Balakrishnan Rajagopal is currently a Professor of Law and Development at the Department of Urban Studies and Planning and the founder of the Displacement Research and Action Network at MIT. He was the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing from 2020-2026. He has more than 25 years of experience in researching and publishing on international law, critical analyses of development and human rights, social movements, displacement, land, property and housing. He is recognized as a leading participant in the Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL) Network of scholars and as one of its founders. He was an invited member of the Expert Group convened by the UN at its Fourth Summit on Least Developed Countries in Istanbul in 2011 and an Expert member of the academic advisory committee to the UN Secretary General’s 2023 Report on Inclusive Policies and Programmes to address Homelessness. He has been a human rights advisor to the World Commission on Dams, and to several UN bodies and INGOs. He has been a Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars in Washington, DC, the Madras Institute of Development Studies, the Jawaharlal Nehru University, the Institute for Advanced Studies at Hebrew University and Stellebosch University, and a Visiting Professor at Cambridge University, UN University for Peace, University of Melbourne Law School and the Washington College of Law, the American University. He is or has been on the editorial committee or advisory boards of numerous journals including Transnational Legal Theory, Law and Development Review, Jindal Global Law Review and the Indian Law Review. Prior to his academic career, he served for many years with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia and received Cambodia’s highest Royal Award for foreign nationals from the King of Cambodia (Royal Order of Sahametrei, 1997). He has published numerous scholarly articles in leading law and social science journals and chapters in various volumes. He is the author/editor of five books including International Law from Below: Development, Social Movements and Third World Resistance (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003), and most recently Critical Issues in Human Rights and Development (co-editor, Edward Elgar, 2021) and thirteen substantive UN reports and three country reports as UN Rapporteur. His work has been translated into Chinese, Spanish, and French. He also publishes and features widely in the media on human rights and international law issues including the BBC, CNN, WGBH/NPR, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, the Guardian, Al Jazeera, the Wire, the Interview (with Karan Thapar), the Print, DW (Germany) and many others and has been a columnist at Huffington Post and the Indian Express.

Krystle Crawford is a Garden State Leader and Chair of the Union County Advisory Board, where she advocates for meaningful community engagement and ensuring that residents and families have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. Her leadership is grounded in a commitment to strengthening communities and addressing the barriers that can prevent individuals and families from achieving stability and security. Through her work with families, children, and community partners, Krystle brings a compassionate, community-centered perspective to the conversation around homelessness and housing. She believes that housing is more than a roof over someone’s head, it is a foundation for dignity, stability, opportunity, and the ability to build a better future.

Michelle Griffith is a dedicated community leader and advocate whose work is rooted in compassion, service, and lived experience. Raised in Miami, Florida, she spent most of her life in New York before relocating to Toms River, NJ, in 2014 after being severely impacted by Hurricane Sandy. After experiencing homelessness due to a medical condition, Michelle turned that difficult chapter into a powerful commitment to advocacy. Today, she serves as Chairperson of the Ocean County DCA Advisory Board and is a member of the DCA Statewide Advisory Board, the Ocean County Continuum of Care Executive Committee, and the Ocean County Homelessness Trust Fund Executive Committee/Board. She is also a passionate advocate for seniors and a proud Garden State Leaders graduate. In 2018, Michelle spoke before Congress at Monarch’s Congressional Reception. Known affectionately as “The Mayor,” Michelle believes everyone deserves dignity, stability, and a safe place to call home. She builds connections, supports others, and works to eradicate homelessness by challenging the systems and barriers that allow it to persist. She continues working to strengthen the systems that serve people experiencing homelessness. Michelle leads with heart, shows up with purpose, and keeps giving back.

Tosha Rutledge is a dedicated advocate and community leader with nearly a decade of experience working in the fields of addiction recovery, homelessness services, and peer support. Throughout her career, Tosha has worked alongside individuals navigating substance use, mental health challenges, homelessness, and difficult life circumstances, providing support, advocacy, and connections to resources that promote stability and recovery. Tosha serves as a board member of the Tri-County Continuum of Care, Recovery Advocates, and the NJ Peer Coalition. She also serves as a contracted Peer Specialist with the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office, supporting community-based efforts that connect individuals with resources, recovery services, and opportunities for positive change. Through her professional and community work, Tosha is committed to empowering individuals to recognize their strengths, overcome barriers, and move forward with hope and perseverance. She is passionate about advocacy and believes that with compassion, support, and opportunity, individuals can overcome challenges and create meaningful pathways toward recovery and stability.

