park. In the wake of this success, members of the MTTA set their sights on a city-wide organization dedicated to leveling the playing field between tenants and landlords. As part of the new APTA, Caitlin has worked on creating and distributing content for flyers and social media focused on ensuring that every renter in Asbury Park knows about the rent control ordinance. She represents the APTA in the Monmouth Housing Coalition, a collection of churches and community organizations fighting for affordable housing in Monmouth County. Caitlin is also the Director of Marketing at aACE Software, a handmade jewelry artist, and in what remains of her spare time is an avid fan of theatre, classic film, and women's sports.

Robert K. Nelson is the Director of the Digital Scholarship Lab and Head of Digital Engagement in Boatwright Library. He is the editor of American Panorama: An Atlas of United States History, which includes “Mapping Inequality: Redlining in New Deal America.” American Panorama received the 2019 Roy Rosenzweig Prize for Innovation in Digital History from the American Historical Association and was named a tech innovation by the Chronicle of Higher Education in 2016; “Mapping Inequality” received Honorable Mention for the 2019 Garfinkel Prize from the American Studies Association’s Digital Humanities Caucus. Other digital history projects that Nelson has developed include Mining the Dispatch and a remediated, enhanced version of Charles Paullin’s 1932 Atlas of the Historical Geography of the United States. Nelson teaches courses related to antislavery and slavery in the United States and about the digital humanities.

Corey is the Bringing Veterans Home Supervisor at Soldier On. Having been at Soldier On for 9 years, starting as a case manager and then supervising our SSVF team. Currently, he supervises our BVH program covering Atlantic, Salem, Cape May, Cumberland, and Essex Counties. He oversees a team of 10 case managers and housing navigators. Received my Master of Social Work from the University of Kentucky in 2024. I’m a girl dad and avid Sixers fan; I’m excited to share my knowledge of the provider side from both the POV of a case manager and supervisor managing grant funding.

Cara Purcell is Director of Innovative Finance at Grounded Solutions Network, a national membership organization that advances housing solutions with lasting affordability. In this role, she oversees operations for the Innovative Finance team and Homes for the Future initiative, which focus on developing and deploying capital and real estate strategies to scale shared equity housing portfolios. Before joining Grounded Solutions Network, Cara spent more than a decade at New Jersey Community Capital (NJCC) in various management and leadership roles, including serving as Interim Chief Operating Officer and spending six years as Director of Operations for a nonperforming single-family mortgage acquisition and resolution program with $315 million in assets under management. While at NJCC, she also oversaw the launch of several new initiatives, including a $16 million disaster recovery program and a $4 million down payment assistance program. Prior to her work in community development finance, Cara worked in the public sector as a land use planner and held various public policy research positions. Cara holds a Master of City and Regional Planning from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Science in Community and Regional Planning from Temple University.

David Sawatzky currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the Calgary Drop-In Centre in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Drop-In Centre (the DI) operates 7 buildings in the City of Calgary, including one of the largest Emergency Shelters in North America. The DI has been recognized as a leader in the implementation of a housing-focused approach within an Emergency Shelter setting. David is a physiotherapist by training and holds a Certified Healthcare Executive designation through the Canadian College of Health Leaders. Prior to entering the homeless-serving sector 5 years ago, David worked in Quality Improvement and Operational Leadership roles in the healthcare sector.

