Turning Vacant Spaces into Vibrant Places with Kathleen J. Guillaume-Delemar

In this inspiring episode of WAHNcast, WAHN President & CEO Ashley Northcutt sits down with Kathleen Guillaume-Delemar, President and CEO of the Center for Community Progress. Kat shares her remarkable journey from growing up in Brooklyn in the shadow of entrenched poverty and systemic inequities, to becoming a nationally recognized leader in community revitalization.

With candor and passion, Kat discusses how her lived experience informs her leadership, why she believes in “daring to dream,” and how vacant and abandoned properties can be transformed into community assets. She also unpacks the role of policy, philanthropy, and unlikely allies in creating dignified, affordable housing—and makes a powerful case against the criminalization of poverty.

This is a conversation about resilience, justice, and the possibility of building communities where everyone belongs.  

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
Welcome to WAHNcast the official podcast of the Women's Affordable Housing Network.
This is our space to connect, get real, and talk about what's really happening in housing.
From bold leadership to resident stories that ground us in purpose.
We're here to amplify voices, strengthen each other, and share the kind of conversations you'd have with a friend who gets it.

(00:21):
Because when our voices are amplified, our communities grow stronger, and so do we. 6 00:00:28,109.932 --> 00:00:37,679.932 Our host for this episode is Ashley Northcutt, president and CEO of Juan, who leads our mission to amplify voices, strengthen connections, and build equity across the affordable housing industry. 7 00:00:38,69.932 --> 00:00:49,589.932 Ashley will be joined by our honored guest, Kathleen Guillaume, Delamar, president and CEO of the Center for Community Progress with more than two decades of leadership and community development and philanthropy. 8 00:00:49,979.932 --> 00:00:59,99.932 Kat brings not only deep expertise, but also a profound personal conviction to ending poverty, vacancy, and breathing new life in a communities on the brink. 9 00:00:59,999.932 --> 00:01:03,929.932 Her journey isn't just professional, it's rooted in lived experience. 10 00:01:04,229.932 --> 00:01:18,989.932 From serving on Glen Bernard and Maryland City Council, where she made history as the first Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latina, Haitian American member to shaping national policy and innovation, Kat has been a powerful force for equity and change across the country. 11 00:01:19,484.932 --> 00:01:30,974.932 In this episode, Ashley and Kat will explore how lived experience shapes leadership, how to build equity-focused community solutions, and what it takes to keep daring to dream in the face of systemic challenges. 12 00:01:32,615.336818182 --> 00:01:42,455.33681818 Okay, Kat, so I wanna hear more about you growing up and more about how experienced in the communities you lived in growing up inform your leadership today. 13 00:01:43,490.33681818 --> 00:01:50,390.33681818 I'll start backwards here and say that I am apologetically. 14 00:01:51,560.33681818 --> 00:02:04,170.33681818 A leader who leads from a place of trauma who leads from a place of being human centered who leads from a place of first person account. 15 00:02:05,970.33681818 --> 00:02:15,240.33681818 And that's important because oftentimes, and I'll say this, I remember growing up watching TV and just seeing how society operated. 16 00:02:15,765.33681818 --> 00:02:20,565.33681818 It was important to be a leader with the titles and the accolades that came with it. 17 00:02:21,285.33681818 --> 00:02:35,595.33681818 But once I started living into my calling and working into my calling, I realized that my lived experience, in addition to of course, my work qualifications was from superpower. 18 00:02:36,435.33681818 --> 00:02:39,885.33681818 So I, I definitely wanna say that as I start off. 19 00:02:45,90.33681818 --> 00:02:49,650.33681818 Very strong Asian American, first generation, Asian American household. 20 00:02:50,580.33681818 --> 00:02:52,170.33681818 I grew up in Brooklyn, New York. 21 00:02:53,130.33681818 --> 00:02:54,840.33681818 I could not tell from your accent. 22 00:02:56,580.33681818 --> 00:02:59,790.33681818 See, I didn't say walk or talk or coffee. 23 00:03:00,450.33681818 --> 00:03:01,140.33681818 Not yet. 24 00:03:01,200.33681818 --> 00:03:01,800.33681818 Not yet. 25 00:03:03,330.33681818 --> 00:03:03,810.33681818 Not yet. 26 00:03:03,860.33681818 --> 00:03:04,210.33681818 Water. 27 00:03:04,500.33681818 --> 00:03:04,850.33681818 Water. 28 00:03:05,850.33681818 --> 00:03:06,470.33681818 But, and I. 29 00:03:08,355.33681818 --> 00:03:10,725.33681818 DC metro area for so long. 30 00:03:11,295.33681818 --> 00:03:17,955.33681818 But growing up in Brooklyn, New York, I saw all types of isms play out. 31 00:03:19,485.33681818 --> 00:03:30,375.33681818 So my mother, it wouldn't be fair for me to tell my story without touching the impact of how my mother's experience really shaped how I would really come into this world. 32 00:03:30,855.33681818 --> 00:03:34,695.33681818 So my mother is of Haitian descent. 33 00:03:35,190.33681818 --> 00:03:40,740.33681818 And she was, I would say probably third generation, born into entrenched poverty. 34 00:03:40,740.33681818 --> 00:03:41,970.33681818 It might be the fourth. 35 00:03:42,0.33681818 --> 00:03:42,30.33681818 Okay. 36 00:03:42,810.33681818 --> 00:03:44,700.33681818 And she was a scholar. 37 00:03:44,700.33681818 --> 00:03:49,800.33681818 She was afforded an opportunity to study medicine in Spain. 38 00:03:50,40.33681818 --> 00:03:52,365.33681818 So here it is, poor, but going to study Wow. 39 00:03:52,585.33681818 --> 00:03:53,45.33681818 In Spain. 40 00:03:54,405.33681818 --> 00:03:58,55.33681818 Yeah, she fell in love had my brother, but that didn't work out. 41 00:03:58,685.33681818 --> 00:04:02,705.33681818 She went back, finished medical school or attempt to finish medical school. 42 00:04:03,95.33681818 --> 00:04:13,865.33681818 She fell in part times and I always tell people, especially in this climate where we can now talk about it more freely, mental health is real. 43 00:04:14,445.33681818 --> 00:04:16,815.33681818 And back then, this is the seventies. 44 00:04:18,315.33681818 --> 00:04:24,75.33681818 It wasn't something that not, it wasn't something that wouldn't even probably attach to themselves. 45 00:04:24,75.33681818 --> 00:04:36,45.33681818 They just probably assumed that this was just a part of life and she fell on some really hard times and she experienced homelessness. 46 00:04:36,235.33681818 --> 00:04:38,125.33681818 And that she experienced homelessness. 47 00:04:38,125.33681818 --> 00:04:43,285.33681818 She had to make decisions for shelter, for housing. 48 00:04:43,340.33681818 --> 00:04:49,380.33681818 Just her predecessors, meaning my grandmother and great-grandmother, like the fish that they had to make. 49 00:04:50,640.33681818 --> 00:05:00,0.33681818 So my mother had to make a decision for shelter and one of decisions that she had to make was to utilize her body for something that would just be considered a basic, right. 50 00:05:00,470.33681818 --> 00:05:02,285.33681818 And I was a product that sacrificed. 51 00:05:03,575.33681818 --> 00:05:09,415.33681818 So I occupied, literally occupied her womb As she was experiencing homelessness. 52 00:05:10,615.33681818 --> 00:05:26,395.33681818 Now, of course, I didn't know that the depth of this story until I turned 21, but it shaped a lot of the experiences that I had because I would always question my mother's decisions when I was younger. 53 00:05:26,525.33681818 --> 00:05:36,595.33681818 in New York So after space, she left and came to being in New York with my brother, my mother, and myself. 54 00:05:36,865.33681818 --> 00:05:40,675.33681818 My mother also had an insignificant other, she finished medical school. 55 00:05:41,65.33681818 --> 00:05:57,535.33681818 She's now on welfare and her insignificant other was on crack cocaine And we lived in a community that one would call disinvested, underrepresented predominantly black and brown community vacant lot next door. 56 00:05:57,535.33681818 --> 00:06:00,145.33681818 It used to be a house that was, it burned down. 57 00:06:00,265.33681818 --> 00:06:01,615.33681818 Nobody ever did anything with. 58 00:06:01,735.33681818 --> 00:06:03,625.33681818 I remember the woman that lived there. 59 00:06:03,625.33681818 --> 00:06:05,305.33681818 It burned down to crisp. 60 00:06:06,120.33681818 --> 00:06:08,910.33681818 House that is, and it became a vacant lock above corner. 