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.

April De Simone is a transdisciplinary practitioner who leads a portfolio of purpose driven companies. Her work is grounded in the belief that the values of an open and free society should be reflected in the systems and places that shape everyday life. Her practice examines how those values take form through policy, design, investment, and public life. She works across sectors and scales to build structures that strengthen agency, stewardship, and long term public value. Ms. De Simone’s work ranges from national initiatives to deeply local efforts. She has developed public impact campaigns, exhibitions, federal resources, and place based strategies. Much of her practice is rooted in working alongside local leaders who already understand the possibilities within their communities. She helps connect that knowledge to research, design, planning, and investment resources that can move ideas forward. Ms. De Simone has led nationally recognized initiatives including Undesign the Redline and more recently, The Practice of Democracy. The Practice of Democracy explores how the principles that sustain a democratic society are carried through everyday choices, institutions, and environments. The immersive exhibition was presented on the High Line in New York City and has received several local and national awards. Her research has also been presented alongside scholars Richard Rothstein and Dr. Mindy Fullilove. Her collaborators have included global firms like Gensler, to local impact organizations that includes the Andrew Freedman Home. In 2022, a personal experience trying to preserve a neighborhood property revealed the limitations of conventional real estate and financing systems. Ms. De Simone responded by launching Vesi, combining components of existing real estate models to launch a neighborhood development trust. The platform demonstrates how neighborhood real estate can better reflect principles of shared stewardship and self-determination. Vesi brings residential, commercial, and cultural assets into purpose driven structures for long term public benefit. Its model is designed to keep more of the value created through place rooted locally. It creates pathways to stable housing and ownership while supporting local enterprise and community reinvestment. Her upbringing in the Bronx, New York on the front lines of society's most pressing challenges underpins more than three decades examining how systems shape the conditions of everyday life. Across her work, she is interested in a fundamental question: how can the places and institutions people encounter reflect their inherent worth and their capacity to shape their own lives? Her work has been recognized by Enterprise Community Partners’ Impactful 40 and with the Public Service Award from New York University and the New York Housing Conference. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from New York University. She earned a Master of Science in Design and Urban Ecologies from Parsons School of Design and a Master of Architecture from the Michael Graves School of Public Architecture.

Jerrod Delaine is the Chief Executive Officer of The Delaine Companies, a native of South Florida with roots in the Miami Lakes and Miramar communities. He holds a Bachelor's Degree and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Architecture from Florida A & M University School of Architecture and Environmental Technology, as well as a Master of Science degree from New York University Schack Institute of Real Estate. With over a decade of experience as a seasoned Real Estate Developer, Jerrod has honed a comprehensive skill set encompassing Design, Construction, Finance, Affordable Housing, and Asset Management. During the initial five years of his career at Forum Architecture and Interior Design, Jerrod primarily focused on project managing affordable housing projects in the southeast region of the United States. As an academic, he serves as an adjunct professor at both NYU, his alma mater, and Pratt, where he educates Graduate and Undergraduate students on development, public-private partnerships, urban economics, and portfolio management. Following eight years as the Director of Development at Carthage Real Estate Advisors, Jerrod established himself as a thought leader in urban housing policy. He is a founding member of The Delaine Companies, a value-based company that is dedicated to leveraging access to capital markets to enhance communities through real estate finance and development.

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.

