ANNUAL MEETING 2024
Agenda
NOVEMBER 21, 2024
College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA
9:30 a.m. Registration, refreshments, networking
10:00 a.m. MORNING PLENARY
10:40 a.m. Fireside Chat — Strategies for Community Transformation
Moderator: Kimberly R. Lyle, CEO, DBEDC
Panel:
Leo Ruiz Sanchez, Lead Community Organizer, Fenway CDC
Kendra Beaver, Climate Justice Coordinator, Fairmount Indigo CDC Collaborative
Melissa Fales, Executive Director, Quaboag Valley CDC
11:15 a.m. BREAKOUT SESSIONS:
• Local Organizing Around Affordable Housing: How Two CDCs are Flipping the Script.
• Launching the Racial Equity Peer Group
• Wealth Building Programs: How CDCs are addressing the racial wealth gap
• The Past, Present, and Future of MACDC’s Engagement in the Health Equity Space
12:15 p.m. LUNCH
12:50 p.m. BOARD ELECTIONS
1:00 p.m. AWARDS
1:30 p.m. CDC ROLL CALL
2:00 p.m. CLOSING
E.Ricky Guerra
Director of Real Estate Development, JPNDC
With a career spanning diverse areas of community development, Ricky brings 18 years of experience dedicated to building stronger, more inclusive communities. She began as a passionate tenant organizer, focused on elevating resident voices and creating impactful change at the grassroots level. Her commitment to service and community growth quickly led her into leadership, where she directed initiatives that provided critical resources and programs, particularly benefiting youth and seniors in marginalized communities. These formative roles became the foundation for Ricky’s transition into real estate development, where she now applies her expertise to create vibrant, sustainable communities that serve residents’ needs and aspirations.
As Director of Real Estate Development at JPNDC, Ricky is at the forefront of crafting spaces that nurture both individual and communal wellbeing. Ricky’s multifaceted role integrates the pillars of quality housing, community engagement, healthcare, and economic vitality. She is responsible for overseeing the entire spectrum of the organization’s real estate development initiatives. Her leadership has been pivotal in bringing complex, high-impact projects to life, creating opportunities for homeownership, and integrating essential services that support all aspects of community life.
A committed community advocate, Ricky volunteers her time and skills on several committees and initiatives in her neighborhood. Beyond her local engagement, Ricky is also deeply committed to leveraging real estate projects as platforms to create and provide opportunities for small W/MBE (Women/Minority-Owned Business Enterprises) contractors.
RISING STAR AWARD
Kavish
Gandhi
Housing Assistance and Eviction Prevention TND
Originally from the Boston area, Kavish graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a major in mathematics and minor in physics & computer science. During and since college, he became passionate about working to make Boston an affordable place for all who live and hope to live here. He worked for the Neighborhood Developers (TND), an affordable housing developer in Chelsea, as an AmeriCorps VISTA from 2019-2020, and then became a Senior Research Assistant at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston conducting research in national housing and healthcare policy. Now, Kavish is back at TND, managing their housing assistance and eviction prevention team. His team works to keep families in Chelsea and the surrounding area in their homes, and collaborates with local cities on program design to achieve that end. Outside of work, Kavish is a huge Manchester City fan and enjoys hiking, playing board games, and reading poetry.
RISING STAR AWARD
Amanda Glennon
Amanda transitioned from a long-standing career in the financial sector to join NeighborWorks Housing Solutions as the Director of Homeownership and HCEC in late 2021. Her mission is to make homeownership accessible to individuals throughout the Commonwealth, and she is constantly working to provide education, service, and equitable opportunities for all.
Amanda has educated countless first-time homebuyers and successfully assisted hundreds in closing on their first homes. Amanda is frequently sought after to support clients facing foreclosure, help individuals navigate subsidized housing, and assist families in crisis navigate their options. Amanda is also a valued partner to other organizations, offering expertise and mentoring to those in the field and other community-based organizations.
Beyond her NHS commitments, Amanda is deeply engaged in the Brockton community. She is proud to serve as the Board Chair of the Downtown Brockton Association and as the Treasurer of the Brockton Housing Partnership.
RISING STAR AWARD
Jasmine Graddy
Director of Workforce Development, North Shore CDC
Jasmine Graddy has been with North Shore Community Development Coalition (NSCDC) since 2016, starting as a Case Manager for YouthBuild, a pre-apprenticeship program focused on helping young people earn their High School Equivalency (HiSET) diploma and gain industry-recognized credentials in fields such as construction, healthcare, and culinary arts. Her passion for direct service and commitment to youth success quickly became evident, leading to her promotion to Youth Services Manager in 2020.