61 00:06:08,910.33681818 --> 00:06:15,710.33681818 Another, and my mother's insignificant other was abusing me every single way of the word. 62 00:06:18,270.33681818 --> 00:06:23,370.33681818 And if he wasn't in the house, he was not with the drug dealer and the drug addicts in. 63 00:06:25,710.33681818 --> 00:06:27,30.33681818 And what I saw was. 64 00:06:28,845.33681818 --> 00:06:30,795.33681818 I'm black, I'm a girl. 65 00:06:30,795.33681818 --> 00:06:33,615.33681818 I'm a I, I'm a Haitian de. 66 00:06:34,35.33681818 --> 00:06:37,815.33681818 I just but a Haitian descent and I'm a poor. 67 00:06:38,475.33681818 --> 00:06:49,695.33681818 And I saw how invisible where I live and what I was experiencing. 68 00:06:49,935.33681818 --> 00:06:53,370.33681818 And why Is this person still in the house? Why is he. 69 00:06:55,770.33681818 --> 00:06:57,450.33681818 My mother made a decision. 70 00:06:57,540.33681818 --> 00:07:00,770.33681818 My mother, at the time, I know I was resentful. 71 00:07:00,770.33681818 --> 00:07:03,110.33681818 I'm very close to my mother, but I was resentful. 72 00:07:03,110.33681818 --> 00:07:18,170.33681818 I didn't like, why would you allow this person to stay? But knowing that she would not want to now experience homelessness was too by her side, and also realizing that the one time that did that, he was put out. 73 00:07:19,40.33681818 --> 00:07:21,530.33681818 I'll never forget the sheriffs came knocking on the door. 74 00:07:21,680.33681818 --> 00:07:24,440.33681818 Banging on my door said, you're about to be evicted. 75 00:07:24,710.33681818 --> 00:07:30,890.33681818 I dunno how my mother did what she did, but we ended up staying because on Crook Avenue in Brooklyn, New York. 76 00:07:32,665.33681818 --> 00:07:40,75.33681818 And so I knew from then on that I wanted to take on a path. 77 00:07:41,570.33681818 --> 00:07:48,920.33681818 Of representing the communities that I stem from and to make sure that I made the visible. 78 00:07:50,420.33681818 --> 00:08:05,270.33681818 So that's why when you ask, my leadership and how do I lead, I started off with, I lead from a place of trauma because it's important for me to know and to keep the poll of what they have through. 79 00:08:05,980.33681818 --> 00:08:06,640.33681818 All that she does. 80 00:08:06,800.33681818 --> 00:08:07,620.33681818 I see little Kat. 81 00:08:07,640.33681818 --> 00:08:08,400.33681818 I see my mother. 82 00:08:08,560.33681818 --> 00:08:09,240.33681818 I see my brother. 83 00:08:09,400.33681818 --> 00:08:11,320.33681818 I see everyone in the work that I do. 84 00:08:11,570.33681818 --> 00:08:17,525.33681818 Especially as it to affordable development, which is so powerful to have a leader like you. 85 00:08:17,525.33681818 --> 00:08:19,715.33681818 I can't not recognize that. 86 00:08:19,715.33681818 --> 00:08:26,255.33681818 I got chills, and I'm sure the listeners are getting chills listening to your story for people that have not come from a background of that. 87 00:08:26,285.33681818 --> 00:08:31,175.33681818 And what I really love about your story is that you came to a place of. 88 00:08:31,315.33681818 --> 00:08:35,275.33681818 Such respect for your mom and understanding her decisions. 89 00:08:35,275.33681818 --> 00:08:36,715.33681818 'cause that's very hard. 90 00:08:36,985.33681818 --> 00:08:45,895.33681818 And to have a leader like you in this space that has had some of the worst to then come and bring life to these communities is so amazing. 91 00:08:46,675.33681818 --> 00:08:47,605.33681818 So amazing. 92 00:08:48,55.33681818 --> 00:08:48,235.33681818 Thank you. 93 00:08:48,415.33681818 --> 00:08:49,165.33681818 Yes. 94 00:08:49,745.33681818 --> 00:08:57,915.33681818 So in your journey, what led you to Center for Community Progress? Like I know that's where you are now, and obviously you have very wise decisions. 95 00:08:57,915.33681818 --> 00:08:58,5.33681818 Yes. 96 00:08:58,5.33681818 --> 00:09:03,315.33681818 So I would love to hear about what led you there and what excites you most about leading this organization now. 97 00:09:05,25.33681818 --> 00:09:05,385.33681818 Thank you. 98 00:09:05,385.33681818 --> 00:09:10,965.33681818 So in all fairness, I want to add a disclaimer. 99 00:09:11,145.33681818 --> 00:09:14,985.33681818 I was going to say the universe, but I am a person of deep faith. 100 00:09:14,985.33681818 --> 00:09:16,365.33681818 We're not a faith-based organization. 101 00:09:16,365.33681818 --> 00:09:23,685.33681818 I'm a person of deep faith and I have to say that God has truly led my path and got me to community progress. 102 00:09:23,885.33681818 --> 00:09:25,115.33681818 I didn't realize that. 103 00:09:25,115.33681818 --> 00:09:25,865.33681818 Community progress. 104 00:09:27,5.33681818 --> 00:09:27,485.33681818 Excuse me. 105 00:09:27,485.33681818 --> 00:09:32,315.33681818 I didn't realize that I needed community progress more than community progress needed me. 106 00:09:33,725.33681818 --> 00:09:36,820.33681818 So that's a dream job then There are some Oh yeah. 107 00:09:36,820.33681818 --> 00:09:36,935.33681818 Oh yeah. 108 00:09:37,295.33681818 --> 00:09:42,925.33681818 There are some amazing people who I have come across that I knew I never would've come across. 109 00:09:43,255.33681818 --> 00:09:46,345.33681818 And so where, how I came to community progress. 110 00:09:47,365.33681818 --> 00:09:51,55.33681818 I was in the path of community development since I was in college. 111 00:09:51,55.33681818 --> 00:09:54,655.33681818 I left New York when I was 18 and went to. 112 00:09:55,270.33681818 --> 00:10:04,360.33681818 Howard University in Washington, DC So I in think while there I interned at the Equal Rights Center, which is now the National Fair Health and Alliance. 113 00:10:04,360.33681818 --> 00:10:14,225.33681818 I worked at Jubilee Housing as a director I, which provided affordable housing, coupled with holistic services to people with low to very low incomes. 114 00:10:14,740.33681818 --> 00:10:18,220.33681818 I then decided to go deeper into the space. 115 00:10:18,595.33681818 --> 00:10:22,675.33681818 Instead what? I wanna still see what my mother had to experience. 116 00:10:22,675.33681818 --> 00:10:27,465.33681818 I worked for Miriam's Kitchen which mission was the end? Chronic homelessness. 117 00:10:28,155.33681818 --> 00:10:34,75.33681818 And then, progress came along because I was like, okay, I'm doing all these local things. 118 00:10:34,765.33681818 --> 00:10:38,845.33681818 I decided to start doing regional things and regionally I. 119 00:10:39,880.33681818 --> 00:10:43,810.33681818 Started representing affordable housing up in Prince George's County, Maryland. 120 00:10:43,900.33681818 --> 00:10:52,50.33681818 I was on the Prince George's County Affordable Housing Commission and still I was like, okay, I'm doing my thing in the affordable housing space. 121 00:10:52,410.33681818 --> 00:10:53,700.33681818 Still making sure that. 122 00:10:55,65.33681818 --> 00:11:03,165.33681818 Spotlighted and then outta nowhere, the national aspect comes in and I saw what community progress took for. 123 00:11:03,465.33681818 --> 00:11:16,155.33681818 So you heard how I mentioned the vacant lot that my mother's insignificant other would be at, and I would have to pass it every day when I would be going to school, so I couldn't escape that environment. 124 00:11:17,130.33681818 --> 00:11:20,70.33681818 What I didn't share was the vacant lot. 125 00:11:20,430.33681818 --> 00:11:27,510.33681818 Now, if you go on those streets right now, and by those streets, Crook Avenue between Ocean and St. 126 00:11:27,510.33681818 --> 00:11:28,140.33681818 Paul's. 127 00:11:28,440.33681818 --> 00:11:29,670.33681818 All right, everybody listen up. 128 00:11:29,670.33681818 --> 00:11:30,960.33681818 Next time you're in Brooklyn. 129 00:11:30,990.33681818 --> 00:11:31,320.33681818 Yes. 130 00:11:31,440.33681818 --> 00:11:32,940.33681818 Crook Avenue and St. 131 00:11:32,940.33681818 --> 00:11:33,360.33681818 Paul. 132 00:11:33,390.33681818 --> 00:11:35,460.33681818 Okay? Yes. 133 00:11:35,700.33681818 --> 00:11:43,230.33681818 And if you go on ocean between Crook Avenue and Woodruff, so literally one block on the corner. 134 00:11:44,415.33681818 --> 00:11:46,765.33681818 You'll see these, you won't recognize those two vacant lots. 135 00:11:46,835.33681818 --> 00:11:57,695.33681818 One of them is Oma Park and when I was leaving to go to college in 1993, I can recall my. 136 00:11:58,500.33681818 --> 00:12:04,380.33681818 Neighbors, my community members, my lions, who I'd like to call them, they had enough. 