DeSantis is an attorney, educator, mediator, and co-founder of TTTP. He also directs the organization's Social Action Lab, helping young people translate policy research into meaningful civic action. The Teen Think Tank Project (TTTP) is a youth-led civic engagement and public-policy organization that empowers young people to research complex social issues, develop solutions, and participate directly in the democratic process. Through its Change Agent Academy and Social Action Lab, TTTP moves students from research to real-world advocacy and community action. TTTP students have worked alongside organizations including the Monmouth Housing Coalition, Affordable Housing Alliance, Fair Share Housing Center, and Boys & Girls Clubs, and have taken their advocacy directly to policymakers in Trenton and Washington, D.C. The Social Action Lab's current work focuses on housing affordability and housing insecurity, giving young people firsthand experience with community engagement, public policy, and legislative advocacy.

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.

Kate Kelly became Executive Director of the Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey (SHA) in 2025 after joining the organization in 2021 to lead its Integrated Community Project and then serve as its Associate Executive Director. She dedicates her work to advance SHA’s mission to strengthen supportive housing and expand opportunities for people with special needs across New Jersey. As a connector and advocate, Kate builds partnerships across sectors and centers the voices of people with lived experience. Kate brings over twenty-five years of non-profit experience in housing policy and advocacy. Past experience includes Public Policy Associate at Monarch Housing Associates and managing the Partnership for Strong Communities in Connecticut's statewide campaign to expand supportive housing access. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Government from the University of Notre Dame and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Connecticut.

Taiisa Kelly serves as Monarch Housing Associate’s Chief Executive Officer with 19 years of experience in the housing justice space. A dedicated advocate for social justice, Taiisa is guided by the foundational believe that Housing is a Human Right and has committed her career to addressing housing insecurity and homelessness across New Jersey. As CEO, Taiisa provides cutting edge leadership building on Monarch’s strengths to convene partners in an iterative process of developing and implementing solutions in the housing space. She has spearheaded the development of advisory boards of persons with lived expertise in homelessness to co-develop solutions in end homelessness throughout communities across the state. She has also created New Jersey’s first BIPOC Developers Collaborative focused on addressing the barriers to entry into the affordable housing development space for black, brown, and emerging developers. Drawing on Monarch’s deep-rooted knowledge of community challenges and macro-level statewide trends, Taiisa guides Monarch’s public policy and advocacy work to address systemic and structural challenges to creating affordable housing and ending homelessness. She has focused Monarch’s advocacy work on policy, process, and resources to achieve comprehensive, long-lasting change. Taiisa works closely with impacted communities, advocates, providers and elected officials at the municipal, county and state level to build and implement solutions rooted in racial equity and best practices, driving towards a New Jersey where every person has a safe place to call home. Taiisa first joined Monarch in 2006 working with the agency’s housing development team. In 2007, she transitioned to the homeless planning team and quickly assumed a leadership role serving as team lead from 2008 to 2018. In 2019 Taiisa was named Monarch’s CEO. Outside of the work she does with Monarch, Taiisa lends her support and expertise to work in the community. She 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 was named to the NJBIZ 2024 Commercial Real Estate Power List and ROI-NJ Influencers: Real Estate 2024. She recently served on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation JEGNA Council, and currently serves on several boards including, Nourish NJ Board of Directors, United Black Agenda, Housing Community Development Network of New Jersey Board of Directors, City of Newark Commission on Homelessness, Enterprise Community Leadership Council, Enterprise Community Development Corporation Board, and National Coalition for the Homeless Board.

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.

Brandon L. McGee, Jr. is a results-driven public sector executive and policy leader serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Connecticut Social Equity Council. In this role, he leads the state’s efforts to advance equity, economic inclusion, and community reinvestment within Connecticut’s regulated cannabis industry—overseeing strategy, compliance, and the deployment of millions in community-focused investments across disproportionately impacted areas. A native of Hartford, Connecticut, McGee has dedicated his career to public service, equity-driven policymaking, and community empowerment. His leadership journey began early, when he served as President of the NAACP Youth & College Division for the state of Alabama from 2004 to 2006. During this time, he built relationships with national civil rights leaders, including the late Rosa Parks, whose mentorship helped shape his lifelong commitment to justice and public leadership. At age 28, McGee was elected to the Connecticut General Assembly, representing the 5th District for over a decade. During his tenure, he established himself as a thoughtful and effective legislator, advancing policies focused on housing stability, educational access, criminal justice reform, and economic opportunity. He served as Chair of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus and held key roles on the Appropriations, Housing, Education, and Human Services Committees—positions that allowed him to influence both fiscal policy and long-term structural investments in Connecticut communities. Following his legislative service, McGee was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Housing (2022–2024), where he played a critical role in shaping statewide housing strategies, expanding access to affordable housing, and strengthening partnerships between government, developers, and community stakeholders. As CEO of the Social Equity Council, McGee now operates at the intersection of policy, economic development, and social impact—building a first-in-the-nation framework that ensures equity is not just aspirational, but measurable, enforceable, and embedded within a regulated marketplace. His leadership reflects a broader vision: aligning public policy with real-world outcomes that expand access, create opportunity, and drive sustainable community transformation. McGee holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Alabama State University and a Master of Science in Management and Organizational Leadership from Albertus Magnus College.

