Experience

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  Richmond neighborhood housing services, inc.

  Nov 2001 - Sept 2015

  Executive director

  Led transformation of this community development corporation into a regional leader in affordable housing development and preservation. Grew organizational assets from $2M to $5M while maintaining HUD compliance and pioneering innovative housing programs that combined housing stability, economic opportunity, and community safety initiatives to serve Richmond's vulnerable residents.Key Achievements:- HUD HOPE VI Program Manager: Led implementation of $42M HOPE VI transformation project as a community partner and co-developer, creating 144 affordable rental apartments and 82 first-time homeownership units at Richmond Village- Housing Preservation Initiative: Worked with Congressman George Miller to establish South Richmond's first comprehensive foreclosure counseling programs, saving over 500 families from displacement during the mortgage crisis- Comprehensive Homebuyer Program: Developed a HUD-certified first-time homebuyer program that provided services to 300+ families annually, achieving a 95% successful long-term homeownership rate- Community Safety Partnership: Established the Richmond Ceasefire program with the Office of Neighborhood Safety, implementing proven public health strategies to improve community safety- Nonprofit Fiscal Management: Managed a $2M annual operating budget and $5M in housing assets consistently generating operational surpluses- Culturally Responsive Services: Implemented innovative service delivery models that increased program effectiveness and community impact- Board Leadership: Provided executive leadership to the 9-member governing board, advancing the organization's mission in affordable housing development and preservationSpecialties: Affordable Housing Development | Housing Preservation & Foreclosure Prevention | HUD Compliance & Grant Management | Nonprofit Fiscal Management | Community Development Initiatives | Stakeholder Engagement & Consensus Building |Culturally Responsive Program Design Show less

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  City of oakland

  Jan 2013 - Jan 2021

  City council president and councilmember

  Provided strategic leadership and fiscal oversight for $3.2B municipal corporation and 4,000+ employees. Advanced transformative policy initiatives and complex institutional change through coalition building and stakeholder engagement. Established innovative departments and programs that became regional models for public sector innovation.Key Institutional Transformations:• Spearheaded establishment of Department of Violence Prevention through multi-stakeholder consensus building, implementing public health approach through community-based intervention strategies• Supported creation of Department of Race and Equity through policy development and sustainable funding initiatives, demonstrating commitment to systemic institutional change• Led groundbreaking intergovernmental collaboration on homelessness, achieving 40% successful housing placements through innovative Compassionate Communities pilot• Advanced regional housing and economic development initiatives through executive leadership on Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and Economic Development JPA• Contributed to Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention JPA's initiatives to eliminate childhood lead exposure through policy reform and public education campaigns• Created structured forums for institutional dialogue on equity and reform, fostering collaboration between community members and city leadershipExpertise in translating institutional vision into measurable outcomes while maintaining strategic focus and fiscal responsibility. Recognized for advancing equity initiatives through collaborative governance and data-driven decision making.Skills: Public Policy | Institutional Transformation | Budget Oversight | Strategic Planning | Multi-stakeholder Engagement | Coalition Building | Change Management | Equity Initiatives | Complex Problem Solving Show less

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  Legacies leadership group

  Jan 2021 - now

  Principal & executive strategist

  Transformational leader and trusted strategic partner to executives driving mission-critical change across public and private sectors. With 20+ years of executive leadership experience, I help organizations transform challenges into opportunities while advancing excellence, equity, and sustainable growth.Key Transformations & Results:• Guide implementation of institutional renewal initiatives, achieving 45% improvement in operational effectiveness• Transform organizational challenges into breakthrough performance, including resolving seven-figure exposures• Lead crisis response and turnaround initiatives, including emergency fundraising generating $50,000 in two weeks• Design strategic planning processes that unite boards, executive teams, and stakeholders• Maintain 98% client satisfaction through innovative performance management systemsStrategic Focus Areas:• Complex institutional transitions and change management• Multi-stakeholder coalition building and consensus development• Governance strengthening and regulatory compliance• Cross-sector partnership building and community engagement• DEI initiative design and implementation• Crisis management and strategic communication• Federal grant administration and fiscal oversight• Executive team development and coachingAs a Maxwell Leadership certified executive coach and UC Berkeley alumna, I bring deep understanding of complex institutions and authentic commitment to excellence and equity. Currently partnering with leaders across government, education, nonprofit, and social benefit sectors.Specialties: Strategic Leadership | Organizational Transformation | Higher Education Administration | Community Development | Executive Coaching | Strategic Planning | Crisis Management | DEI | Governance | Stakeholder Engagement | Complex Institution Management | Policy Development | Grant Administration Show less