137 00:12:04,620.33681818 --> 00:12:08,640.33681818 They said, no, we have a bigger revision for what is happening right now. 138 00:12:08,790.33681818 --> 00:12:14,405.33681818 We should not have tr yes, we are poor, but we should not have this trash in our. 139 00:12:15,65.33681818 --> 00:12:16,85.33681818 Yes, neighborhood. 140 00:12:16,145.33681818 --> 00:12:19,235.33681818 We should not have violence in our neighborhood. 141 00:12:19,385.33681818 --> 00:12:24,125.33681818 We should not have everything but positive, anything but positive amenities in our neighborhood. 142 00:12:24,575.33681818 --> 00:12:27,965.33681818 So they reclaimed that space and they turned it into Oma Park. 143 00:12:28,505.33681818 --> 00:12:30,275.33681818 Policymakers died in Falls. 144 00:12:30,665.33681818 --> 00:12:35,765.33681818 It came together with the community, and that park right now is thriving. 145 00:12:36,155.33681818 --> 00:12:36,215.33681818 Wow. 146 00:12:36,215.33681818 --> 00:12:36,905.33681818 It's beautiful. 147 00:12:36,905.33681818 --> 00:12:40,775.33681818 You can look it up on the New York City Parks Registry and you'll see it right there. 148 00:12:40,990.33681818 --> 00:12:41,50.33681818 The. 149 00:12:47,690.33681818 --> 00:12:55,550.33681818 That lot is now an A dignified affordable housing development. 150 00:12:56,420.33681818 --> 00:13:01,610.33681818 And now here it is these two lots that so much trauma Yes. 151 00:13:01,730.33681818 --> 00:13:04,70.33681818 Are now like are a place Hope. 152 00:13:05,30.33681818 --> 00:13:06,110.33681818 I love that. 153 00:13:06,110.33681818 --> 00:13:06,350.33681818 Yes. 154 00:13:06,650.33681818 --> 00:13:15,650.33681818 And so now when I see community progress, an organization that represents turning vibrant spaces. 155 00:13:18,140.33681818 --> 00:13:22,670.33681818 Into places that were once vacant. 156 00:13:22,760.33681818 --> 00:13:23,630.33681818 Yes. 157 00:13:26,20.33681818 --> 00:13:28,660.33681818 It's, it was a solid deal for me. 158 00:13:28,690.33681818 --> 00:13:37,630.33681818 It's like you see the little girl inside of you, right? Like the little girl inside of you was dreaming for that then and now it's a reality. 159 00:13:37,630.33681818 --> 00:13:37,930.33681818 Yeah. 160 00:13:37,930.33681818 --> 00:13:38,230.33681818 Yes. 161 00:13:39,685.33681818 --> 00:13:40,165.33681818 Yes. 162 00:13:40,225.33681818 --> 00:13:41,215.33681818 So here it is. 163 00:13:41,215.33681818 --> 00:13:42,205.33681818 Community progress. 164 00:13:42,805.33681818 --> 00:13:48,75.33681818 It literally, it's, we always say fake it spaces into vibrant places. 165 00:13:48,255.33681818 --> 00:13:49,35.33681818 Oh, that's great. 166 00:13:49,35.33681818 --> 00:13:49,875.33681818 Into vibrant Place. 167 00:13:50,55.33681818 --> 00:13:53,55.33681818 We're not developers, but we work with policy makers. 168 00:13:53,95.33681818 --> 00:13:57,415.33681818 We go deep into making sure that we work with community members, with leaders. 169 00:13:57,595.33681818 --> 00:13:59,515.33681818 We show them the impact of legislation, how. 170 00:14:00,485.33681818 --> 00:14:01,925.33681818 You have the power. 171 00:14:02,165.33681818 --> 00:14:10,475.33681818 Voice has the power, and we can reenvision, reimagine what could be seened as an eyesore that is possibility. 172 00:14:10,625.33681818 --> 00:14:16,415.33681818 So the little Kat inside said, living wildest dream by representing an organization. 173 00:14:18,430.33681818 --> 00:14:19,660.33681818 That is creating magic. 174 00:14:20,440.33681818 --> 00:14:21,550.33681818 I, that's awesome. 175 00:14:21,550.33681818 --> 00:14:24,250.33681818 So I do have to have, I have a question. 176 00:14:24,250.33681818 --> 00:14:30,640.33681818 So you are such a force, like I'm sitting here soaking up everything you're saying, like feeling your energy. 177 00:14:30,640.33681818 --> 00:14:32,710.33681818 I'm so glad you're in the housing space. 178 00:14:33,190.33681818 --> 00:14:37,510.33681818 I have to ask what led you when you're living in those conditions. 179 00:14:37,700.33681818 --> 00:14:41,830.33681818 Your mom at one point was in medical school and now this is where she is because of, hard time. 180 00:14:41,830.33681818 --> 00:14:44,410.33681818 Basically money related, forced choices. 181 00:14:44,800.33681818 --> 00:14:48,550.33681818 What led you to wanna go to college? Was it the lions? I wanna hear a little bit about that. 182 00:14:48,550.33681818 --> 00:14:53,485.33681818 Like what made your, helped your decision to go to college? it could tell you that my mother. 183 00:14:54,285.33681818 --> 00:14:55,65.33681818 God bless her. 184 00:14:55,65.33681818 --> 00:14:57,645.33681818 She did not play my brother and I did not have an option. 185 00:14:57,795.33681818 --> 00:14:58,935.33681818 Okay. 186 00:14:58,965.33681818 --> 00:14:58,995.33681818 Okay. 187 00:14:59,965.33681818 --> 00:15:04,70.33681818 I have to say that my mother was very intentional. 188 00:15:04,640.33681818 --> 00:15:05,510.33681818 She still is. 189 00:15:05,610.33681818 --> 00:15:18,667.83681818 Although we are all grown, She was very intentional on the programming that we watched, all the things that we were exposed to. 190 00:15:18,667.83681818 --> 00:15:21,937.83681818 My brother at a very young age in elementary school. 191 00:15:22,27.83681818 --> 00:15:24,817.83681818 Elementary school in third grade, my brother and I, two years apart. 192 00:15:25,337.83681818 --> 00:15:28,127.83681818 My brother woke up and said he wanted to be a dentist. 193 00:15:28,307.83681818 --> 00:15:29,357.83681818 This is in third grade. 194 00:15:29,657.83681818 --> 00:15:32,187.83681818 I didn't figure out what I wanted to say yet, until I wasn't. 195 00:15:34,82.83681818 --> 00:15:37,737.83681818 But I knew I wanted to price for my community, but I didn't know what it was. 196 00:15:37,737.83681818 --> 00:15:41,67.83681818 He knew from third grade and my mother, poor and all. 197 00:15:41,367.83681818 --> 00:15:44,517.83681818 She went to a dentist, a community dentist. 198 00:15:44,847.83681818 --> 00:15:48,117.83681818 He made, she connected with him, my brother, PBK. 199 00:15:48,117.83681818 --> 00:15:53,247.83681818 My brother's mentor, my brother, ended up going to college on a full scholarship. 200 00:15:53,532.83681818 --> 00:15:56,22.83681818 He ended up becoming a dentist. 201 00:15:56,22.83681818 --> 00:16:01,2.83681818 Now he's a prosthodontist in Atlanta, well known worldwide. 202 00:16:02,292.83681818 --> 00:16:02,742.83681818 Wow. 203 00:16:02,742.83681818 --> 00:16:02,982.83681818 Field. 204 00:16:03,312.83681818 --> 00:16:04,872.83681818 So she raised, shout out to Dr. 205 00:16:04,872.83681818 --> 00:16:04,902.83681818 Dj. 206 00:16:06,12.83681818 --> 00:16:06,702.83681818 Yes. 207 00:16:06,762.83681818 --> 00:16:08,22.83681818 In Atlanta, Georgia. 208 00:16:09,792.83681818 --> 00:16:10,167.83681818 In Atlanta, Georgia. 209 00:16:10,722.83681818 --> 00:16:11,322.83681818 Look him up. 210 00:16:11,427.83681818 --> 00:16:11,922.83681818 Yes, Dr. 211 00:16:11,922.83681818 --> 00:16:12,282.83681818 Dj. 212 00:16:13,212.83681818 --> 00:16:14,292.83681818 All right, there we go. 213 00:16:14,292.83681818 --> 00:16:19,692.83681818 And for me, yeah, for me, my mother was always a historian. 214 00:16:19,792.83681818 --> 00:16:20,662.83681818 She went to medical school. 215 00:16:20,662.83681818 --> 00:16:22,462.83681818 She never finished, but she was like. 216 00:16:23,172.83681818 --> 00:16:27,552.83681818 I became a historian and a doctor because of my kids. 217 00:16:27,682.83681818 --> 00:16:36,592.83681818 Because I majored in African studies and history, and I would always get the stories about my ancestors and about my communities. 218 00:16:36,622.83681818 --> 00:16:38,782.83681818 I was the one that would always interview my neighbors. 219 00:16:38,812.83681818 --> 00:16:41,752.8368182 I would always see how they fought for justice firsthand. 220 00:16:41,782.8368182 --> 00:16:46,312.8368182 I would protest a lot with my mother, with my family, with my friends. 221 00:16:46,347.8368182 --> 00:16:48,712.8368182 I, I would be the one inside people's one day. 222 00:16:49,362.8368182 --> 00:16:57,162.8368182 Timberland boots the neck for what's right, making sure that people have my bail money out, that we're already broke, so let's just Make money for that. 223 00:16:57,962.8368182 --> 00:17:10,232.8368182 But when I went to Howard University, because my mother pushed me, we watched the Cosby Show, we looked at the Huxtables, we looked at a different world. 