Dr. Jermaine Meadows serves as the Director of Government Affairs for the Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS® (HGAR), where he leads the association’s legislative and policy strategy across New York City. Most recently, Dr. Meadows secured nearly $400,000 in grant funding through the National and New York State Associations of REALTORS® to launch a citywide education campaign in support of Ballot Proposal 3, a key initiative to streamline New York City’s land use process and expand housing opportunities. In his role, Dr. Meadows leverages his extensive experience in government relations and public policy to strengthen collaboration between real estate professionals, elected officials, and community leaders. His work focuses on advancing inclusive housing policy, driving economic mobility, and ensuring equitable access to homeownership for New Yorkers. Before joining HGAR, Dr. Meadows served as Associate Director of Local Government Affairs at Everytown for Gun Safety, where he successfully led multi-city policy initiatives that secured millions in funding for gun violence prevention and community-based programs. His track record reflects a deep understanding of how policy, advocacy, and funding intersect to create lasting community impact. Beyond his policy leadership, Dr. Meadows is the founder of The Neighborhood Role Model, a social impact platform focused on addressing mental health disparities, strengthening community connections, and empowering individuals through education and expressive arts. Through The Neighborhood Role Model, Dr. Meadows works with schools throughout New York City to support social-emotional learning, strengthen school communities, and help educators and students navigate the challenges that shape their experiences. His work with educators centers on creating space to reflect on their purpose, redefine their “why,” and identify the tools and support they need to thrive in their work. Alongside students, he helps create opportunities for self-expression, emotional intelligence, self-regulation, and personal growth—supporting young people as they explore their purpose, understand their needs, and develop the skills needed for success. His school-based work reflects his broader belief that meaningful change begins when we invest in both the people and the systems that shape their lives. By bringing educators and students into the same conversation, Dr. Meadows helps bridge the gap between classroom learning, personal development, and community impact. At his core, Dr. Meadows believes that policy is the blueprint for progress, and that real change begins when we align vision, resources, and community voices to build a stronger, more inclusive future for all.

Wayne T. Meyer is President of Brick By Brick Training & Development Corporation, a nonprofit focused on building generational wealth through affordable homeownership and community-centered real estate investment. Previously, he served as President of New Jersey Community Capital for over 12 years where he led a transformative strategy that deployed $1.7 billion in loans and investments benefiting more than 100,000 individuals and families nationwide. Earlier, as Director of Housing at HANDS, Inc. in Orange, New Jersey, Mr. Meyer led a place-based revitalization effort that developed over 400 affordable housing units and catalyzed neighborhood stability and reinvestment. An attorney and retired CPA, he holds a Juris Doctor from Seton Hall University Law School and a Bachelor of Administration from Siena College. In 2022, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Rutgers University- Newark.

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.

Scott Mullarkey is a Vice President/CRA Investment Officer in TD Bank's Community Capital Group where he is a market manager covering equity investments for New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. He was previously a Loan Manager in the Supportive Housing Division of the New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency. Scott has graduated from William Paterson University (BA-Political Science; MBA-Finance) and the University of Pennsylvania (Master of Urban Spatial Analytics) and is finishing up studies at the University of Oxford (MSc in Sustainable Urban Development program).

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.

