Dr. Rebecca Dupas is a multi-disciplinary artist of poetry, fiction and nonfiction, photography, and costume jewelry. This award-winning poet’s work has appeared on Fox 5, C- Span, PBS, WEAA, and WHUR radio, in The Washington Post alongside President Clinton, and in the DC Black Film Festival. With over two decades of performance and event curation experience, Dr. Dupas continues to impact audiences with vulnerability and relatable messages. She is a two-time Poet of the Year award-winner in Philadelphia and Baltimore and was recently named a Baltimore Legend at Baltimore’s Crown Awards. Dr. Dupas is the founder and former host of 8 long-running poetry events, from Busboys & Poets to Applebees, and has pioneered diverse writing and workshop events such as Body of Work, Coffee & Critiques, and The Baltimore Host Retreat. Her latest books, Somebody Else’s Blues, Not Without Black Women, and a children's book, Mario Goes to the Museum, are explorations into the Black experience. Rebecca, a Louisiana native, resides in the DMV, where she also works as a program manager, director of education, and performance poet. Visit rebeccadupas.com for booking info and merchandise

Amanda Misiko Andere has spent over twenty years working in the nonprofit and public sectors as a leader committed to racial and housing justice through advocacy for systemic change. She is the incoming Co-President of Neighborhood Funders Group, a network of funders that mobilizes philanthropy to resource organizing and movements so that Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities and low-income communities thrive. She most recently served as the CEO of Funders Together for Housing Justice for ten years. Previously, she has served as the CEO of Wider Opportunities for Women, a national advocacy organization, and FACETS, a direct service organization in Northern Virginia. She currently serves on the boards of Equity in the Center, Bainum Family Foundation, and Leadership Fairfax, and is an appointed member of the Fairfax County racial equity roundtable.

April De Simone is the Founder and Managing Principal of the Practice of Democracy. Ms. De Simone works at the intersection of social dynamics and spatial design. Ms. De Simone investigates how built environments and the people and societies that occupy them interact. Her transdisciplinary approach emphasizes the ways human experience, historical reflection and background, intention and interpretation informs and promotes occurrences like equity, healing, and justice within spatial practice. Through a nuanced understanding of how individuals interact with and interpret their surroundings, Ms. De Simone applies a social and spatial phenomena framework to inform her multidimensional research and design practice. Her work is inspired by her experiences growing up in a Bronx, New York neighborhood, steeped in the collateral consequences of intentionally designed systems. In partnership with diverse stakeholders, she seeks to cultivate reframed opportunities within spatial practice to advance equitable, humane, and just frameworks and projects shaping the conditions of our society. Bridging theory and practice, April co-founded designing the WE in 2015, co-curating the nationally acclaimed “Undesign the Redline” exhibit. In 2024, she will launch the Practice of Democracy, a decentralized design practice committed to the long-term work of advancing equitable and just systemic change, moving beyond the one-off projects of architecture. Her immersive project, Democracy Is... debuted in 2022 on NYC’s High Line and is touring nationally as a pop-up, with the full exhibition coming in 2024. Democracy is... is a public engagement campaign calling for our collective attention and action in understanding how democratic values are represented through the environments and systems we plan and design. Told through the voices and lived experiences of the people, this interactive journey delves into a past to present timeline, exploring the challenges and triumphs shaping the consciousness and practice of democratic values. Each step is an invitation to uncover what democracy means to people and shed light on the ways we strive for inclusivity, representation, and social justice. An invited speaker, facilitator, and board member, April’s impact spans issues of equity and design, and was recently recognized by Enterprise Community Partners Impactful 40 in 2022. Education • Continuing Master of Architecture, School of Public Architecture, Kean University (Completion 2025) • Master of Science in Design and Urban Ecologies, Parsons School of Design • Bachelor of Arts in Social Science with a Concentration in Political Science, New York University Selected Projects Louisiana • Henrietta Smith Bowers Duterte Square • Truth, Witness, and Justice Project New Jersey • Coalport Neighborhood Revitalization Project New York • Supervised Visitation Office • Urban Starzz Various Cities • Democracy is… • Undesign the Redline

Rev. Eric Dobson is a minister, strategist, and social justice advocate working at the intersection of race, religion, and politics. He serves as Senior Special Advisor at Fair Share Housing Center, where for nearly 15 years he’s helped shape policies that expand access to affordable housing and fight economic injustice. He’s the co-founder of Dobson Harris LLC, a firm that works with faith institutions to convert land into housing and long-term community assets. He currently advises U.S. Senator Andy Kim, providing strategic insight on policy, community engagement, and equity. His political work includes contributions to campaigns from the local level all the way up to President Obama’s. Rev. Dobson is a founding member of the United Black Agenda, a national coalition of Black-led organizations driving real progress on housing, criminal justice reform, and civil rights. He serves on the New Jersey Coalition of Religious Leaders and was appointed to Governor Phil Murphy’s Wealth Disparity Task Force. A frequent speaker and writer, Rev. Dobson doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff—his work centers the realities of race, power, and faith in America. He also hosts Navigating Realities: Where Dialogue Meets Understanding, a podcast that tackles these issues head-on with clarity and conviction. An ordained minister with a B.S. in Religion from Temple University, Rev. Dobson has received numerous honors, including the NAACP Social Justice Advocate Award and the MLK Jr. Humanitarian Award. But for him, the real measure of impact isn’t in awards—it’s in the change that sticks.

Lorenzo J. Allen was born and raised in New Brunswick. He has two older adult children and several young grandchildren. He is a high school graduate and has several jobs; however, due to his medical condition of epilepsy, he was unable to consistently keep the jobs. Due to frequent use of the Emergency Department at RWJUH, he was referred to the Social & Healthcare Integration (SHI) Program in effect in New Brunswick, NJ. Lorenzo had an extensive criminal background: serving over ten years in Trenton State Prison. He successfully completed all requirements of his parole. Lorenzo got married in 2020, but, unfortunately, his wife has since passed away. Lorenzo was housed by the SHI Program in 2019; had to move out due to a fire and re­housed in 2023 and rehoused recently due to extenuating circumstances. Lorenzo has been an active participant on Middlesex County's Consumer Participation Committee, its H.O.P.E peer support program for persons still homeless, and he is now in the process of forming an LLC to open and run a clothing store.