224 00:17:10,232.8368182 --> 00:17:16,982.8368182 My mother was adamant about making sure that our condition and defined our outcome. 225 00:17:17,522.8368182 --> 00:17:23,732.8368182 So it's interesting right now that when I shared that my mother was third generation. 226 00:17:24,692.8368182 --> 00:17:28,182.8368182 Growing into being born in entrenched poverty might be the fourth. 227 00:17:29,22.8368182 --> 00:17:33,582.8368182 My success is the fact that my kids were not born in entrenched poverty. 228 00:17:33,582.8368182 --> 00:17:34,92.8368182 Yes. 229 00:17:34,92.8368182 --> 00:17:38,22.8368182 My kids are living the dream of the Huxtable children. 230 00:17:38,22.8368182 --> 00:17:38,442.8368182 Yes. 231 00:17:38,442.8368182 --> 00:17:45,632.8368182 They see that their dad engineer their mother is president, CEO retired, elected official. 232 00:17:45,692.8368182 --> 00:17:46,142.8368182 Yes. 233 00:17:46,352.8368182 --> 00:17:47,402.8368182 Remaking official. 234 00:17:48,392.8368182 --> 00:17:49,592.8368182 All these different things. 235 00:17:49,592.8368182 --> 00:17:54,872.8368182 Their uncle is a doctor, but they don't forget where and how we got here. 236 00:17:55,82.8368182 --> 00:17:56,372.8368182 Sure, sure. 237 00:17:56,432.8368182 --> 00:17:57,242.8368182 The fires there. 238 00:17:57,292.8368182 --> 00:18:08,582.8368182 Big shout out to your mom because she really put a lot of support and like you said, I like how you said she became everything that she dreamed of becoming through her children, which what? What a gift. 239 00:18:08,757.8368182 --> 00:18:09,987.8368182 Like very cool. 240 00:18:10,47.8368182 --> 00:18:10,257.8368182 Yeah. 241 00:18:10,257.8368182 --> 00:18:11,847.8368182 So Kat, you've worked. 242 00:18:11,852.8368182 --> 00:18:12,522.8368182 Shout out to Mr. 243 00:18:12,742.8368182 --> 00:18:13,162.8368182 And Mr. 244 00:18:13,802.8368182 --> 00:18:14,522.8368182 Shout out to Mr. 245 00:18:14,522.8368182 --> 00:18:15,27.8368182 And Mrs. 246 00:18:15,302.8368182 --> 00:18:15,522.8368182 Kao. 247 00:18:15,522.8368182 --> 00:18:16,122.8368182 That's what I call her. 248 00:18:16,122.8368182 --> 00:18:16,977.8368182 I call her Mr. 249 00:18:16,977.8368182 --> 00:18:17,607.8368182 And Mrs. 250 00:18:17,607.8368182 --> 00:18:18,687.8368182 I love that. 251 00:18:18,897.8368182 --> 00:18:19,347.8368182 Yes. 252 00:18:19,347.8368182 --> 00:18:20,37.8368182 Shout out to her. 253 00:18:20,37.8368182 --> 00:18:22,707.8368182 I wanna meet her next time I'm in the DC area. 254 00:18:23,127.8368182 --> 00:18:27,927.8368182 So you've worked in philanthropy, public service, and nonprofit leadership. 255 00:18:28,257.8368182 --> 00:18:36,717.8368182 How have these perspective influenced your approach to community rev revitalization? That is a great question. 256 00:18:37,532.8368182 --> 00:18:38,42.8368182 Wow. 257 00:18:39,242.8368182 --> 00:18:49,982.8368182 I, it's going to seem this is intentional how I'm going to say it, but it's has to be a level playing field with all Ps. 258 00:18:50,582.8368182 --> 00:19:00,867.8368182 What I mean by that is philanthropy, policy makers, practitioners, public, private sector, and people. 259 00:19:01,802.8368182 --> 00:19:02,372.8368182 I like it. 260 00:19:04,967.8368182 --> 00:19:13,592.8368182 I can tell you that the most successful experiences are when all are involved for a positive outcome. 261 00:19:14,252.8368182 --> 00:19:27,842.8368182 So when I work in philanthropy, and I could even dare to say that community progress is unique in this space right now, where we're not just a nationally nonprofit, but we also serve as an intermediary. 262 00:19:28,82.8368182 --> 00:19:31,262.8368182 Okay? So we also give money. 263 00:19:31,267.8368182 --> 00:19:33,457.8368182 We get money, but we also give it out. 264 00:19:34,12.8368182 --> 00:19:42,112.8368182 To people who are enacting change in communities that are impacted by systemic vacancy or just severe disinvestment. 265 00:19:42,352.8368182 --> 00:19:47,92.8368182 But I wanna say, shout out to a man by the name, by Daquan Oliver. 266 00:19:47,962.8368182 --> 00:19:56,362.8368182 Okay, who said this? And I wanna start saying this more where we're not underrepresented or were not disinvested as far as the community are concerned. 267 00:19:57,797.8368182 --> 00:19:58,877.8368182 Underestimated. 268 00:19:58,937.8368182 --> 00:20:00,407.8368182 Oh, okay. 269 00:20:00,407.8368182 --> 00:20:01,427.8368182 I like that. 270 00:20:03,372.8368182 --> 00:20:15,347.8368182 you have philanthropy that comes in that and intermediaries or philanthropy when you have the money and you actually see the work that the communities need. 271 00:20:15,407.8368182 --> 00:20:15,617.8368182 Yeah. 272 00:20:15,677.8368182 --> 00:20:16,847.8368182 It should be a no brainer. 273 00:20:16,997.8368182 --> 00:20:17,537.8368182 Yes. 274 00:20:17,837.8368182 --> 00:20:18,137.8368182 Yep. 275 00:20:18,467.8368182 --> 00:20:29,867.8368182 And especially since you are trying to tackle systems in equitable systems that were created by design that are older than all of us come by. 276 00:20:31,427.8368182 --> 00:20:36,47.8368182 So you have philanthropy playing its part, so I saw that. 277 00:20:36,977.8368182 --> 00:20:44,207.8368182 Then you have, as far as policy makers are concerned, I was blessed. 278 00:20:44,447.8368182 --> 00:20:50,717.8368182 I wanna say I celebrated it, but we're in 2025, so I'm sad that I still get to say only. 279 00:20:51,107.8368182 --> 00:20:51,437.8368182 Yeah. 280 00:20:51,497.8368182 --> 00:20:54,47.8368182 But I am the first and only. 281 00:20:56,657.8368182 --> 00:21:06,797.8368182 Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latina, Asian Americans to have ever been elected to the city office in Chris Georges County, the city of Glen Art. 282 00:21:07,397.8368182 --> 00:21:09,47.8368182 And we have to stop right there and celebrate. 283 00:21:10,247.8368182 --> 00:21:11,597.8368182 Congratulations. 284 00:21:13,187.8368182 --> 00:21:13,547.8368182 Yes. 285 00:21:13,547.8368182 --> 00:21:14,597.8368182 That's amazing. 286 00:21:14,602.8368182 --> 00:21:14,682.8368182 Thank you. 287 00:21:17,27.8368182 --> 00:21:19,337.8368182 So I saw again. 288 00:21:24,797.8368182 --> 00:21:41,937.8368182 Fully move the needle forward without pushing policy makers to enact legislation that is equitable and just and also force them to be courageous, to tackle the ones that were already there that are unjust and repeal. 289 00:21:43,77.8368182 --> 00:21:43,557.8368182 Yes. 290 00:21:43,617.8368182 --> 00:21:45,87.8368182 So now we look at. 291 00:21:46,347.8368182 --> 00:21:52,707.8368182 Practitioner aspect because when I look at philanthropy, I look public, private sector, that's the government and philanthropy. 292 00:21:52,707.8368182 --> 00:21:54,507.8368182 Like you need to put your monies together. 293 00:21:54,597.8368182 --> 00:21:55,77.8368182 Yes. 294 00:21:55,137.8368182 --> 00:21:57,872.8368182 To give money to the front to support the frontline. 295 00:21:57,992.8368182 --> 00:22:01,382.8368182 The front lines to me are the practitioners and the people. 296 00:22:01,772.8368182 --> 00:22:03,482.8368182 The practitioners or the nonprofits. 297 00:22:03,482.8368182 --> 00:22:05,732.8368182 Stop giving the nonprofits a hard time. 298 00:22:06,447.8368182 --> 00:22:11,552.8368182 Just support the nonprofits, the nonprofit people that are doing the work. 299 00:22:12,392.8368182 --> 00:22:16,262.8368182 That everyone sees, like the full pulse is on. 300 00:22:18,482.8368182 --> 00:22:18,872.8368182 Yes. 301 00:22:19,292.8368182 --> 00:22:19,952.8368182 I love that. 302 00:22:19,952.8368182 --> 00:22:20,822.8368182 The full pulse. 303 00:22:21,212.8368182 --> 00:22:21,512.8368182 I love that. 304 00:22:21,602.8368182 --> 00:22:24,362.8368182 So I'm gonna tell you right now, I'm gonna quote you, do it full. 305 00:22:24,362.8368182 --> 00:22:28,472.8368182 Do it right, and. 306 00:22:29,192.8368182 --> 00:22:34,562.8368182 The prac, the practitioners are the ones that are actually like the lions. 307 00:22:34,862.8368182 --> 00:22:40,982.8368182 They're the ones that are actually hearing the lions firsthand and say, you know what? I am going to fight for this. 308 00:22:40,982.8368182 --> 00:22:42,392.8368182 This is going to be my mission. 309 00:22:43,622.8368182 --> 00:22:44,42.8368182 Yeah. 310 00:22:44,492.8368182 --> 00:22:55,792.8368182 And then the people are the ones that are actually living in the conditions that we are seeing. 