History and Collective Impact

History isn’t finished, hidden in textbooks and carefully stored in museums. History surrounds us, and we can shape it as we move through the world. March is Women’s History Month, and I want to start this column by lifting some women leaders working to build a brighter and more equitable future for our country.  

I would be remiss if I didn’t highlight Secretary Marcia L. Fudge, the 18^th Secretary of HUD and the second Black woman to hold this position. Before joining HUD, she served as a member of Congress and as the mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio. Though she has announced that she is planning to retire at the end of the month, the Secretary brought to her role at HUD a deep understanding of how affordable housing is vital for healthy communities and a willingness to work with NAHRO members and other industry partners to increase housing supply and rental assistance.  

Secretary Fudge understood the moment. She intentionally ensured programs were made available to address systemic inequities and made sure HUD had an identity. This shifted the way we talk about the programs we deliver and the needs these programs address in the communities we serve. It also assisted in the collaborative efforts with agencies and their local field offices.  

She has been a good partner to us, and I wish her the best in her next chapter. 

Secretary Fudge will leave HUD in talented and skillful hands. Her second-in-command is former NAHRO CEO and longtime houser Adrianne Todman. During her tenure at NAHRO, Adrianne‘s leadership created a member-centric culture, raised the profile of our association and its members, and increased our advocacy efforts on the Hill. She also led NAHRO’s quick and effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, seamlessly transitioning into virtual events and training and continuing the flow of the news, policy information and analysis that we needed. Soon-to-be Acting Secretary Todman is someone I have a tremendous amount of respect for.  She understands how important collaboration is in the work we are tasked to do. She is pragmatic, solution-focused, and innovative in her approach. I cannot think of a better person to lead HUD through this transition period. 

We are also fortunate to have inspirational women leaders working within NAHRO. Jennifer Keogh leads our Strategic Planning Advisory Committee and is driving our ambitious transition to a five-year strategic plan (more on that in another column). Jennifer is a long-time #houser with experience on both the agency and private sides of affordable housing.  

Jennifer is one of the best in our industry. She is thoughtful and provides innovative solutions that address our industry’s challenges today and tomorrow. She combines thought leadership, a willingness to take risks, and the ability to organize and execute a shared vision. 

Many of you know that our advocacy efforts have been growing rapidly – last year, NAHRO advocates sent more than 45,000 letters to Congress and the White House, and we hope to make an even stronger showing in this Presidential election year. Ivory Mathews, the chair of our Legislative Network. Ivory is not only a skilled and effective advocate herself but also an inspirational leader. Ivory has shown herself to be one of the most dynamic leaders in the country. She is a visionary who inspires her friends and colleagues.  

NAHRO is blessed with many talented, dedicated, and all-around amazing women leaders; while I can’t name them all here, I’ll try to feature at least some of them, along with other NAHRO stars, in future columns.  

Collective Impact 

I’m excited to walk the halls of Congress with hundreds of you next month during the Hill Day of our Washington Conference.  This will be a great time to advocate for the resources and tools we need and let our elected leaders know about our vital work in our communities. We’ve been very intentional with our program and pre-conference preparations, including complimentary Hill Day appointment bookings and the Hill Day prep webinar that I hope you all had a chance to attend. Once we arrive in DC, we will ensure you are updated on the latest news, regulations and policies from HUD and Capitol Hill. Then, we’ll kick off Hill Day with a hype session in the morning, spend the day with our Congresspersons, Senators, and their staff, and then finish with a reception to celebrate our collective impact.  

See you there!