Alicia Alvarez is the Advocacy Coordinator at nourish.NJ, where she leads efforts to influence local, state, and federal policy in partnership with communities impacted by poverty and homelessness. She also serves as the Program Coordinator for Garden State Leaders, a statewide leadership program that equips individuals with lived experience to step into advocacy, challenge systems, and drive change from the inside out. Alicia is the co-founder of the New Jersey Homelessness Action Collaborative (NJHAC) and serves on the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Statewide Advisory Board. She chairs both the Morris County Continuum of Care (CoC) and the Morris County Lived Experience Advisory Board, pushing for decision-making tables to include—rather than exclude—the voices of those most directly impacted. Alicia doesn’t just advocate; she agitates, organizes, and builds. Fueled by both lived experience and policy know-how, she’s committed to flipping the script on who gets heard, who gets seen, and who gets to lead. Her work is about more than reform—it’s about reimagining systems with justice, dignity, and humanity at the center

Lynn is a Housing and Community Development professional with over 30 years of experience. For the past 15 years she has been the Executive Director of the Housing Development Corporation of Bergen County (HDC) and previously as the Executive Director of Housing Authority of Bergen County. Incorporated in 1978 the HDC has an 100% affordable housing portfolio that includes over 1000 rental and home-ownership units funded with HUD Multi-Family, HUD 202, LIHTC, HOME Program and CDBG funds as well as DDD and NJ SNHTF. In her tenure at HDC she has developed more than 350 units, capital stack, construction and perm financing and is responsible for oversight of maintenance and compliance with long-term affordability controls. Lynn is an experienced homeless service provider, as a key policy and housing assistance provider establishing the continuum of care that ended chronic and veteran homelessness in Bergen County. She holds a Batchelor of Science from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She is a Certified Housing Development Finance Professional and a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Compliance Professional. A member of Bergen County’s Continuum of Care Leadership, she has also served on several local non-profit boards promoting and expanding affordable housing opportunities for the community’s most vulnerable households.

Jesse Batus is Senior Vice President of Real Estate Development for New York and New Jersey at The Community Builders, Inc. (TCB), one of the nation's largest urban developers. Since 2024, he has led TCB’s regional hub as Senior Vice President, managing a team of over 20 professionals advancing neighborhood-scale revitalization efforts across the region. Over his 18-year career at TCB, Jesse has overseen more than $1 billion in investment and the development of over 3,000 housing units in New York City, Westchester, the Capital District, Jersey City, and New Brunswick. His work spans multiphase developments and partnerships with not-for-profits, housing authorities, MWBE firms, and private developers. Beyond housing, Jesse has helped drive investments in early childhood centers, community spaces, and local infrastructure—efforts that reflect TCB’s mission to build strong, thriving communities.

Adenah Bayoh’s journey is not just a success story — it is a love letter to resilience, legacy, and the limitless possibilities that bloom when one woman dares to dream beyond survival. She was just 13 when she fled Liberia’s brutal civil war, leaving behind the only home she knew. With heartbreak in her past but hope in her future, Adenah arrived in the U.S. carrying no luggage, no money — only the unshakable belief that her life could be more. That belief was planted by her grandmother, a woman who ran a small restaurant in Liberia, feeding her neighbors with love and intention. That memory became Adenah’s compass. Today, that seed has grown into an empire rooted in purpose. Adenah is the proud owner of nine restaurants across New Jersey and New York, including three IHOP franchises . At just 27, she became one of the youngest IHOP franchisees in the country — shattering ceilings in spaces not built for her and creating seats at the table for others along the way. In 2017, she co-founded Cornbread , a fast-casual, farm-to-table soul food concept created to honor the traditions that shaped her. In 2021, she launched Brick City Vegan , a plant-based concept built for communities that are often excluded from the health and wellness conversation. Collectively they are a celebration of Black culture, family, and food that heals, proving that access and nourishment can — and must — go hand in hand. In 2023, she made history as the first Black woman in New Jersey to secure a 9% NJHMFA affordable housing credit — bringing deeply affordable housing to Newark’s South Ward, a community that raised her and one she continues to pour into. As a real estate developer, she is transforming abandoned spaces into vibrant community hubs. Her redevelopment of the former Irvington General Hospital is a bold step toward healing both buildings and neighborhoods, proving Adenah’s mission extends beyond the plate. But Adenah’s greatest legacy is not in buildings or businesses — it’s in people. What drives her isn’t profit. It’s purpose. It’s the young girls who look like her and wonder if they can dream big. It’s the single mothers, the immigrants, the underdogs — those told they were too poor, too Black, too different, too “other” to make it. To them, Adenah says: “Look at me. You can.” Every meal served, every apartment built, every job created is an act of devotion. A commitment to building a future where everyone — no matter where they come from — has the chance to rise. Adenah Bayoh didn’t just chase the American dream. She redefined it. And now, she’s creating it for others — one life, one business, one community at a time.

Rose Marie Bulbach is the Assistant Director of the Ocean County Department of Human Services. Since beginning her career with the department in 2001, she has worked across nearly all its units and has served as the Human Services Advisory Council Coordinator for the past 10 years. Rose has been instrumental in the creation of the Ocean County Homelessness Trust Fund, helping to expand critical resources for vulnerable populations. She also led the development of the county’s first Code Blue Warming Center, providing safe shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness during extreme weather events.

Michael Callahan is the Director of the Office of Homelessness Prevention at the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the Chair of the New Jersey Interagency Council on Homelessness. Leveraging his deep experiences in the homelessness services and tech sectors, Michael and his team at OHP are driving equity in the state’s homelessness prevention and services ecosystem through programming grounded in end-user experience, equity-focused analytics, and the democratization of housing policy and services planning. He received his doctorate in social work from the University of Pennsylvania and holds a research faculty appointment at Monmouth University’s School of Social Work.

Darrell Cason is a seasoned government leader and collaborator with over 15+ years of experience driving mission-focused operations driving program reform and improving housing outcomes. Darrell currently serves as the Deputy Administrator for Homeless Families within the Family Services Administration of DC Department of Human Services (DHS), where he oversees the management of the Family Emergency shelter system, implementation of the homeless prevention and emergency rental assistance programs as well as the Rapid Rehousing for Families program. Darrell began his career with DHS in 2007 as a Capital City Fellow and has served the agency in multiple capacities. Darrell is passionate about forging relationships and developing innovative solutions to better serve those in need.