Joe Quarantello – Brown & Brown National Environmental Practice Leader. Over 45 years of environmental and consultative insurance experience with a concentration on non-profit, municipal and commercial real estate firms in addressing significant environmental issues within their portfolio of sites. Providing analysis, identification, design, and execution of insurance and non-insurance solutions. Focus on alignment with client's financial business development strategies. Joe has been with Brown & Brown for the past 17 years.

Asish Patel, is the Chief Operating Officer at Monarch Housing Associates, a non-profit corporation dedicated to the "right to housing" for all persons and to the development of permanent, affordable, and supportive housing. During the past 32 years at Monarch, he has worked on numerous projects including condos, single/multi-family homes, apartments, and commercial spaces. His work has led to the development of over 3,000 units of housing throughout all 21 counties in New Jersey. He graduated from the New Jersey Institute of Technology with a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, and a Masters' Degree in Management. He completed the Pratt Institute's Community and Economic Development Internship Program, and the Enterprise's Leadership Institute. Asish serves on the Board of SHANJ as well as Integrity House, and is the Vice Chair of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York's Affordable Housing Advisory Council.

Rev. Mark-Anthony Rassmann, Sr. has spent more than two decades proving that faith in God, paired with bricks and mortar, can rebuild a community. As Pastor of Greater Mt. Pisgah Church of Haddonfield, he has led a congregation through one of its darkest moments and into one of its brightest. When a roofer's torch burned the church's 126-year-old sanctuary to the ground in 2006, Mark-Anthony didn't just rebuild a building. He rebuilt a community, uniting a small, aging African American congregation with a neighboring Episcopal parish across lines of race and denomination, and guiding the church to a new home dedicated in 2010 under a new name and a new promise: "God's Place of Grace, Where Everyone Receives a Second Chance." That instinct to restore what's broken carries directly into his work as CEO, President, and Owner of Levi Construction General Contractors, LLC, the Black, minority-owned company he has led since 2012. Levi Construction has become a mission-driven force in disaster recovery, and Mark-Anthony has been there in person for every one, answering the call after Hurricane Katrina, Superstorm Sandy, and Hurricane Ida. In post-Katrina New Orleans, he led his team through extreme conditions, often without power, water, or reliable supply chains, establishing temporary living and working quarters just to keep construction moving at scale. After Sandy devastated the Jersey Shore in 2011, Mark-Anthony partnered with the Atlantic City Housing Authority, the City of Atlantic City, and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority to rebuild 100 homes across five city blocks, revitalizing an entire community. When Hurricane Irma struck, his team had 21 workers on the ground in Louisiana within two days, installing tarps and stabilizing homes before FEMA funding windows closed. Levi Construction's motto is his life's mission statement: "Builders of People, Places & Things." Mark-Anthony has recently carried that mission further as CEO of Genesis Revitalization Group, a nonprofit dedicated to rebuilding Atlantic City's historic Northside through new housing construction, home rehabilitation, and pathways to homeownership for low and moderate-income families. Genesis also operates a Day Habilitation program serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, extending Mark-Anthony's commitment to building people, not just places. His leadership has not gone unnoticed. Mark-Anthony has been recognized by Marquis Who's Who Top Executives for his dedication, achievements, and leadership in construction and entrepreneurship, and honored by the Bi-County Business Roundtable for his impact on the region. Before any of this, Mark-Anthony served in the Atlantic City Police Department's K-9 unit from 1989 to 2006, earning multiple commendations for bravery in the line of duty. He holds a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary and degrees from Richard Stockton State College and Atlantic Cape Community College. Mark-Anthony is the devoted son of William and retired Presiding Elder Lynda T. Rassmann, whose faith and entrepreneurial spirit shaped the man he became. He is a dutiful father to four grown children, Brittany, Tinysia, Erica, and Mark-Anthony Jr., and a doting grandfather who lights up at the names of his grandchildren. But anyone who knows Mark-Anthony knows that Ricco, his loyal King Shepherd, holds a special place in his life, a steady source of joy and peace. In fact, you don't even need to see Mark-Anthony to know he's coming. Just look for Ricco's head out the window of his truck, rain or shine, announcing that the boss is here. For Mark-Anthony, everything he does ultimately points back to the same conviction: his faith in God, his faith in family, and his faith in community are what you build first, and everything else will follow.