311 00:22:56,527.8368182 --> 00:22:58,177.8368182 That are deserving much more. 312 00:22:58,267.8368182 --> 00:22:58,597.8368182 Yep. 313 00:22:59,677.8368182 --> 00:23:13,507.8368182 And when you have all of these people come together, we have to also remember, we don't want to wait until it's too late when it comes to partnerships, because I am someone and I say this is a cat. 314 00:23:14,377.8368182 --> 00:23:15,337.8368182 Okay, go ahead. 315 00:23:15,337.8368182 --> 00:23:18,667.8368182 With theism, I used to always, I used to always say. 316 00:23:20,812.8368182 --> 00:23:24,982.8368182 Speak for the voiceless, right? That you to thing that you always hear. 317 00:23:24,982.8368182 --> 00:23:33,52.8368182 I wanna be a voice for the voiceless, but now in my age, I refuse to say that because everyone has a voice. 318 00:23:33,562.8368182 --> 00:23:35,272.8368182 Everyone, some people don't Whispering. 319 00:23:39,817.8368182 --> 00:23:53,542.8368182 Where people are whispering we and community progress and the places that I've been, whether it's been when I'm representing philanthropy as an intermediary, a community progress, whether it's my serving as a legislator, I choose to go in the dark places. 320 00:23:54,247.8368182 --> 00:23:57,37.8368182 Where the whispers are trying to get our attention. 321 00:23:57,37.8368182 --> 00:23:58,387.8368182 Where I was like, I'm here. 322 00:23:58,417.8368182 --> 00:23:59,167.8368182 I'm here. 323 00:23:59,412.8368182 --> 00:23:59,702.8368182 Yeah. 324 00:24:00,667.8368182 --> 00:24:11,17.8368182 And I make sure that they see that I hear them, that we hear them, that philanthropy hears them, that the practitioners hear them, that the public privacy makers hear them. 325 00:24:11,227.8368182 --> 00:24:12,817.8368182 Because once the whispers. 326 00:24:14,92.8368182 --> 00:24:17,932.8368182 Start getting loud and they start screaming. 327 00:24:18,172.8368182 --> 00:24:19,942.8368182 That's when it becomes too late. 328 00:24:19,942.8368182 --> 00:24:22,372.8368182 That's when you start seeing buildings burning down. 329 00:24:22,552.8368182 --> 00:24:24,202.8368182 That's when you start seeing booting. 330 00:24:24,262.8368182 --> 00:24:26,602.8368182 That's when you start seeing them. 331 00:24:26,692.8368182 --> 00:24:27,22.8368182 Yep. 332 00:24:27,292.8368182 --> 00:24:28,762.8368182 But they were talking all the while. 333 00:24:29,32.8368182 --> 00:24:34,222.8368182 So all of these pieces, when they come together for the positive. 334 00:24:34,987.8368182 --> 00:24:35,917.8368182 Sky's the limit. 335 00:24:36,457.8368182 --> 00:24:36,997.8368182 I agree. 336 00:24:36,997.8368182 --> 00:24:48,367.8368182 And just listening to you, I'm thinking about all the little children living the way you lived growing up and that there, how many cats there are that won't get the chance to be the full cat. 337 00:24:48,727.8368182 --> 00:24:51,967.8368182 Do you know what I mean? Like you are on fire like you. 338 00:24:52,707.8368182 --> 00:24:53,697.8368182 Are plugged in. 339 00:24:53,697.8368182 --> 00:24:56,697.8368182 You have, it's so inspiring to listen to you and I'm serious. 340 00:24:56,747.8368182 --> 00:25:10,427.8368182 This is what we always think about is if you don't give people opportunity or you're bringing the microphone to the people that know what the issues are, who are brilliant people are, just don't have enough of the microphone to make a difference quite yet. 341 00:25:10,477.8368182 --> 00:25:15,997.8368182 And you're bringing that it's a, and I can't wait to see all the cats that fall in your footsteps. 342 00:25:18,367.8368182 --> 00:25:19,477.8368182 You know what? I have to give you credit too. 343 00:25:19,907.8368182 --> 00:25:30,437.8368182 I have to give you ladies, you women, your organization credit also, because if it's not sensational, it doesn't make the news truth. 344 00:25:30,437.8368182 --> 00:25:45,197.8368182 I have to say that it's been daunting in the policy making space, in the philanthropic space, in the nonprofit practitioner space. 345 00:25:47,132.8368182 --> 00:25:50,732.8368182 And all of us, all of these entities are made up of people. 346 00:25:51,782.8368182 --> 00:26:04,352.8368182 So to see the blame attack on all that we see and represent as what is just, we're just simply trying to do what's right. 347 00:26:04,432.8368182 --> 00:26:07,972.8368182 And we don't care what I know. 348 00:26:07,972.8368182 --> 00:26:09,52.8368182 I'm gonna go there. 349 00:26:10,972.8368182 --> 00:26:30,22.8368182 But we, especially as a representative of Committee progress, we don't go there into our work that is, we don't go deep into our work because we're representing the Democratic Party or the Republican Party, or the Independent party, or the Socialist party or the whatever party, tea party, whatever. 350 00:26:30,72.8368182 --> 00:26:35,727.8368182 We go there because it's a human issue, right? And we care. 351 00:26:37,317.8368182 --> 00:26:38,637.8368182 And we care. 352 00:26:39,897.8368182 --> 00:26:40,167.8368182 Yeah. 353 00:26:40,257.8368182 --> 00:26:53,877.8368182 And the fact that you are taking the time to spotlight people who care, organizations at Community Progress, who care. 354 00:26:55,557.8368182 --> 00:26:57,237.8368182 I just hope that others follow your. 355 00:26:58,182.8368182 --> 00:27:04,362.8368182 Because it's remarkable and I feel more honored this morning, this afternoon, this evening. 356 00:27:04,362.8368182 --> 00:27:05,802.8368182 Whenever listeners are That's right. 357 00:27:08,277.8368182 --> 00:27:22,647.8368182 And I, anything that I can do, and that, and hopefully everyone hears this, anything that I can do, that we can do, listeners support this amazing organization, not just Center for Community Progress, but WAHN is. 358 00:27:24,107.8368182 --> 00:27:25,787.8368182 Worthy of praise as well. 359 00:27:26,237.8368182 --> 00:27:27,317.8368182 I just have to do that. 360 00:27:27,362.8368182 --> 00:27:28,712.8368182 Kat, that was very kind. 361 00:27:28,712.8368182 --> 00:27:29,882.8368182 Thank you so much. 362 00:27:29,882.8368182 --> 00:27:32,282.8368182 We, it's like you, we love what we do. 363 00:27:32,282.8368182 --> 00:27:33,632.8368182 We see the purpose. 364 00:27:33,632.8368182 --> 00:27:39,752.8368182 And I do, just to highlight what you were saying nonprofits are a huge liaison between the people that need. 365 00:27:40,162.8368182 --> 00:27:49,742.8368182 Something and the people making the decisions of what those people are gonna get, right? We're in the same boat and they missed before we started recording, but we already decided we're the same people here. 366 00:27:49,742.8368182 --> 00:27:52,862.8368182 So our hearts are giant for the people in these communities. 367 00:27:53,192.8368182 --> 00:27:54,602.8368182 That is what we live for. 368 00:27:55,712.8368182 --> 00:28:16,480.3368182 So for those unfamiliar with sex, excuse me, center for Community Progress what is your mission, if you had to summarize it and have y'all come up with a stance on the new executive order on homelessness? I'll just start off by, I always do this, I always start off by where you land, where you ended. 369 00:28:19,420.3368182 --> 00:28:29,620.3368182 We are, especially under my leadership, especially with the support of my phenomenal board. 370 00:28:32,560.3368182 --> 00:28:45,370.3368182 The work of the superheroes that I call my colleagues, we are a hundred percent against the criminalization of poverty. 371 00:28:48,520.3368182 --> 00:28:52,570.3368182 There are times when you have to look at yourselves in the mirror. 372 00:28:52,900.3368182 --> 00:29:00,730.3368182 We have to look at ourselves in the mirror, and you have to decide what. 373 00:29:02,290.3368182 --> 00:29:16,510.3368182 Part of history, are you going to land on I would not be doing justice to what my mother had to experience when I occupy her womb. 374 00:29:18,130.3368182 --> 00:29:24,220.3368182 What the guest, which is what we called them at Miriam's Kitchen. 375 00:29:24,220.3368182 --> 00:29:29,50.3368182 The people that were experiencing homelessness 'cause they were guests. 376 00:29:29,350.3368182 --> 00:29:29,420.3368182 To us. 377 00:29:31,660.3368182 --> 00:29:36,220.3368182 I would not be doing justice to the friends that they were to me. 378 00:29:36,275.3368182 --> 00:29:56,285.3368182 I would not be doing justice to my people because I know far too well, and we know far too well that a lot of us are living paycheck by paycheck or two to three paychecks removed. 379 00:29:58,190.3368182 --> 00:30:08,810.3368182 From experiencing homelessness and even nonprofits themselves, they also see the reality of what federal funding is being threatened. 