Rosy Dafonseca, the Assistant Director in the Multifamily/Supportive Housing and Lending Division at the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA), has twenty years of experience in the Real Estate and Lending field. She has been with NJHMFA for fourteen years. In her role at NJHMFA, she supervises the processing of multifamily as well as special needs only rental housing loans. She has extensive experience in performing financial analyses of multifamily housing development mortgage applications and developing financial feasibility strategies in order to maximize the number of alternative solutions available for a project’s financing. She is knowledgeable in the requirements, regulations and underwriting criteria for funding sources such LIHTC (Low Income Housing Tax Credits), Special Needs only funding sources, Home Funds, CDBG-DR, and other Federal, State and private funding sources.

Kellie Donovan - Executive Vice President, Soldier On

Marlon Duprey - Community Consultant, Hudson County Advisory Board

DuEwa Edwards-Dickson is a recognized human services specialist with over 30 years of dedicated public services to the City of Trenton and the County of Mercer. During her tenure with Mercer County, she was a part of a brilliant team of public servants that developed a coordinated crisis response system to homelessness, housing thousands of vulnerable Mercer County residents. Currently, DuEwa is honored to serve in a new capacity with the Rescue Mission of Trenton as the Chief of Supportive Services overseeing emergency shelter and medical respite services, a community wellness center, permanent supportive housing, community sober living residences, and the food pantry. She is a lifelong Mercer County resident and serves as the Trenton committee person in her district. DuEwa also serves on the boards of United Way of Greater Mercer County, Younity and the Princeton Junior School. She is a member of Greater Mt. Zion AME Church and serves on the dance ministry. DuEwa is committed to improving the lives of marginalized and disenfranchised people, teaching and empowering people who find themselves in these experiences and improving their quality of life. DuEwa holds an MPA from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and is a NJ Certified Social Worker. As the mother of 2 teenagers Layton Dickson and Cienago Eastman, she firmly believes that LOVE never dies and honors those whose shoulders she stands on by loving others freely.

Lloyd Freeman - Chief Experience Officer, Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney

Tanisha Garner is a life long resident of the City of Newark. She is a mother, poet, author, Small Business Owner of Chozin Designs, advocate for environmental justice, transportation and housing. She is the President of Homes For All Newark.

Petra Gaskins - New Brunswick Councilwoman/Chief of Staff to Senator Cryan

Barbara Gonzalez is a Reentry Case Manager at Helping Arms in Trenton, NJ, where she supports individuals transitioning from incarceration with housing, employment, education, and mental health services. Drawing from lived experience, Barbara advocates passionately for justice-involved and unhoused populations. She is a Phi Theta Kappa honoree, a certified Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advocate, and a recipient of the Soroptimist Women’s Award. With studies in psychology and business, Barbara brings both compassion and expertise to her work in homelessness advocacy.

Mr. Grof joined the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLBNY) in June 2023 as Director of Community Investment Strategy and became Community Investment Officer in January 2024. In this role, he helps the Bank develop a clear vision, establish goals, and effect a strategy for addressing the housing, economic, and community development needs of the FHLBNY District while supporting the Bank’s mission of helping members serve their markets and ensuring the Bank remains compliant with statutory and regulatory requirements. He works with the Board of Directors, Advisory Council, and senior leadership to lead, promote, and evaluate the Bank’s community investment products and programs. Prior to joining the FHLBNY, Mr. Grof spent 14 years at New Jersey Community Capital, a nationally recognized statewide Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), serving as Deputy to the President, Director of Strategic and Social Impact, and Manager of Resource Development. Mr. Grof is a former Wachovia Bank/NJDCA Housing Scholar for the City of Newark’s Division of Housing and Real Estate and an AmeriCorps VISTA for New Jersey Community Development Corporation in Paterson. He received a B.A. in Political Science and German from Rutgers University and a Master of Public Policy with a concentration in Community Development from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.

Susan Grossman is a senior underwriter for Enterprise Housing Credit Investments, LLC. In this role, she underwrites and closes low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) investments in New Jersey, Ohio, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Delaware, West Virginia, Kentucky, Florida, Georgia, and Puerto Rico. She has underwritten a range of projects including family, senior, special needs, lease-purchase, and scattered site projects. Susan joined Enterprise in 2020 but also worked for Enterprise in the 2000s. She has also worked for a community loan fund underwriting a variety of community development projects. Susan has a bachelor's degree in applied mathematics and economics from Harvard. When she is not working to support Enterprise’s mission, she can be found enjoying the outdoors kiteboarding, mountain biking, surfing, or snowboarding.

Lawrence Hammond is Senior Vice President, Director of ACCESS. In this capacity, Lawrence works closely with CPC’s senior leadership and Board of Directors to oversee all lending and other activities associated with the program. The Acquiring Capital and Capacity for Economic Stability and Sustainability (ACCESS) initiative which began in 2020, focuses on targeted investments in low-income communities and creating opportunities to empower black, indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC) in the real estate industry across New York State and the region. Under Lawrence’s leadership, ACCESS provides capital for predevelopment, acquisition, construction and permanent financing, and capacity building programs, as well as technical assistance and other supports to BIPOC developers as needed. CPC, through the ACCESS initiative is also partnering with New York State to help administer the Legacy Cities program. A $25 million program funded by the State, Legacy Cities seeks to transfer portfolios of blighted, land bank-owned single-family properties to local developers with a preference for M/WBEs. Following rehabilitation, sales will prioritize purchasers of color and low-income households. Mr. Hammond joined CPC as Vice President and Mortgage Officer in the New York City Originations Office in 2015, after more than 30 years with various financial institutions inclusive of Popular Community Bank, Bank of New York Mellon, and JP Morgan Chase Bank. At CPC, he has distinguished himself as an expert in affordable housing and multifamily finance, working with borrowers on some of their most challenging projects. As an ordained minister, Mr. Hammond has also focused on building relationships with, and advising faith-based organizations who are interested in developing housing as part of their mission to serve the community. Mr. Hammond earned a Doctorate of Ministry and Masters of Divinity from New York

Siya Hegde is a human rights lawyer in New York City, where she currently works with the National Homelessness Law Center on advancing the right to housing and decriminalizing homelessness and poverty. She was previously a civil public defender at The Bronx Defenders, where she engaged in client facing advocacy and litigation that centered on the civil consequences of individuals’ contact with legal systems. Her expertise in eviction defense and housing justice has grown in partnership with local grassroots coalitions, directly impacted tenants, advocates, and defender organizations across the City. Her work and commentary have been featured in various outlets, including the New York Times, New York Daily News, Times Union, City Limits, the New York Law Journal, Bloomberg CityLab, the Georgetown Journal of Poverty Law and Policy, and the Indiana Health Law Review. As part of a national task force of civil society advocates, she has engaged with U.N. human rights mechanisms in Geneva around the criminalization of homelessness and poverty and is also a Board Member of the newly reviving U.S. Human Rights Network.