Craig L. Sawyer serves as Principal and Managing Partner of Equitable Development Consultants, LLP., a community economic development consultancy firm, and Principal and Managing Partner of Poiema Development Group, LLC a mission-focused, boutique real estate development company. Across his network of companies and partnerships, Craig focuses on creating value in community-initiated, residential and commercial redevelopment projects where he advises and assists in transforming concepts into financially viable projects and initiatives, leveraging his expertise in real estate development and public financing sources. With more than 35 years of experience in real estate and economic development across consulting and development roles, Craig’s efforts have helped to secure over $250 million in financing for residential, mixed-use, and commercial development projects and related initiatives. His most recently completed project is a 43-unit multifamily rental development, where he served as Co-GP Partner. He currently serves as co-developer/co-partner on multiple community-focused, multifamily, and mixed-use development projects totaling more than $200 million in aggregate development costs. In addition, Craig was instrumental in creating the State of New Jersey’s regional training institute on real estate and redevelopment, the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority’s Redevelopment Training Institute. Since its inception in 2006, RTI has trained more than 2,000 elected officials, government staff, for-profit and non-profit developers, attorneys, and other development professionals on real estate and redevelopment related topics. For more than 17 years, he served as RTI Lead Trainer. Craig currently mentors and trains more than 30 aspiring real estate developers through the Equitable Sustainable Redevelopment (ESR) Academy. Through this platform, he has helped initiate and support multiple new construction and redevelopment projects, while also expanding employment and workforce opportunities for emerging professionals in the field. In addition, he developed and taught for several years a 12-week, youth entrepreneurship training program for college-bound, young men and women of color through the New York City Chapter of the 100 Black Men of America. He is also a member of civic and community organizations, having served on the board of the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey and as past board chair of HANDS Inc. Craig attended Rider College for his Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Business Administration and Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Management for his MBA degree in Finance. He also holds professional certifications and licenses from nationally and state-recognized institutions, including NDC’s Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) certification and a New Jersey real estate license.

Major (Ret.) Jim Scanlon serves as Chairman of the Committee on Affordable Housing for Homeless, At-Risk, and Aging Veterans for the American Legion, Department of New Jersey. The committee’s primary mission is to facilitate the development of affordable housing on American Legion properties throughout New Jersey. Jim focuses on building strategic alliances with service providers, developers, and organizations committed to ending veteran homelessness. Jim has spent more than a decade volunteering with the American Legion, working in the “homeless veteran space.” He holds a master’s degree in social work from Rutgers University. He retired from the United States Army as a Major in 2007. Much of his service was with the New Jersey Army National Guard, where he held numerous command and staff positions. During his career, he served both as a Non-Commissioned Officer and a Commissioned Officer. He considers it a great honor to have served alongside the highly decorated veterans of the 5/117th Cavalry Squadron and 1st Brigade, 50th Armored Division, and New Jersey Army National Guard. In the private sector, Jim spent more than thirty years as an entrepreneur. He founded Sherbrooke Associates, a human resource consulting firm, specializing in talent acquisition. Major clients included L’Oréal, Avon Products, and Johnson & Johnson. Recent Honors and Recognition: • Appointed Consultant to the American Legion National Commission on Homelessness (2023-2026) • Recipient of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans “Unsung Hero Award” 2024 • Named Distinguished Member of the 117th Cavalry Regiment

Vernett Sherrill is a distinguished public servant, administrator and strategic leader with more than 32 years of experience improving programs and systems for vulnerable individuals and families in Mercer County, New Jersey. During her career with the City of Trenton Department of Health and Human Services, Vernett worked in various roles implementing and managing programs focused on food security, youth enrichment, financial literacy, and economic empowerment while building strong public, nonprofit, and private-sector partnerships. Later she advanced to the leadership role of Grants Administrator working with the Trenton/Mercer Continuum of Care to secured more than $37 million in HUD funding for housing and supportive services for the homeless. She also led New Jersey’s first Rapid Rehousing Demonstration Program and helped the region achieve functional zero for veteran homelessness in 2015. In 2020, Vernett led the effort to launched the What I Need (WIN) App, an innovative digital platform connecting homeless youth to critical resources through smartphones -earning recognition from the Governor of New Jersey. In 2024, Vernett founded Systemic Organization by Sherrill LLC, continuing her mission to help build partnerships, communities, operational effectiveness, and solutions to empower vulnerable populations.

Kathy is the Program Director at Partners for Health Foundation, and is responsible for developing and managing the foundation’s grantmaking strategy. She collaborates with local agencies and community stakeholders to support initiatives that advance community health. The Foundation offers general operating, programmatic, and advocacy support to strengthen non-profit organizations and to help bridge the gap in health disparities.