380 00:30:09,920.3368182 --> 00:30:14,30.3368182 How they their livelihood themselves are being impacted. 381 00:30:14,30.3368182 --> 00:30:20,930.3368182 So I wanna be very clear a hundred percent against the criminalization of poverty. 382 00:30:22,190.3368182 --> 00:30:26,120.3368182 That supports home homelessness and everything that comes underneath that. 383 00:30:29,900.3368182 --> 00:30:32,215.3368182 Sorry I just, we wanted to hear it. 384 00:30:32,215.3368182 --> 00:30:33,415.3368182 I'm very about this. 385 00:30:33,415.3368182 --> 00:30:34,75.3368182 Yes. 386 00:30:35,815.3368182 --> 00:30:37,705.3368182 And community. 387 00:30:37,755.3368182 --> 00:30:38,595.3368182 Community progress. 388 00:30:38,595.3368182 --> 00:30:48,15.3368182 We are the only national organization that works on fixing the systems. 389 00:30:49,215.3368182 --> 00:30:51,855.3368182 That create systemic vacancy. 390 00:30:52,515.3368182 --> 00:31:10,555.3368182 And our mission is to foster strong, equitable emphasis on equitable communities where vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties are transformed into assets for neighborhoods and neighbors. 391 00:31:10,705.3368182 --> 00:31:11,515.3368182 Let me be very clear. 392 00:31:11,545.3368182 --> 00:31:11,905.3368182 Yes. 393 00:31:11,965.3368182 --> 00:31:13,165.3368182 Let's re I was gonna say, hold on. 394 00:31:13,165.3368182 --> 00:31:14,395.3368182 Let's repeat that. 395 00:31:15,415.3368182 --> 00:31:15,475.3368182 Yeah. 396 00:31:16,210.3368182 --> 00:31:20,650.3368182 put it, italicize it, bold it, highlight it, underline it. 397 00:31:23,430.3368182 --> 00:31:28,170.3368182 We provide a lot of technical solutions to human problems. 398 00:31:29,220.3368182 --> 00:31:36,90.3368182 Okay? And so it's very important for us in the work that we do to remain human centered slash people centered. 399 00:31:36,480.3368182 --> 00:31:39,750.3368182 So we have technical, we provide technical assistance. 400 00:31:39,750.3368182 --> 00:31:45,840.3368182 We have a technical assistance team where we actually go into communities that we are invited into. 401 00:31:45,900.3368182 --> 00:31:49,830.3368182 We are not interlopers, okay? We don't just show up and say, Hey, we're here. 402 00:31:49,860.3368182 --> 00:31:51,240.3368182 Okay? So we. 403 00:31:52,15.3368182 --> 00:31:56,320.3368182 Actually get two to 300 calls for people to just. 404 00:31:57,525.3368182 --> 00:31:58,455.3368182 Invite you out. 405 00:31:58,455.3368182 --> 00:32:00,165.3368182 Come from our organization to go into community. 406 00:32:00,165.3368182 --> 00:32:05,145.3368182 And you all will go to any area like across the nation as long as you're invited. 407 00:32:05,535.3368182 --> 00:32:05,745.3368182 Yes. 408 00:32:05,745.3368182 --> 00:32:06,75.3368182 Okay. 409 00:32:06,75.3368182 --> 00:32:09,765.3368182 Everybody heard that? If you have vacant properties community. 410 00:32:10,5.3368182 --> 00:32:10,455.3368182 Yes. 411 00:32:10,455.3368182 --> 00:32:12,375.3368182 Center for Community Progress there systemic. 412 00:32:12,375.3368182 --> 00:32:17,445.3368182 If there's an issue for systemic vacancy, reach out to us community progress.org. 413 00:32:18,285.3368182 --> 00:32:24,825.3368182 We also provide if within our technical assistance and educational leadership and engagement. 414 00:32:25,225.3368182 --> 00:32:25,945.3368182 Departments. 415 00:32:25,945.3368182 --> 00:32:30,85.3368182 We also work with policy makers, so we also provide technical assistance. 416 00:32:30,285.3368182 --> 00:32:31,155.3368182 With policy makers. 417 00:32:31,155.3368182 --> 00:32:39,945.3368182 We're not lobbying, but we're educating people on, here is the law that you have, that you've had for a long time, and here's its history. 418 00:32:39,975.3368182 --> 00:32:42,225.3368182 Here's where it stemmed from, and you can see. 419 00:32:43,105.3368182 --> 00:32:51,805.3368182 That the conditions right now are an embodiment of how unjust this law is, so let's work on what reforming it would look like. 420 00:32:52,15.3368182 --> 00:32:52,195.3368182 Perfect. 421 00:32:52,225.3368182 --> 00:32:59,45.3368182 We also work with grassroots leaders and the policy makers and community leaders themselves. 422 00:32:59,45.3368182 --> 00:33:09,215.3368182 So there's residents, but then it's also the community leaders, whoever define themselves as that we provide them with the tools to tackle systemic vacancy. 423 00:33:09,215.3368182 --> 00:33:10,595.3368182 So whether it's. 424 00:33:11,575.3368182 --> 00:33:21,25.3368182 Looking at the lot that, or lots that are there, or the properties that are abandoned or deteriorated and seeing what potential they have. 425 00:33:21,205.3368182 --> 00:33:25,255.3368182 What does the community actually want? Again, community wants. 426 00:33:25,255.3368182 --> 00:33:25,705.3368182 Yes. 427 00:33:25,705.3368182 --> 00:33:31,435.3368182 That's what some investor from across the country who doesn't live in the community box. 428 00:33:31,495.3368182 --> 00:33:31,885.3368182 Yes. 429 00:33:33,70.3368182 --> 00:33:37,300.3368182 And so we see some people want community gardens. 430 00:33:37,450.3368182 --> 00:33:40,870.3368182 Some people want affordable housing. 431 00:33:41,80.3368182 --> 00:33:44,20.3368182 Some people want a farmer's market. 432 00:33:44,20.3368182 --> 00:33:46,900.3368182 Some people want storm water mitigation. 433 00:33:46,900.3368182 --> 00:33:52,115.3368182 I just the vast all over the place, it's all over the place. 434 00:33:52,265.3368182 --> 00:33:53,555.3368182 And so we provide that. 435 00:33:53,765.3368182 --> 00:34:01,415.3368182 We also provide a lot of advice and educational tools to. 436 00:34:02,315.3368182 --> 00:34:04,385.3368182 The communities that are impacted. 437 00:34:04,690.3368182 --> 00:34:04,980.3368182 Okay. 438 00:34:06,485.3368182 --> 00:34:10,385.3368182 Our policy department where we actually. 439 00:34:11,135.3368182 --> 00:34:24,785.3368182 We have a DC office, which is where I'm located in DC so we could get the pulse of what's happening on the federal side, so we can then in turn give it back out to our members who are part of the National Land Bank Network. 440 00:34:24,785.3368182 --> 00:34:28,325.3368182 So land banks are a particular tool. 441 00:34:29,470.3368182 --> 00:34:30,580.3368182 That can be used. 442 00:34:30,660.3368182 --> 00:34:33,810.3368182 Tackle systemic vacancy in an equitable way. 443 00:34:34,470.3368182 --> 00:34:34,500.3368182 Okay. 444 00:34:34,500.3368182 --> 00:34:45,930.3368182 But we also provide that tool the advice that we're getting or the pulse that we are getting from policy makers to residents so they know how to go to their legislators to advocate for their rights. 445 00:34:46,140.3368182 --> 00:34:46,980.3368182 So all of that. 446 00:34:47,530.3368182 --> 00:34:50,890.3368182 That's great that this is really inspiring to hear. 447 00:34:50,890.3368182 --> 00:34:56,140.3368182 So vacant and abandoned properties, it seems like, could feel like a very overwhelming challenge. 448 00:34:56,860.3368182 --> 00:35:13,870.3368182 How do you help communities turn these liabilities into assets besides the assistance? Yeah, so I strongly believe in the power to dream. 449 00:35:17,410.3368182 --> 00:35:41,950.3368182 And when you are from an underestimated community where some have been programmed to feel like their voice doesn't matter, let alone their being. 450 00:35:43,855.3368182 --> 00:35:49,820.3368182 Shouldn't even be here because of where they're from. 451 00:35:53,380.3368182 --> 00:36:10,255.3368182 You sometimes start to believe that, and the first thing that I challenge people to do is to dare to dream. 452 00:36:12,970.3368182 --> 00:36:30,430.3368182 Again, I lead from a firsthand experience and I saw for myself what happened when my community members dared to dream. 453 00:36:31,420.3368182 --> 00:36:32,470.3368182 You now have a part. 454 00:36:32,470.3368182 --> 00:36:33,40.3368182 It wasn't easy. 455 00:36:33,40.3368182 --> 00:36:36,580.3368182 You high quality, affordable housing on what used to be. 456 00:36:36,790.3368182 --> 00:36:37,60.3368182 Yes. 457 00:36:37,60.3368182 --> 00:36:37,450.3368182 Yeah. 458 00:36:38,560.3368182 --> 00:36:46,210.3368182 Dream big for unlikely allies in the process. 459 00:36:47,530.3368182 --> 00:36:55,570.3368182 I have to be honest that I would not be here or not for my unlikely allies. 460 00:36:55,870.3368182 --> 00:36:57,730.3368182 A lot of them are my colleagues. 461 00:36:58,570.3368182 --> 00:37:01,240.3368182 I grew up in a predominantly black. 