Melissa has more than 15 years of experience in serving the community in different capacities. Prior to joining the Health Equity Team as Director, Melissa addressed health needs as a Nurse Practitioner for a community transitions clinic. Through her personal and professional background, as well as her passion to assist the underserved community at large, she has gained a diverse understanding of the structural and social drivers of health. With experience across a variety of roles serving diverse populations, she is committed to addressing disparities and ensuring equitable access to care. Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and her Master of Science in Nursing. Her combined expertise in clinical practice, public health, and leadership allows her to bridge the gap between patient care and systemic change, driving initiatives that improve outcomes for the underserved communities. Passionate about creating meaningful impact, Melissa continues to champion equity-focused strategies that promote health and wellbeing for all.

Rebecca Hickom is the Director of Coordinated Access at Housing Forward. In that role, she leads the team that manages the Coordinated Access System for Dallas and Collin counties, which ensures that people experiencing homelessness are identified, assessed for their needs, referred to resources, and connected to housing. Rebecca also oversees the management of Dallas and Collin County’s homeless crisis response system including Coordinated Outreach and Street to Home efforts that address homeless encampments, and System-Wide Housing Navigation and Diversion. Rebecca graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. She has over 13 years of experience working in the housing and homeless services field in both direct service and systems-level focused positions. Rebecca is passionate about building systems that provide our neighbors experiencing homelessness with equitable, accessible, and person-centered pathways to permanent housing.

Mark Horvath is a pioneering force in narrative change, revolutionizing how we perceive and address homelessness. With a background in leadership, marketing, and multimedia production, he brings a unique perspective to the issue. As the founder of Invisible People, a nonprofit utilizing video storytelling and journalism, Mark sheds light on homelessness, reaching millions every month. His authentic approach humanizes the stories of those experiencing homelessness, challenging societal perceptions and inspiring empathy. Through his work as an activist, filmmaker, and social media explorer, Mark turns his own experience with homelessness into a catalyst for social good, sparking a collective call to action for meaningful change.

I am a licensed social worker with over 25 years of experience in care management. My career began in the nonprofit sector, where I spent 14 years serving in a community-based mental health center. This work laid the foundation for my deep commitment to advancing equitable access to housing and behavioral housing services. After my years in direct service, I transitioned into leadership roles within Horizon NJ Health where I have continued to advocate for system-level improvements. Currently I serve as the Director for the Housing Medicaid Program, leading statewide initiatives that integrate care coordination, supportive housing, and Medicaid policy to promote long-term housing stability for members with complex needs. I am passionate about advancing equity, strengthening systems, and ensuring every individual has the opportunity to thrive in a safe and stable home.

Taiisa Kelly is a dedicated advocate for social justice who has worked with Monarch Housing Associates for 18 years and serves as the Chief Executive Officer. Monarch's mission is to expand the supply, accessibility, and variety of affordable, permanent supportive housing through development, planning, advocacy, and partnerships. Ms. Kelly has facilitated the development and implementation of strategies to end homelessness since 2008. She has assisted Monarch in expanding services to include strategic planning, grant writing, system oversight, project monitoring, grant administration, innovative program development, and data analysis. Since becoming CEO in 2019, Ms. Kelly has worked to expand and innovate the housing development focus of the agency. Monarch is developing new partnerships to support the creation of housing for marginalized communities with an eye towards innovations in development. Under Ms. Kelly’s leadership Monarch is focused on integrating racial equity into all aspects of homeless planning and housing development with the intent of ending homelessness in New Jersey. Ms. Kelly was inducted into the NJ Housing and Economic Development Hall of Fame in 2023, and was named as one of the 2021 Best 50 Women in Business by NJBIZ Magazine. She currently serves on several boards including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation JEGNA Council, Nourish NJ Board of Directors, the United Black Agenda, the Housing Community Development Network of New Jersey Board of Directors, City of Newark Commission on Homelessness, Enterprise Community Leadership Council, and Enterprise Community Loan Fund Board.

Calla R. Ketchens, Esq., an attorney at Souder Law Group, specializes in corporate law, land use, finance, and litigation. She holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and French from Vanderbilt University (2011) and a Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law (2017). Furthering her specialization, she earned an LLM in Banking, Corporate, and Finance Law from Fordham University School of Law (2020). Calla has notable experience with Deloitte's litigation team, where she contributed to patent litigation, contract disputes, securities litigation, regulatory compliance, and anti-trust litigation. She has expertise in data protection, U.S. privacy law, the E.U. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and Swiss Compliance. Fluent in French, Calla effectively communicates across cultural and language barriers, enhancing her ability to serve a diverse clientele. Her comprehensive understanding of her practice areas and her ability to navigate complex legal environments make her a valuable asset to her clients and the firms she represents.

Emma Kornetsky is an Assistant Director on the Homelessness & Housing team at the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab (GPL). In that role, she oversees the team’s work focused on homelessness prevention and staff capacity building, currently spanning projects in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Alameda County, California; and Detroit, Michigan. In 2024, she also led an applied 12-week data-driven decision-making training for CoC teams in New Jersey. Previously, as a member of the GPL Children & Families team, Emma directly supported Michigan’s Children’s Services Agency to pilot new upstream connections to community-based supports for families at-risk of child welfare involvement and to shift contracts and management of programs to be more data-driven and outcomes-oriented. Prior to joining the GPL, Emma led government relations for Philabundance, the largest hunger-relief organization in the Philadelphia region. Emma holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management and a BA in Psychology from Haverford College.