Emmy Tiderington, PhD, LMSW is an Associate Professor at the Rutgers University School of Social Work. Prior to entering academia, she worked in case management and supportive housing for individuals with serious mental illness and other complex needs as a social worker and clinical supervisor. Dr. Tiderington’s research examines the implementation and effectiveness of homeless services, including permanent supportive housing and Housing First program models, and how individuals successfully navigate transitions within and from these services. A nationally recognized scholar in housing and health services research, her work has been funded by Federal, State, local, and private funders, including the National Institute of Mental Health, the State of New Jersey, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. She is the developer of Moving On from Supportive Housing (MOSH), a free, evidence-based transitional skill-building curriculum for service providers helping tenants transition from supportive housing, and of the recently released Life After Supportive Housing (LASH) Readiness Self-Assessment tool and action plan for tenants considering a transition from supportive housing.

Lucy Vandenberg is the Executive Director of the Schumann Fund for New Jersey. She leads the Fund’s mission to empower New Jersey’s low-income children and families of color to thrive. Lucy ensures that Schumann Fund’s investments positively impact opportunities for affordable homes and healthy communities, early childhood and education, and child welfare and youth justice in Essex County and statewide. From 2013 through 2021, Lucy served as Senior Program Officer for The Fund for New Jersey, based in Princeton, NJ. There, she managed a $3 million grant portfolio focused on public policy investments that included lead poisoning prevention, public education, public media, racial justice, immigration, and the environment. Previously, Lucy served as Executive Director of the New Jersey State Council on Affordable Housing. She worked with municipalities to provide their fair share of affordable housing resulting from New Jersey’s landmark Mt. Laurel Supreme Court decisions. Earlier in her career, Lucy served as Senior Policy Advisor for Housing and Urban Revitalization in Governor James E. McGreevey’s administration, and as the Associate Director of the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey. Lucy holds a Master of Social Work degree in administration, policy, and planning from Rutgers University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan. In 2026, Lucy was appointed to the Princeton Area Community Foundation Board of Trustees and elected to the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits Board of Trustees and. She previously served as a Trustee of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers (CNJG) from 2020 through 2025. At that time, she co-chaired the CNJG Policy Committee. Lucy is also a Lead New Jersey graduate and a Council on Foundations Career Pathways Fellow. She has lived in the City of Trenton in Mercer County for more than 25 years with her wife and two children and is active in her community.

Beth Vann-Turnbull is an accomplished nonprofit leader who is committed to supporting people as they work to overcome housing and health challenges and pursue the future they want. Currently the Executive Director at Housing Families First in Richmond, VA, she has led the organization as it more than tripled its budget, upgraded its shelter and campus through a successful capital campaign, and expanded its impactful programming. She previously worked to help families end their homelessness in DeKalb County, GA, and over the years, she has supported a variety of programs, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid re-housing, targeted prevention, SSVF, and virtual housing coaching, as well as participated in a multi-agency collaboration to operate a diversion and crisis line program. Beth holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Richmond and a Certificate in Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management from Harvard Business School Social Enterprise Initiative. She serves on various Boards, including Homeward and Richmond Animal League, and is a 2020 graduate of Leadership Metro Richmond. She is the 2025 honoree in Nonprofit Management from the YWCA’s Outstanding Women Awards and a University of Richmond Alumni Association awardee for Distinguished Service. When not at work, Beth enjoys studying Spanish and traveling with her husband, Scott.

Will Woods is a committed advocate who brings lived experience of homelessness and careful listening to create practical, equitable solutions. As an active member of Urban Pathways’ Consumer Advocacy Group, he uses his own story and neighbors’ perspectives to shape policy and outreach. He serves on the Board of Directors for Care for the Homeless and chairs its Policy and Advocacy Committee, and helped lead the RISE UP campaign in the New York State Legislature alongside partners from both organizations.Will is also a board member and featured speaker for Knock Knock Give a Sock, a nonprofit that hosts community dinners and corporate programs to destigmatize homelessness. He contributes to broader systems change through the Consumer Advisory Committee for the Health & Housing Consortium and regular participation and consulting with the Supportive Housing Network of New York.In his role as Member Education & Programming Specialist for Open Hearts Initiative, Will helped build an in-house advocacy training program, raises public awareness through op-eds and public testimony, and facilitates peer-led learning groups focused on lived experience, housing, and racial justice. His work centers on amplifying community voices, advancing policies that promote dignity and housing stability, and creating spaces where people with lived experience lead solutions.