In 2022, Jasmine was promoted to Director of Workforce Development, where she now oversees both the YouthBuild North Shore and S.T.A.N.D (Students Taking Action in Neighborhood Development) programs. In this role, she is dedicated to fostering new relationships, supporting her team, and creating opportunities that empower young people to achieve their full potential.
Jasmine is particularly passionate about providing alternative learners— those who may not follow traditional educational paths—with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed. She believes that every young person deserves a chance to thrive, regardless of the educational path they take.
Jasmine holds a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from UMass Boston and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Clark Atlanta University, an esteemed Historically Black College and University (HBCU). She recently became a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), a milestone achieved in October 2024. This accomplishment is a testament to her ongoing dedication to helping others and her commitment to her own personal and professional growth.
Outside of work, Jasmine finds inspiration and purpose in studying the Bible, and enjoys dancing and swimming, which bring her joy and balance!
RISING STAR AWARD
Kate Minifie
Farm & Food Products Program Director, Franklin County CDC
In her role as Farm & Food Products Program Director at the Western MA Food Processing Center/Franklin County Community Development Corporation, Kate specializes in guiding entrepreneurs through the process of launching packaged food products into the marketplace. With a keen understanding of industry trends and consumer preferences, she empowers businesses to thrive in a competitive market, helping them turn innovative ideas into tangible products. With a passion for sustainable food systems and economic development, it is her mission to help entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of an unfamiliar industry, providing them with tools and expertise through 1-1 technical assistance and educational programming. She enjoys fostering connections amongst food entrepreneurs and connecting them with industry experts. She is inspired by the creativity and hard work of her many clients and enjoys serving them alongside a variety of regional partners.
RISING STAR AWARD
Leonardo Ruiz Sanchez
Lead Community Organizer, Fenway CDC
A self-proclaimed Southern Belle from Tennessee, Leo brings charm and determination to his role as Lead Community Organizer at Fenway CDC. With a degree in Community Health from Tufts University, he approaches organizing with a holistic perspective and deep compassion. Leo leans into the Popular Education philosophy that everyone teaches and everyone learns, fostering an environment where community members share knowledge and grow together. Beyond his work, Leo is a fitness enthusiast who loves hiking, barre, yoga, and discovering good food. When he’s not hitting the trails or the yoga mat, you’ll find him behind the camera, capturing life’s stories via the visual. He also loves movies, have you seen The Substance yet?
2025-2026 MACDC Board Nominations
Board Members Up for (re)election (to serve through Fall 2026)
Colleen Loveless
Revitalize CDC (West)
Rafael Mares
The Neighborhood Developers (Greater Boston)
Gonzalo Puigbo
Somerville CC (Greater Boston)
Suneeth John Fenway CDC (Boston)
Teronda Ellis
JPNDC (Boston)
Erika Hernandez
ACT Lawrence (Northeast)
Alexis Breitnecher Valley CDC (at-large)
Returning Board Members (to serve through Fall 2025)
Gail Latimore Codman Square NDC (Boston)
Marc Dohan NewVue Communities (Central)
Robert Corley
NeighborWorks Housing Solutions (Southeast)
David Christopolis Hilltown CDC (West)
Angie Liou Asian CDC (at-large)
Kimberly Lyle Dorchester Bay EDC (Boston)
Emilio Dorcely
Urban Edge (Boston)
Jay Coburn CDP (Southeast)
MACDC Officers
CHAIR – Emilio Dorcely, Urban Edge
VICE CHAIR – Kimberly Lyle, Dorchester Bay EDC
TREASURER – Gonzalo Puigbo, Somerville CC
CLERK – Rafael Mares, The Neighborhood Developers
We Thank Our Generous Sponsors
PRESENTING SPONSORS
PLATINUM SPONSORS
JPMorgan Chase & Co
Kuehn Charitable Foundation
Massachusetts Housing Partnership
Mass Housing Investment Corp
NeighborWorks America
Boston Children’s Hospital
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dorchester Bay EDC
GOLD
PNC Bank
Santander Bank
The Boston Foundation
United Way
Urban Edge
Massachusetts Growth Captial Corp
M&T Bank
Rockland Trust
SILVER
Community Economic Development Assistance Corp
Davis Square Architects
Dedham Savings Bank
Federal Home Loan Bank
AAFCPA’s
Affirmative Investments
Bank ESB
Fenway CDC
Harborlight Community Partners
Insource Services, Inc
Needham Bank
Point32Health
Preservation of Affordable Housing
Somerville Community Corporation
BRONZE
Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion
Joe & Dina Kriesberg
Leader Bank
Licata Risk Advisors
Munkenbeck Consulting
New Ecology, Inc.