Caitlin Krenn is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), educator, researcher, and passionate advocate working with children and families experiencing housing insecurity in NYC. Prior to joining The Door, Caitlin held positions in clinical leadership at Housing Works and Women in Need (WIN). As a National Policy Fellow with the Network for Social Work Management (2020), Caitlin’s research yielded a four-pronged model of civic empowerment in family shelters. In 2021, Caitlin was honored by Brooklyn Defender Services for her work advocating for the structured reunification of children and their parents living in temporary shelter spaces. While obtaining her doctorate at New York University (NYU), Caitlin represented her cohort as the NYU Urban Doctoral Fellow (2022), where she expanded her research to collaborate with other intersecting disciplines. Caitlin's work is internationally recognized, as she has demonstrated the profound need and essential benefit of unhoused civic empowerment for countless U.S. audiences and social welfare networks in Canada, Argentina, and Chile. Caitlin's devotion to growth and learning translates into teaching, as she has taught MSW courses at NYU's Washington Square (NYC) and Buenos Aires campuses. Caitlin elevates her work into advocacy, as she holds a seat on the Citizens' Committee for Children's (CCC) Advocacy Council. Caitlin's work has been published in various forms by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Press, the Journal for the Advancement of Psychoanalytic Empirical Research (JASPER) International, as well as organizational publications out of WIN and National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH). Caitlin holds a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) from Rutgers University, as well as a master's degree in social work (MSW) and a doctorate in social welfare (DSW) from NYU.

Veronica Lewis is a Diversion Specialist with Bridges Outreach in Newark, NJ. Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, she is a proud mother of 4 and a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she earned a degree in Communications. Before relocating to the NY/NJ area in 2019, Veronica built over a decade of experience in human resources with Caesars Entertainment. She is passionate about community and engagement and currently serves on both the GSL Advisory Board and the Union County Advisory Board. In addition to her professional and volunteer work, Veronica enjoys traveling and exploring new cultures.

As Genesis’ Managing Director of Development, Nicole draws on over 25 years of industry acumen in the public and private sectors to finance complex housing developments for the firm. In this role, Nicole crafts and executes affordable, mixed-use, and mixed-income real estate development projects involving Year 15 re-syndication, conventional debt, taxable and tax-exempt bonds, LIHTCs, RAD and a range of other public and private funding sources. Prior to joining Genesis, Nicole served as a Senior Developer with Pennrose Properties and as a Senior Development Manager for the Philadelphia Housing Authority, the country’s fourth largest. Before that, she worked with lenders, municipalities and nonprofits across the country and in Puerto Rico as a consultant with Community Development Services. Nicole currently serves on the Boards of the New York Real Estate Chamber (NYREC) and Citymeals on Wheels, as an Advisory Board Member with NYU’s Furman Center and the New York Housing Conference, and on the Chairman's Council of Teaching Matters. She has been recognized by Crain’s New York Business as one of its Notable Leaders in Real Estate, by GlobeSt.com as one of its Senior Housing and Healthcare Influencers, and by City and State NY as one of its Women’s Thought Leaders of the Year-Real Estate. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Rice University and a Master of Science of Real Estate Development from Columbia University.

Sharon McDonald is Senior Advisor to the Chief Policy Officer with a focus on policy and program strategies to address family homelessness. Ms. McDonald joined the Alliance in 2001. Before that, she was a direct practitioner in a Richmond, VA, community-based service center for people who are homeless for nearly seven years. She has experience providing service-enhanced housing in a subsidized housing development for low-income families with children and in housing for people living with HIV/AIDS. She served as a Social Work Congressional Fellow in Sen. Paul D. Wellstone’s office where she focused on welfare and housing issues. Ms. McDonald is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and holds a Ph.D. in Social Work and Social Policy from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Siree I. Morris, a Project Reap Alum is a lifelong Newark resident who graduated from Rutgers University in 2005 with a degree in Civil Engineering. Siree was then hired as a Site Design Civil Engineer. Having designed for clients such as Walmart, Walgreens, Barnes and Nobles, Costco, Pathmark, Wegmans, Bed Bath and Beyond, Loews, Home Depot, Wachovia, Chase Bank, BJ’s and Stop & Shop, Mr. Morris has become proficient in the various aspects of land development such as site planning and layout, acquisition analysis, stormwater management, construction and development. Siree designed and obtained approvals for over 2,000 acres of raw land in New Jersey. Siree began to understand the importance of sustaining the marketability of a development through adequate property management and construction practices. As a result, in 2013 he strategically incorporated MCI Property Management and Construction, LLC. The vertically integrated company builds and manages properties throughout Northern, NJ. Siree is currently working on some of the most innovative projects in the state of NJ such as the first multi family home made from shipping containers in 2015. This project was featured in the Wall Street Journal. Moreover, in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, He converted a 6 acre demolished baseball stadium into America’s first black owned drive-in movie theater, Newark Moonlight Cinema. This drive-in was featured on NBC, ABC, Good Morning America, CBS, CNBC, NPR, BBC etc as it serviced over 30,000 customers in 4 months. Through his ventures he has provided over 100 full time jobs in the local community. His impact was featured in the Wall Street Journal, NY times, commercial observer and he was listed as a top person of color influencer for ROI-NJ for 2021. He approaches revitalization through the lens of economics, housing, employment and entertainment. The future looks bright as the MCI has 600 units scheduled to be developed in the next 5 years.

Nedia Morsy is the Director at Make the Road New Jersey (MRNJ), a grassroots organization of immigrant and working-class people. MRNJ builds the power of immigrant, working-class and Latinx communities to achieve dignity and justice through community organizing, legal and support services, transformative education, and policy innovation. Most recently, under Morsy's leadership, MRNJ and their allies prevented Union County from contracting with the federal government to operate an immigration detention center in the city of Elizabeth. Morsy graduated from Amherst College and served as a Coro Fellow in Public Affairs in St. Louis.

Tanika Moss is a mother of three and the full-time Executive Administrator at the Heart of Hannah Women's Center in Clifton, New Jersey. She earned her degree in Human Services in May 2023. Tanika has been a dedicated member of the Passaic County lnteragency Council on Homelessness (PCICH) since 2014 and was elected Executive Vice Chair of the PCICH Executive Board in 2020 as a person with lived experience-a role in which she continues to serve today. Her passion for advocacy is deeply rooted in her own lived experience. Prior to joining PCICH, Tanika endured domestic abuse and PTSD, which led to a period of homelessness. She spent years navigating shelters and the housing system with her children in search of stability. Through resilience and determination, Tanika and her family eventually secured permanent housing with the support of a CoC Housing Voucher. Drawing from these experiences, Tanika was entrusted with establishing the Passaic County Lived Experience Advisory Board, where she now serves as Chair. In this role, she amplifies the voices of those most impacted by homelessness and works to ensure their experiences inform systems change. For more than ten years, Tanika has remained steadfast in her commitment to supporting and advocating for the homeless community. She continues to stand in the gap for the most vulnerable, using her personal journey and professional expertise to drive equity, compassion, and change within her community.

