Since joining CSNDC at the beginning of January, I’ve spent my first months listening, learning, and beginning to chart a path forward with our team and community. This work feels less like a job and more like a calling—and, in many ways, a homecoming.
I’ve long been connected to this community: going to church in Dorchester, walking these streets, and knowing people who lived in the very properties CSNDC owns. I started my career in CDC work, spent many years in education, and come from a family that has always stood up for people who’ve been denied access and opportunity. So stepping into this role, I’m not just arriving as a new executive; I’m returning to a community that helped shape me, with a deep sense of responsibility to the people who live here and to the legacy of those who came before me.
A Great Team
In these first months, I’ve been deeply encouraged by the strength and humility of our team. For 45 years, CSNDC has done exceptional work. My hat is off to my predecessor, Gail Latimore. We truly stand on the shoulders of giants. At the same time, I’ve seen opportunities to strengthen our policies, processes, and communication—and we’re hard at work on all three.
A major focus for me is building a culture of excellence at CSNDC. Excellence isn’t about prestige; it’s about intentionality in how we greet someone, answer the phone, respond to an email, or show up for residents and partners. I want anyone who encounters CSNDC to feel seen, valued, and cared for.
I believe strongly in distributive leadership, collaboration, and clear, honest communication. I believe the best decisions are informed by many voices, even when the final call rests with me. I’m transparent and don’t sugarcoat things, but I always try to speak in a way people can hear. Relationships are built on trust and follow‑through, and I’m pleased to say that I feel respected and supported by everyone on the CSNDC team—and I believe that feeling is mutual.
A Community of Love
Of course, our focus is on improving conditions for our community. While the challenges of access, poverty, displacement, and limited resources remain, the love people have for this community is powerful and enduring. I see it in resident meetings, in community conversations, and in the way neighbors show up for one another. It’s not enough to manage from behind a desk; people need to see that we are truly part of the community. Toward that end, I walk the neighborhood regularly because I never want to be a leader who is distant from the people we serve. Presence and authenticity are non‑negotiables for me.
One striking thing I’ve noticed is how humble CSNDC is. We do exceptional work, often very quietly. But in today’s environment, our survival and impact depend on people understanding our story—the homes we help create, the anti‑displacement work we contribute to, the partnerships we build. We can’t afford to do great work in silence. Funders, partners, and neighbors need to see what CSNDC has already accomplished and what we are poised to do next.
Creating Our Future
CSNDC’s primary focus will always be affordable housing. That is who we are, and what we have done so well. But to sustain and deepen that work, we must think more holistically and more boldly. I envision CSNDC:
- Continuing to be a leader in affordable housing, helping people stay in the neighborhoods they love.
- Doubling down on anti‑displacement and neighborhood vibrancy, supporting local businesses and creating pathways to good jobs.
- Deepening our investment in youth, who are not just our future but our present, especially through advocacy and leadership opportunities.
- Pursuing innovative partnerships and funding, positioning CSNDC as a model of excellence that major funders and collaborators seek out.
- Using our space and voice differently—becoming a kind of community think tank and 21st‑century hub where residents, youth, and partners come together to solve problems.
Ultimately, I want Codman Square to be a bustling, healthy, thriving community where people have real access to housing, health, education, and opportunity—and where CSNDC is recognized as not just as a housing developer, but as a major player in the nonprofit and community development world, locally, across the state, and beyond.
I’m realistic about the challenges facing Community Development Corporations (CDCs) today. If we don’t think differently about our work, our resources, and our partnerships, we risk becoming irrelevant. But I am profoundly hopeful.
Ralph Abernathy, a leader of the civil rights movement and a close friend and mentor of Martin Luther King Jr., often said, “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.”
We need to have that mindset. We will continue to build on the legacy we’ve inherited, while daring to imagine—and create—what comes next. I’m grateful to walk this path with you, and I’m excited for where we’re going—together.