Laura Rowan is a dedicated recovery advocate, case manager, and Certified Peer Recovery Specialist at Angels in Motion (AIM). Having personally experienced homelessness and addiction, Laura draws upon her lived experience and long-term recovery to connect with individuals facing similar challenges with compassion, understanding, and hope. She helps people overcome barriers, access treatment and supportive services, and build stable, meaningful lives. Laura has strengthened partnerships among recovery organizations and workforce programs throughout Atlantic County. She also helped establish a countywide support group for Certified Peer Recovery Specialists, allowing peers to share resources, coordinate outreach events, and work together more effectively to serve their communities.

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.

Ayaan is a TTTP Research Fellow and high school senior whose work combines public-policy research, civic engagement, and youth advocacy. The Teen Think Tank Project (TTTP) is a youth-led civic engagement and public-policy organization that empowers young people to research complex social issues, develop solutions, and participate directly in the democratic process. Through its Change Agent Academy and Social Action Lab, TTTP moves students from research to real-world advocacy and community action. TTTP students have worked alongside organizations including the Monmouth Housing Coalition, Affordable Housing Alliance, Fair Share Housing Center, and Boys & Girls Clubs, and have taken their advocacy directly to policymakers in Trenton and Washington, D.C. The Social Action Lab's current work focuses on housing affordability and housing insecurity, giving young people firsthand experience with community engagement, public policy, and legislative advocacy.

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.

Antonio Miguel Valla is the founder of Uptown Development which is a Newark-based real estate development and advisory company and has been working on urban development projects in Newark since 2008. The focus of the firm is the renovation and development of mixed-use and residential properties in Newark, NJ with special attention to double-bottom-line investments with social impact. Antonio’s past projects include the $150m Teachers Village project located in Downtown, the AeroFarms industrial project located in the Ironbound section, a 391 bed dormitory for Rutgers-Newark. Recent work by Uptown includes schools, arts spaces, affordable housing, and mixed-use renovations.

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.

Jiya is a member of TTTP's Social Action Lab, where she researches housing affordability and related public-policy issues and participates in community and legislative advocacy. The Teen Think Tank Project (TTTP) is a youth-led civic engagement and public-policy organization that empowers young people to research complex social issues, develop solutions, and participate directly in the democratic process. Through its Change Agent Academy and Social Action Lab, TTTP moves students from research to real-world advocacy and community action. TTTP students have worked alongside organizations including the Monmouth Housing Coalition, Affordable Housing Alliance, Fair Share Housing Center, and Boys & Girls Clubs, and have taken their advocacy directly to policymakers in Trenton and Washington, D.C. The Social Action Lab's current work focuses on housing affordability and housing insecurity, giving young people firsthand experience with community engagement, public policy, and legislative advocacy.

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.

Mitchell Zupko is a public servant and the Director of Policy and Legislation for State Senator Troy Singleton (D – LD7). He began his career performing candidate self-vetting tasks, media monitoring, tracking, and conducting other research tasks for statewide and federal races across the country. His research has appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Politico, the Philadelphia Inquirer, CNN’s K-File, and other outlets. Mitchell began his government service in the office of then Assemblyman, now Congressman Herb Conaway, as a Constituent Services aide. Over the course of five years, Mitchell worked his way up to Chief of Staff before leaving to attend graduate school. Mitchell currently has the privilege of working for Senator Troy Singleton to represent many constituents in his home county of Burlington. Senator Singleton is the Majority Caucus Chair, Chair of the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee, and Vice Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator Singleton is acutely aware of the affordable, missing-middle, and workforce, housing shortage in New Jersey. One of the Senator’s top priorities this session is to pass legislation related to stranded assets, ADU’s, Faith based housing (YIGBY), and other bills that seek to address a lack of affordable housing supply. Mitchell has a Bachelor of Science in Economics from The George Washington University, where he also majored in Political Science. He has a Master degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University. He currently resides in Haddonfield with his wife, Ashley.