Brittany Odom is a homeless services and solutions consultant with more than 15 years of experience in the social services field. Her dedication to the cause of ending homelessness has led her to various homeless advocacy roles in DC, Virginia, and South Florida. Brittany strongly believes systems change requires meaningful engagement of those most impacted by barriers and social injustice, a thorough analysis of the impact of current interventions, design and implementation of audacious and innovative plans of action, and a strong emphasis on evaluation and continuous quality improvement. As such, she has dedicated her career to understanding the conditions that lead to and exacerbate the experience of homelessness and assisting communities across the country with reimagining and refining homeless response systems to produce better outcomes for the people served by the system. Her expertise in person-centered service delivery for vulnerable populations is derived from her work in both direct service and administrative roles contributing to the effort to end homelessness. Her in-the-field experience includes street and encampment outreach, emergency shelter intake and case management, residential services in transitional housing, and community case management for special populations including youth, elderly, and veterans. She has held Continuum of Care (CoC) administrative positions in coordinated entry system design and operations and possesses project management experience that includes the coordination of the annual Point-In-Time Homeless Count. In her recent position as a Senior Homeless Technical Assistance Provider with a reputable consulting firm, Britttany employed her extensive homelessness data collection and analysis expertise to assist communities with assessing the health and performance of their homeless response system and developing and implementing processes and practices aimed at housing people more quickly and stably. Brittany has provided training and technical assistance to more than 1,500 homeless services provider personnel in the fields of U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) compliance, encampment response, data analysis, coordinated entry, the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), best practices in service delivery, personnel soft-skills, and strategic planning among many others. She has shared her knowledge on the national stage as a presenter at National Human Services Data Consortium (NHSDC) and National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) conferences, presenting on topics including addressing unsheltered and encampment data collection and Coordinated Entry monitoring and evaluation. Her training and technical assistance delivery includes both virtual and in-person engagements in a broad array of geographically and demographically diverse communities including Dallas, TX, Tucson, AZ, and Nashville, TN among many others. In 2021, Brittany founded Brilliant By Design LLC (BBD), a multi-faceted media design, research and consulting firm. BBD is a certified woman- and minority-owned business in the state of Florida and Small Business Association (SBA) certified Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned small business. BBD specializes in creating visual and digital solutions for growing businesses, providing training content development and delivery, research and program design and evaluation consultancy services for organizations. BBD design services include website design, brand development and marketing materials, and copyediting. Consultancy services include strategic planning, data analysis, needs and gaps analysis, policy development and implementation, training content development and delivery, program design, and fidelity reviews. In addition to her homeless services background, Brittany also spent three years abroad teaching social studies to children at an international school in Ghana, West Africa. Brittany is also co-founder and Assistant Director of Dennis Tennis Serving Love, a 501(c)(3) non-profit youth development organization providing underprivileged youth the opportunity to learn and enjoy the game of tennis. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from Barry University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Michigan State University and a certification in web development.

Eileen is the Executive Director of Coming Home of Middlesex County, Inc., the nonprofit created by the County to spearhead efforts to create a system to end homelessness in the County. Her 20 years of professional experience as a health care attorney and business woman, providing legal, business and policy analysis services to public, as well as private, entities, that she brought to this role, served her well and enabled her to grow and develop the organization from the idea that it was when she assumed the role in April 2011. She holds a B.A. in Psychology; a Master’s in Public Policy from the Eagleton Institute of Politics; a J.D. from Rutgers’ School of Law and a Master’s in Social Work from Rutgers University.

Charles Oliver is the Founder and Chairman of CO Enterprises LLC, a 100% minority-owned development and Advisory firm established in 2018 that specializes in affordable housing and community outreach. Charles is known for his community relationships and community development work. He is a senior advisor to nonprofits like NAN Newark Techworld, New Hope Memorial CDC and a board member of St. James Social Services Corporation. Charles is the Vice President of the Sheila Y. Oliver Foundation as well. Charles holds a B.A. in Communications from Robert Morris University and an M.A. in Strategic Communications from Regent University.

Liz Osborn is the vice president of policy at Enterprise Community Partners, where she oversees the organization’s federal, state and local advocacy efforts. A versatile public affairs and communications professional, Liz has spent 20 years shaping policy and communications strategy on Capitol Hill, in the executive branch and in the international non-profit sector. Prior to joining Enterprise, Liz served as the manager of external affairs and policy advisor at the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, where she led the agency’s legislative affairs and media relations efforts and directed a policy portfolio that included health care and criminal justice. Liz received her bachelor’s degree in music and communications from UNC Chapel Hill and holds a master’s degree in international public policy and management from NYU.

Asish Patel is the Chief Operating Officer at Monarch Housing Associates and oversees the Housing Development Team. Over the past 31 years, Asish has worked on numerous acquisitions, rehabilitation, and new construction projects in all 21 Counties in New Jersey, including urban, rural and suburban areas, resulting in the development of over 3,500 units of housing for special needs persons and persons in need of affordable housing. Asish graduated from the New Jersey Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in architecture, and a master’s degree in management. He attended Pratt Institute’s Community and Economic Development Internship Program and was part of the inaugural class of Enterprise’s Leadership Institute. Asish serves as Vice Chair of the Board of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York. Additionally, he serves as the Chair of the Board of the Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey.

Sajan has had a 17-year career in impact investing, in which he deployed over $800 million in capital to a variety of community-based projects. These projects include affordable housing, school facilities, early childhood education facilities, health centers, and small businesses. He has supported the development, launch, and deployment of philanthropic impact investing programs representing over $300 million in capital invested in underserved communities and populations. In his time at Civic Builders, Sajan built a philanthropic-backed lending platform that delivered low-cost flexible loans to high performing nonprofit charter schools. Prior to joining Civic, Sajan was Market Director of the Mid-Atlantic and Central Regions at the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF). In this role, he was responsible for lending production in DC as well as for LIIF’s expansion in the Southeast. At LIIF, Sajan lent over $300 million in capital for community development projects, including a $30 million fund dedicated to increasing healthy food access in food deserts. Before joining LIIF, he was a small business loan underwriter at Seedco Financial in New York City.