462 00:37:01,690.3368182 --> 00:37:14,980.3368182 Excuse me, black and brown immigrant neighborhood, and it took my leaving there for me to see people who didn't look like me from different walks of life. 463 00:37:15,370.3368182 --> 00:37:24,430.3368182 Those that I would consider the haves as I was a have not sure who are equally as passionate as I am. 464 00:37:25,795.3368182 --> 00:37:38,815.3368182 And so when you dare to dream, you dare to make, find unlikely allies that dignified and I stress dignified affordable housing when I say that, or when I say quality, affordable housing. 465 00:37:38,865.3368182 --> 00:37:45,225.3368182 Because my mother and myself and my brother, we lived in affordable housing, but we had a slumlord. 466 00:37:45,285.3368182 --> 00:37:45,525.3368182 Yep. 467 00:37:47,235.3368182 --> 00:37:48,615.3368182 And we had to stay there. 468 00:37:48,795.3368182 --> 00:37:49,275.3368182 Yeah. 469 00:37:50,430.3368182 --> 00:38:05,280.3368182 And what is the difference? What did you dream of in that slumlord house that you now have? Like that, or like a dignified, affordable housing? I dreamed of not seeing trash in the hallway. 470 00:38:07,350.3368182 --> 00:38:14,520.3368182 I dreamed of not waking up to the bullet. 471 00:38:16,575.3368182 --> 00:38:24,195.3368182 Literally coming through the stairwell in the hallway that I played at. 472 00:38:24,195.3368182 --> 00:38:39,230.3368182 That is, and I dream of the amenities in the apartment being one that could rival. 473 00:38:41,455.3368182 --> 00:38:50,845.3368182 In Beverly Hills or the Upper East Side? Yes, in Manhattan, I dream of everything being up to code. 474 00:38:51,865.3368182 --> 00:38:55,255.3368182 I dream of no rodents. 475 00:38:58,525.3368182 --> 00:39:04,495.3368182 I dream of knowing that I could choose. 476 00:39:06,650.3368182 --> 00:39:13,975.3368182 To want to stay here because who wouldn't want to stay here? That's, yes. 477 00:39:13,975.3368182 --> 00:39:14,820.3368182 That's what I dream. 478 00:39:14,920.3368182 --> 00:39:29,105.3368182 And I right now can see what the residents dare to dream with the fake it lots. 479 00:39:29,405.3368182 --> 00:39:31,415.3368182 And I dare to see. 480 00:39:33,365.3368182 --> 00:39:39,965.3368182 That one of their unlikely allies is Canva development. 481 00:39:40,355.3368182 --> 00:39:42,185.3368182 Now, I don't know Canva development. 482 00:39:42,215.3368182 --> 00:39:42,395.3368182 Okay. 483 00:39:42,395.3368182 --> 00:39:43,445.3368182 But I know of them. 484 00:39:43,450.3368182 --> 00:39:43,710.3368182 Okay. 485 00:39:43,710.3368182 --> 00:39:49,160.3368182 Because I saw firsthand what they've done. 486 00:39:52,55.3368182 --> 00:39:54,215.3368182 They create wraparound services. 487 00:39:56,765.3368182 --> 00:40:02,915.3368182 This affordable housing that is dignified, they on Crook Avenue. 488 00:40:03,305.3368182 --> 00:40:06,560.3368182 Oh, I was gonna ask what part? Okay. 489 00:40:06,695.3368182 --> 00:40:08,345.3368182 And you said Canva Development. 490 00:40:10,325.3368182 --> 00:40:13,745.3368182 C-A-M-B-A. 491 00:40:13,805.3368182 --> 00:40:13,985.3368182 Okay. 492 00:40:15,605.3368182 --> 00:40:16,235.3368182 That's amazing. 493 00:40:16,235.3368182 --> 00:40:16,595.3368182 Okay. 494 00:40:16,925.3368182 --> 00:40:24,860.3368182 They have gardens and green space, like things that where you wouldn't know. 495 00:40:25,895.3368182 --> 00:40:29,405.3368182 People of low incomes reside there. 496 00:40:29,495.3368182 --> 00:40:30,65.3368182 Yes. 497 00:40:31,655.3368182 --> 00:40:36,575.3368182 So when we come as a national. 498 00:40:37,565.3368182 --> 00:40:40,505.3368182 Organization into any community. 499 00:40:40,835.3368182 --> 00:40:52,715.3368182 It's important for us to know what are the dreams, the aspirations, the wants of the community members, not just the policy makers. 500 00:40:52,795.3368182 --> 00:40:56,920.3368182 But the people that are there and how can. 501 00:40:58,900.3368182 --> 00:41:04,315.3368182 We support that dream into becoming a reality for them. 502 00:41:04,315.3368182 --> 00:41:14,75.3368182 What tools can we provide them and being the liaison between them and the policymakers to explain what the real want, dreams, needs are. 503 00:41:14,75.3368182 --> 00:41:25,70.3368182 So what role does policy change play in addressing vacancy and abandonment, and what policy wins are you most proud of? Oh my goodness. 504 00:41:25,640.3368182 --> 00:41:26,920.3368182 How much time do we have? I know. 505 00:41:26,920.3368182 --> 00:41:27,610.3368182 I keep watching the clock. 506 00:41:27,610.3368182 --> 00:41:29,560.3368182 I'm like, no, we have to have Kat back this. 507 00:41:29,560.3368182 --> 00:41:30,610.3368182 We don't have enough time. 508 00:41:32,200.3368182 --> 00:41:33,370.3368182 and I'll gladly do that. 509 00:41:33,400.3368182 --> 00:41:33,790.3368182 Okay. 510 00:41:33,790.3368182 --> 00:41:36,370.3368182 So there are a lot of policy webs. 511 00:41:36,370.3368182 --> 00:41:46,240.3368182 One of the things that I love about our organization is we're not just tackling policy from. 512 00:41:47,455.3368182 --> 00:41:56,905.3368182 Here is the vacancy that is happening right now, but we are also tackling policy on a preventing policy. 513 00:41:56,915.3368182 --> 00:41:59,885.3368182 I'm sorry, preventing vacancy from occurring in the first place. 514 00:41:59,945.3368182 --> 00:42:00,395.3368182 Yes. 515 00:42:00,485.3368182 --> 00:42:06,905.3368182 So one of the things that we see is there is. 516 00:42:07,460.3368182 --> 00:42:18,170.3368182 Underutilized tools that if we utilize them, it will support vacancy from being widespread. 517 00:42:18,260.3368182 --> 00:42:18,290.3368182 Okay. 518 00:42:18,830.3368182 --> 00:42:22,370.3368182 And one of these tools is called land banks. 519 00:42:22,490.3368182 --> 00:42:22,880.3368182 Yes. 520 00:42:22,970.3368182 --> 00:42:34,190.3368182 And land banks are spec special entities that needs state enabling legislation to give them special powers solely to acquire. 521 00:42:35,345.3368182 --> 00:42:37,805.3368182 Rehabilitate and manage. 522 00:42:39,455.3368182 --> 00:42:55,355.3368182 Vacant and abandoned and deteriorated properties, and as they're doing that, their sole purpose in acquiring and managing and rehabbing the properties or even lots is to transform it back. 523 00:42:55,730.3368182 --> 00:42:57,950.3368182 Into community's goals. 524 00:42:58,550.3368182 --> 00:43:01,670.3368182 So no investors can come in. 525 00:43:02,30.3368182 --> 00:43:04,520.3368182 No, let's make a deal, can come in. 526 00:43:04,880.3368182 --> 00:43:17,420.3368182 It literally is set up to be held, so if there's a mission-driven developer that comes in, they can come in and work with the community and create. 527 00:43:17,690.3368182 --> 00:43:19,880.3368182 What the community's desire is. 528 00:43:20,210.3368182 --> 00:43:27,680.3368182 So we've when land banks were a thing back, way back when they were more transactional vacancies, vacant properties are popping up. 529 00:43:27,680.3368182 --> 00:43:29,930.3368182 We wanna make sure that we tackle for the property taxes. 530 00:43:29,930.3368182 --> 00:43:32,500.3368182 The city's property tax issue is big. 531 00:43:32,500.3368182 --> 00:43:39,70.3368182 The delinquent property taxes, nobody's paying the taxes, and now they're transformational. 532 00:43:39,70.3368182 --> 00:43:44,380.3368182 And we have the National Land Bank Network, and we're actually having a conference September 8th. 533 00:43:44,380.3368182 --> 00:43:50,140.3368182 I was just gonna ask, okay, where is that? Let's hear about this conference and that. 534 00:43:50,140.3368182 --> 00:43:51,850.3368182 In Detroit? In Detroit. 535 00:43:52,240.3368182 --> 00:43:52,300.3368182 Okay. 536 00:43:52,300.3368182 --> 00:43:54,370.3368182 The National Land Bank Network Summit. 537 00:43:54,370.3368182 --> 00:43:55,720.3368182 September 8th and ninth. 538 00:43:56,140.3368182 --> 00:44:10,540.3368182 In Detroit, if anybody's interested, if you're interested in community development as a resident, as a policymaker, as someone who's just a pro affordable housing or just economic development, please come. 539 00:44:10,540.3368182 --> 00:44:11,860.3368182 Go on our website. 540 00:44:11,860.3368182 --> 00:44:14,470.3368182 We'll put the link when we post the video as well. 541 00:44:15,460.3368182 --> 00:44:15,910.3368182 Thank you. 542 00:44:15,910.3368182 --> 00:44:16,540.3368182 Of course. 543 00:44:16,545.3368182 --> 00:44:16,665.3368182 Thank you. 544 00:44:16,845.3368182 --> 00:44:17,145.3368182 Of course. 