Nolan Sheehan Patten LLP
Resonant Energy
Schwarzchild Consulting
TD Bank
Vermont Mutual Insurance Group
Our Mission Statement
MACDC is a membership organization that seeks to build and sustain a high performing and adaptive community development sector that is supported by private and public investment and sound public policies. We advance racial and economic equity by creating healthy communities where everyone lives in housing they can afford, benefits from economic opportunities and can fully participate in the civic life of their community.
CORE PRIORITIES
1. Build the power and voice of lower-income people and people of color to shape the future of their communities and their own lives;
2. Expand affordable housing in places where low- and moderateincome people can thrive;
3. Reduce income and wealth inequality across the state;
4. Drive the convergence of community development and community health;
5. Promote racial equity within the field and the Commonwealth.
MAJOR PROGRAM AREAS
1. Member Services – providing technical assistance, peer learning, and other supports to members;
2. Advocacy and System Reform – Leveraging our collective power to fight for policies and system reforms that help our members achieve their work locally and help expand economic opportunity and racial justice throughout our Commonwealth;
3. Mel King Institute for Community Building – Offering high quality training and support to professional community developers, board members, community leaders and everyone else involved in our field;
4. Research and Innovation – Conducting research about and for our field while promoting/supporting innovation in the field.
A strong community can do brilliant things
The Boston Foundation proudly supports the MACDC Annual Meeting. Affordable housing has been a major priority of TBF since the 1960s—and we were proud to be an early supporter of MACDC in 1982. Thank you for the invaluable work you do representing our state’s CDCs, which, like you, are dedicated to working with—and engaging with—the Commonwealth’s residents, businesses and neighborhoods with the goal of building strong, vibrant communities. We extend our special gratitude for helping all of us navigate our way through one of the worst housing crises in Greater Boston’s history. Your work—especially your advocacy—could not be more important than it is today.
For about the Boston Foundation, visit tbf.org.
We lift up our support for the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations celebrating the strides they make each day to build stronger, safer, and vibrant communities; building a tomorrow where everyone can thrive.
Fall 2024
DEC 3
Building foundations program: Affordable Housing Development Kickoff
Kickstart your journey in affordable housing project management with our inperson half-day session designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the development process
DEC 4 Affordable Housing Finance Basics
In this introduction to the fundamentals of affordable housing finance, instructor Laurie Gould will provide an overview of the main tools for financing, developing, and maintaining multifamily affordable housing.
Dec 5 Ending Zoning’s Racist Legacy by Taking Action
This session will explore a two-part presentation by Jennifer Raitt titled “Ending Zoning’s Racist Legacy: From Understanding to Taking Action ” Each part of the presentation will be followed by an open Q&A with participants.
Winter 2025
Jan 14-15
Building foundations program: Affordable Housing Finance Series
Our two-day, in-person intensive covers the financial frameworks crucial to affordable housing development Over the course of four 3-hour sessions, participants will gain a deep understanding of financial modeling, subsidy strategies, and budget management.
jan 16 Inclusive Hiring
The first session of our HR Series will focus on integrating inclusive decision making at each step of the hiring process to ensure that your organization brings the best talent to further your mission
jan 30 Legal Issues & Closings
From zoning and permitting to land use, this session covers the legal intricacies of affordable housing closings You’ll also learn best practices for managing legal risks during the development process
feb 11 Design & Role of the Owner’s Project Manager
Understand the vital role of the project manager in overseeing design and construction. This session will cover how to manage architectural plans, oversee construction phases, and engage necessary sub-consultants for a successful project
feb 13 Equitable Professional Development
The second session of our HR Series will aim to help organizations create customized professional development plans for employees. Topics will include how to set professional goals with your employees and how to create professional development plans tailored for each individual's different needs
feb 27 Working with Lenders & Investors
Learn the art of securing favorable loan terms and managing relationships with lenders and investors for long-term project success. This session will help you navigate relationships with lenders and investors for optimal project outcomes and to ensure compliance with financial reporting.
MAr 12 Intro to Community Economic Development
This course is a comprehensive exploration of contemporary community development, covering various aspects such as its history, key players, core values, goals, challenges, strategies, and emerging innovations
MAr 13 Building an Inclusive Workplace Culture
Ready to make your workplace the best it can be? The final session of our HR Series focuses on how organizations can cultivate a more inclusive culture so new hires feel respected and experience belonging at work.
Reflecting on the Racial Equity Pledge
It has been four years since MACDC launched the Racial Equity Pledge, and we feel that now is a good time to reflect on it and the impact it has had on our partner CDCs across the state. To do this, we met with a few representatives from our partner CDCs to ask how adopting the Pledge has affected their work.
Click the links below to learn about how some of our partners are interpreting the Pledge.
Worcester Common Ground
Franklin County CDC Community Teamwork
Codman Square NDC