Jesse is the Campaign and Communications Director at the National Homelessness Law Center. He led the communications and power-building work on the historic Johnson vs. Grants Pass Supreme Court Case. Jesse also leads the Housing, Not Handcuffs Campaign, which brings together local, state, and federal partners to fight against laws that make it a crime to live outside and push for housing and other proven solutions to homelessness. Jesse’s work is frequently featured in various media outlets, including the New York Times, The Washington Post, and USA Today. Previously, he was the Senior Manager for Policy and Advocacy at Miriam’s Kitchen, a DC-based nonprofit working to end long-term homelessness. During his eight years at Miriam’s Kitchen, Jesse managed The Way Home Campaign, a coalition of over 110 organizations and 7,000 voters working to end chronic homelessness in DC, which has won funding to end chronic homelessness for over 6,000 individuals. Jesse received his master’s in social work at Howard University. He is a sought-after speaker and facilitator who travels across the country, presenting on the use of narrative change and power building to solve homelessness. Jesse serves on the DC Advisory Council for AVODAH. He lives in DC with his spouse and kiddo.

I am 58 years old and have lived in Atlantic City for the past 4yrs. I have a NYC pension as my means of money. I have been homeless here for about the past 2 yrs due to renting out 2 separate houses, one each year when I first arrived in 2021 and both landlords ended up in foreclosure. Since 2023 I have not been able to find housing, hence the homelessness. I have my pension for stays in hotels and food, but because of my bills and food, the hotel stays could only be a few days twice a month and the rest of the time I stayed on the streets. Thanks to Bring Veterans Home, I am happy to say I will be moving into my new apartment 8/1/2025.

Kim Reeder advocates for housing justice, the human right to housing and reforming the homeless service sector. She is an Advisor to the Urban Institute in Washington, DC for their Housing Justice Project and a Lived Experience Advisor for the Equal Right for Every Neighbor Coalition with the ACLU of California. Ms. Reeder served on the leadership committee for Housing Now CA! during the California statewide effort to make housing a human right in 2022 and 2023, supporting Assembly Constitutional Amendment 10. Currently Ms. Reeder is editing her photo-essay about the human right to housing, specifically the components of adequate housing for publication early next year. A scholar with the National Alliance to End Homelessness in 2024 and Housing California this year, she has spoken locally in Los Angeles County, at the state level in Sacramento and Washington, DC. Ms. Reeder is a member of Abundant Housing LA and served on their Housing Advocates Council from 2022 - 2024. Formerly unhoused, Ms. Reeder survived living in her car, on the streets twice and in both a congregate and non-congregate shelter in Los Angeles County. She is now housed with Community Corporation of Santa Monica in affordable/below market rate housing. Ms. Reeder holds a BA in Communication with emphasis in Public Relations and Journalism and is in the early stages of writing the account of her lived experience being homeless for publication.

Amelia Rideau - Genesis Companies, LLC

Alle Ries joined M&T Bank in 2016 as the Regional Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Officer. In this role, she serves as a liaison between the bank and community-based organizations throughout New Jersey to develop and administer creative initiatives that meet the needs of low- and moderate-income individuals and their families. She also sits on the Charitable Committee for both the New Jersey and Philadelphia/ South Jersey regions. Alle provides strategic advice to the bank’s New Jersey leadership team around investment in urban communities, affordable housing initiatives and other issues. Prior to joining the bank she served as the Director of Community & Economic Development and Director of Program and Fund Development at La Casa de Don Pedro in Newark, NJ for 13 years. Her 30 years of experience covers the comprehensive breadth of community development from neighborhood planning, community organizing, housing development, finance, fundraising and program creation in the areas of: youth, workforce development, early childhood, housing counseling and more. She also served as a campaign consultant for Cory Booker’s 2002 mayoral race. Alle is Vice Chair of St. Joseph’s Carpenter Society in Camden, and serves on the Board of the Housing and Community Development Network of NJ, Family Connections, Playworks and the Essex County Workforce Development Board where she chairs the Youth Investment Council. She also serves on the Advisory Committee of the Voorhees Center for Civic Engagement at Rutgers. She received her Masters in City and Regional Planning from the Bloustein School at Rutgers University and has a BA from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. Alle lives in South Orange, NJ with her family.

Gavin Rozzi is the Director of the Division of Housing & Community Resources Data Center at the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, where he leads the division-wide strategy for data governance, analytics, and modern digital services that support housing, eviction prevention, lead-safety, and other critical programs. In this role he oversees an enterprise data warehouse, a portfolio of data products & interactive websites, and cloud-native platforms that convert raw information into actionable insights for policymakers and the public. Prior to joining DCA, Gavin built a reputation in New Jersey’s civic-technology community as the founder of several open-data projects and urban informatics research. His work has consistently focused on using technology and transparent data practices to strengthen public institutions and improve community outcomes.

A short bio on panel participants Mr Jay Rutherford. ? Mr. Jay Rutherford is an Assistant Director for New Beginnings Behavioral Health and the founder of Life After Life, a nonprofit dedicated to mentoring youth and addressing issues such as crime and drugs. Passionate about helping the less fortunate, Mr. Jay Rutherford focuses on providing job opportunities and housing for homeless individuals and those formerly incarcerated. After being incarcerated at 19 and spending 31 years in prison, Mr. Jay Rutherford has dedicated his self to self-education, earning a GED, and participating in various college courses and programs, he paid for while working institutional jobs. While in prison, he also became an accomplished chess player, even being featured in Sports Illustrated for chess in their chess tournament Upon his release on May 2, 2023, Mr. Jay Rutherford, established the Kings and Queens of Camden youth chess program and secured a position as Assistant Director at New Beginnings Behavioral Health. He is currently working on establishing sober living houses to continue his mission of ending homelessness and supporting those reentering society. Mr. Jay Rutherford’s journey is a testament to resilience, transformation, and the power of positive change. He is committed to leaving a legacy of hope and support for future generations, proving that it’s not what you go through, but what you grow through that defines your path. Mr. Jay Rutherford, Assistant Director of New Beginnings Behavioral Health, Founder of Life After Life Nonprofit.