545 00:44:17,145.3368182 --> 00:44:17,155.3368182 But. 546 00:44:18,485.3368182 --> 00:44:27,995.3368182 What I will say is we started seeing policy wins come into play because of land banks being used. 547 00:44:28,595.3368182 --> 00:44:30,395.3368182 Oh, to promote common good. 548 00:44:30,545.3368182 --> 00:44:37,295.3368182 So there's the, there, there was some policy wins in Omaha, Nebraska. 549 00:44:37,385.3368182 --> 00:44:37,745.3368182 Ooh. 550 00:44:38,585.3368182 --> 00:44:53,945.3368182 But there's also one that I want to definitely speak to on the preventative side because this speaks to your question about the executive order and how I responded to it in regards to criminalizing poverty and how community progress is a hundred percent. 551 00:44:53,945.3368182 --> 00:44:59,405.3368182 Against that, we also celebrated a huge win last year. 552 00:45:00,215.3368182 --> 00:45:05,795.3368182 Where in Detroit in particular, the city. 553 00:45:06,215.3368182 --> 00:45:13,175.3368182 Passed a strategic code enforcement law to tackle. 554 00:45:14,795.3368182 --> 00:45:20,585.3368182 What was happening? Because what was happening was they were getting a lot of fines. 555 00:45:20,585.3368182 --> 00:45:28,655.3368182 A lot of people were dealing with code enforcement issues, and these are people who are small time landlords. 556 00:45:28,755.3368182 --> 00:45:36,135.3368182 And they want to cure their property, but they can't because of everything that's happening in the world. 557 00:45:36,225.3368182 --> 00:45:41,310.3368182 So why penalize them when they're really trying? To do something good. 558 00:45:41,520.3368182 --> 00:46:00,810.3368182 So community Progress worked with the city of Detroit and we actually decided to actually show them how this could be done from a strategic approach, how we don't have to penalize people who are trying to do the good things that they want. 559 00:46:01,80.3368182 --> 00:46:03,720.3368182 What has since happened is. 560 00:46:04,80.3368182 --> 00:46:08,865.3368182 The city didn't just choose one, but they chose all of our recommendations. 561 00:46:09,365.3368182 --> 00:46:09,585.3368182 Wow. 562 00:46:10,45.3368182 --> 00:46:10,785.3368182 All of our recommendations. 563 00:46:10,790.3368182 --> 00:46:11,880.3368182 Congratulations. 564 00:46:11,880.3368182 --> 00:46:13,380.3368182 And yes. 565 00:46:13,395.3368182 --> 00:46:17,685.3368182 that speaks to the quality of the work you all are doing too, and the quality of people at Yes. 566 00:46:17,715.3368182 --> 00:46:18,615.3368182 Thank community progress. 567 00:46:18,615.3368182 --> 00:46:18,855.3368182 Oh yeah. 568 00:46:20,40.3368182 --> 00:46:20,730.3368182 Thank you. 569 00:46:20,730.3368182 --> 00:46:23,610.3368182 And so we call it strategic code enforcement. 570 00:46:23,640.3368182 --> 00:46:26,520.3368182 I like to call I hate the term enforcement. 571 00:46:26,830.3368182 --> 00:46:29,500.3368182 When you think about delinquent property tax enforcement. 572 00:46:29,530.3368182 --> 00:46:29,800.3368182 Yeah. 573 00:46:30,70.3368182 --> 00:46:31,660.3368182 A negative connotation enforcement. 574 00:46:31,810.3368182 --> 00:46:32,710.3368182 I like to Yeah. 575 00:46:32,710.3368182 --> 00:46:34,360.3368182 It's so draconian Yeah. 576 00:46:34,360.3368182 --> 00:46:34,990.3368182 To us. 577 00:46:34,990.3368182 --> 00:46:37,160.3368182 But I like to say code compliance. 578 00:46:37,190.3368182 --> 00:46:37,640.3368182 Okay. 579 00:46:37,820.3368182 --> 00:46:39,260.3368182 Or code encouragement. 580 00:46:39,390.3368182 --> 00:46:39,690.3368182 Yes. 581 00:46:39,900.3368182 --> 00:46:46,110.3368182 And so the City of Detroit enacted all of our recommendations and. 582 00:46:46,845.3368182 --> 00:46:50,265.3368182 I tell you the numbers are trending in the positive now. 583 00:46:51,675.3368182 --> 00:46:53,145.3368182 It's just so amazing. 584 00:46:53,175.3368182 --> 00:46:56,745.3368182 There's so much stuff that I could speak about, but. 585 00:46:57,765.3368182 --> 00:46:58,155.3368182 Yeah. 586 00:46:58,185.3368182 --> 00:47:01,155.3368182 It's just amazing stuff and all this stuff that I'm sharing. 587 00:47:01,155.3368182 --> 00:47:04,395.3368182 What people can dive even deeper if they go on our website. 588 00:47:04,425.3368182 --> 00:47:04,815.3368182 Okay. 589 00:47:05,85.3368182 --> 00:47:07,485.3368182 And they'll see for themselves all the wins. 590 00:47:07,485.3368182 --> 00:47:11,505.3368182 We even have publications and firsthand accounts on what's happening. 591 00:47:11,505.3368182 --> 00:47:19,265.3368182 'cause we, it's important for us to celebrate the wins while we highlight a lot of the things that are not working in the world or in the country. 592 00:47:19,865.3368182 --> 00:47:21,455.3368182 We wanna also spotlight. 593 00:47:21,485.3368182 --> 00:47:22,25.3368182 Yes. 594 00:47:23,30.3368182 --> 00:47:24,260.3368182 The great things that are happening. 595 00:47:24,470.3368182 --> 00:47:25,280.3368182 That's right. 596 00:47:25,820.3368182 --> 00:47:32,210.3368182 So Kat, I have to be respectful of your time because you're out here changing the world and that invite is gonna stand. 597 00:47:32,210.3368182 --> 00:47:36,110.3368182 I'm gonna reach back out to your team, 'cause we would love to have you back after your September summit. 598 00:47:36,140.3368182 --> 00:47:37,610.3368182 We're gonna share details about that. 599 00:47:37,760.3368182 --> 00:47:42,850.3368182 But to finish, because we're not done, are we could talk for six days or more and. 600 00:47:44,625.3368182 --> 00:47:46,485.3368182 So I will invite you back if you're willing to join. 601 00:47:46,485.3368182 --> 00:47:52,245.3368182 We would love to hear more, hear how the summit went, and talk more about the Detroit projects and the policy successes there. 602 00:47:52,585.3368182 --> 00:47:54,55.3368182 But I just have to go back. 603 00:47:54,145.3368182 --> 00:47:56,635.3368182 Kat, you are a force, you're an inspiration. 604 00:47:56,635.3368182 --> 00:47:58,315.3368182 I think you're so brave. 605 00:47:58,835.3368182 --> 00:48:06,215.3368182 I'm so thankful I got to meet you and we got to talk about this, and I just wanna follow all the work y'all are doing because you truly are changing the world. 606 00:48:08,975.3368182 --> 00:48:09,545.3368182 Thank you. 607 00:48:09,545.3368182 --> 00:48:09,565.3368182 Thank you. 608 00:48:09,565.3368182 --> 00:48:12,725.3368182 And here's to all the change makers. 609 00:48:13,175.3368182 --> 00:48:13,925.3368182 Yes. 610 00:48:14,825.3368182 --> 00:48:22,85.3368182 And for those who spotlight them and I welcome you to also be a guest at anything that we do. 611 00:48:22,160.3368182 --> 00:48:22,700.3368182 thank you. 612 00:48:22,700.3368182 --> 00:48:24,140.3368182 Can be carte blanc to anything. 613 00:48:24,170.3368182 --> 00:48:25,280.3368182 Yeah, thank you. 614 00:48:25,280.3368182 --> 00:48:28,100.3368182 And we will continue to share out to our members what you all are doing. 615 00:48:28,100.3368182 --> 00:48:31,190.3368182 And of course we're friends for life now, so I'll be staying in touch. 616 00:48:31,270.3368182 --> 00:48:32,650.3368182 But I will definitely get back in touch. 617 00:48:32,650.3368182 --> 00:48:34,600.3368182 We can't wait to hear about the success. 618 00:48:34,600.3368182 --> 00:48:36,460.3368182 And thank you so much for your time today. 619 00:48:36,460.3368182 --> 00:48:39,10.3368182 I know you have so much going on and there's probably people. 620 00:48:39,265.3368182 --> 00:48:41,875.3368182 Pulling at your coattails all the time to come this way and that way. 621 00:48:41,875.3368182 --> 00:48:43,735.3368182 So thank you for sharing your time with us. 622 00:48:45,85.3368182 --> 00:48:46,585.3368182 You are welcome and thank you. 623 00:48:46,645.3368182 --> 00:48:48,235.3368182 Okay, Kat, have a great day. 624 00:48:51,132.0034848 --> 00:48:56,502.0034848 Thanks for being here with us on WAHNcast, the official podcast of the Women's Affordable Housing Network. 625 00:48:56,892.0034848 --> 00:49:05,112.0034848 Every guest, every story, every listen, helps us keep this space real rooted and resonant, and we're so glad you're a part of it. 626 00:49:05,532.0034848 --> 00:49:08,412.0034848 Big thanks to our guests for sharing their time and knowledge with us. 627 00:49:08,847.0034848 --> 00:49:16,617.0034848 To our sponsors for making this platform possible and to you for tuning in, sharing and helping us keep this conversation going. 628 00:49:17,307.0034848 --> 00:49:22,737.0034848 Be sure to follow rate and share WAHNcast wherever you listen and bring a friend next time we save them a seat. 629 00:49:23,712.0034848 --> 00:49:23,832.0034848 I.