Tosha Rutledge is a dedicated professional with over six years of experience in the field of addiction recovery, working closely with individuals facing challenges related to substance use and mental health. In addition to her work in mental health and recovery, Tosha has played a crucial role in connecting individuals to resources that support long-term stability, including securing safe and sustainable housing. Her work has helped countless people overcome barriers that once stood in the way of their recovery and well-being. Drawing from her own lived experience as well as generational experiences within her family. Tosha brings empathy, authenticity, and deep understanding to every interaction. Tosha has recently transitioned into a more impactful role where her reach extends beyond those who fit specific criteria she now supports anyone experiencing homelessness across Warren County. In addition to her work there, Tosha also serves individuals and communities in Hunterdon County, helping to ensure that people facing housing insecurity and recovery challenges are met with dignity, resources, and support. She currently serves as a board member on several local and regional boards, using her voice to influence policy and strengthen support systems. Tosha is passionate about being a source of change and inspiration, dedicating her efforts to uplifting those around her and creating pathways toward stability and hope.

Steve Schoch, AIA, LEED AP is Principal and Director of Housing for New Jersey’s leading multidisciplinary design firm, Thriven Design. Since he first joined Thriven (then called Kitchen & Associates) in 1984, Steve has been either the Lead Designer or Principal-In-Charge for residential development projects surpassing 50,000 units. Of that total, approximately two-thirds are ‘affordable’ homes – developed specifically for individuals and families with low-to-moderate incomes. His work is regarded as among the best examples of design for the disabled, and is held up as an example of excellence on a national level. He is known for integrating Supportive Housing in projects of all sizes and scales, and his influence as an advocate has helped institute fundamental changes in the NJ regulations that allocate funding for affordable housing – giving projects that integrate Supportive Housing into their communities a competitive advantage.

Colleen Snow is the Alcohol & Drug Director and Mental Health Administrator for Camden County, NJ, with nearly a decade of experience in substance use and mental health. She directs 57 programs within the Office of Mental Health & Addiction, leading service development, performance monitoring, and fiscal oversight. Her portfolio includes overseeing homeless outreach efforts, peer recovery services in five county-funded shelters, sober living programs, and strengthening healthcare partnerships to enhance overdose prevention services throughout the County. Formerly the first Director of Project S.A.V.E., she created innovative strategies that streamlined diversion services across 36 municipalities – enhancing substance use awareness, connection to treatment, wraparound recovery supports, and housing stability for individuals. She holds a Master of Social Work from Rutgers University with specialized training in addiction and is preparing to take her oral exam toward her LCADC credential.

Eric Tars serves as the National Homelessness Law Center’s Senior Policy Director, leading the development, oversight, and implementation of the Law Center’s policy advocacy agenda to cultivate a society where every person can live with dignity and enjoy their basic human rights, including the right to affordable, quality, and safe housing. Eric helped spearhead the launch of the Law Center’s national Housing Not Handcuffs campaign, has served as counsel in multiple precedent-setting cases, including Martin v. Boise in the 9th Circuit, and is frequently quoted in national and local media, including NPR, AP, New York Times, and Washington Post. Before coming to the Law Center, Eric was a Fellow with Global Rights’ U.S. Racial Discrimination Program and consulted with Columbia University Law School’s Human Rights Institute and the US Human Rights Network. Eric received his J.D. magna cum laude as a Global Law Scholar at the Georgetown University Law Center. He received his B.A. magna cum laude in political science from Haverford College and studied international human rights in Vienna at the Institute for European Studies and at the University of Vienna.

Jon Tew is Policy Director of the Office of Policy and Innovation in the NJ Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) where he oversees the 1115 Comprehensive Demonstration as well as other waivers of federal authority needed by NJ to run NJ FamilyCare, New Jersey's Medicaid program. He is a lawyer by training and prior to working at DHS worked at the Camden Coalition and prior to that, the Pennsylvania State Senate

Jaclynn Trakalo is the Project Director of Bringing Veterans Home at the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ Office of Homelessness Prevention. With over 15 years of experience serving veterans, she is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds degrees in Clinical and Counseling Psychology with a trauma focus. Jaclynn played a pivotal role in helping Philadelphia declare an end to veteran homelessness in 2015 and continued to lead collaborative veteran initiatives in the region through 2024. She brings this same collaborative, solutions-driven approach to New Jersey, advancing sustainable and replicable models to end veteran homelessness across the state and beyond.

Dan Treglia is an Instructor at the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy and is an Instructor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine. He is experienced in social and health policy and focuses much of his work on the intersection of housing, homelessness, and health policy. Dr. Treglia is Principal Investigator of a study funded by the Rutgers Equity Alliance for Community Health (REACH) to improve housing navigation for homeless families in Newark, NJ. He is also leading the evaluation of the housing component of New Jersey’s Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver. His portfolio includes work on a National Institutes of Health funded study examining the contribution of homelessness to racial/ethnic and geographic disparities in health services outcomes and how permanent supportive housing can mitigate those disparities. His work also involves public service, including work with the City of New York and other communities across the country focused on assessing the extent of unsheltered homelessness and building community capacity. Before joining the Center in 2023, Dr. Treglia was an Associate Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania. He earned his PhD in Social Welfare from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice.

James Williams - Policy Consultant

Bryan Woll is Director, National Programs at Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF). Bryan advises on, develops, and implements new programs and products, most recently in climate finance, including state and federal capital programs and related regulations. He also leads programs that combine special capital tools and capacity building for borrowers, including place-based community organizations and affordable housing developers. Prior to joining LIIF in 2022, Bryan practiced law at a large national firm representing clients in regulatory matters and commercial litigation. He maintained an active pro bono practice in state and municipal finance, housing, and poverty law. Bryan previously served in the New York City Office of Management and Budget, covering public and affordable housing, homelessness programs, and social services. He began his career at the Brownsville Partnership, a community organization in Brooklyn, where he served on the leadership team, led its housing work, and oversaw a team that served over 300 families facing eviction each year. Bryan has a law degree from New York University School of Law and a B.A. in economics from Georgetown University. He is a native of Pittsburgh, PA.

Kayla Zimmer is a seasoned nonprofit leader with nearly a decade of experience driving mission-focused operations and empowering teams. As Deputy Director at The Waterfront Project, she oversees organizational strategy, programs, and personnel management, having progressed through multiple roles of increasing responsibility. Kayla holds a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership from Fordham University and is a HUD-Certified Housing Counselor. She is passionate about fostering inclusive cultures, developing innovative solutions, and improving community outcomes through collaboration, empathy, and strategic vision.