Our Community
Leadership Team
Rosanne Haggerty
President
president@cmtysolutions.org
Rosanne Haggerty is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Community Solutions. She is an internationally recognized leader in developing innovative strategies to end homelessness and strengthen communities. In 1990, Rosanne founded Common Ground Community, a pioneer in the development of supportive housing and research-based practices that end homelessness. To have greater impact, Rosanne and our senior team launched Community Solutions in 2011 to help communities solve the problems that create and sustain homelessness.
Rosanne is a MacArthur Foundation Fellow, an Ashoka Senior Fellow and a Hunt Alternative Fund Prime Mover. In 2012, she was awarded a Jane Jacobs medal for new ideas and activism from the Rockefeller Foundation. She serves on the boards of the Center for Urban Community Services, Citizens Housing and Planning Council and Iraq-Afghanistan Veterans of America.
She is a Life Trustee of Amherst College.
Andrew R. Haupt
Senior Director, Operations
ahaupt@cmtysolutions.org
As Senior Director of Operations, Andrew is primarily responsible for implementation and oversight of the day to day operations of the company including finance, human resources, legal and information technology. Andrew has more than 20 years of experience in the development of public interest real estate, including supportive and affordable housing, public parks and urban open space projects.
Prior to joining Community Solutions, Andrew served as Director of Housing Development for CAMBA Housing Ventures in Brooklyn, was the founding Co-Director and lead trainer for the Coro Center for Civic Leadership in Pittsburgh and worked for the Trust for Public Land to develop public parks in lower-income neighborhoods in the San Francisco Bay Area. He began his career working as a consultant to an array of organizations developing supportive housing in Los Angeles.
Andrew holds a BA from Kalamazoo College in Michigan and an MA in Urban Planning from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Rachael Barrett
Director, Development Operations
rbarrett@cmtysolutions.org
As the Director of Development Operations for Community Solutions, Rachael manages the organization’s foundation, corporate, individual and government funding portfolio. Rachael comes to Community Solutions from the Women’s Refugee Commission, a program of the International Rescue Committee where she was the Deputy Director of Government and Foundation Relations.
Rachael has a 15 plus year track record of success as a development professional in the nonprofit sector and has worked at community-based organizations in New York and Connecticut. In addition to her expertise in institutional fundraising, she has experience in special events, strategic planning, fundraising planning and measurement, and in using social media to promote good causes.
Rachael is a member of the American Association of Grant Professionals, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Women in Development, American Prospect Research Association and the American Evaluation Association. She serves as a board member on two New York City nonprofits, Good Shepherd Volunteers and Radio Diaries. Rachael also consults with small nonprofits on developing their strategic growth plans.
Rachael has a BS in Mass Communications from Emerson College and an MBA from the University of West Haven.
Sarah Hovde
Director, Research and Evaluation
shovde@cmtysolutions.org
As Director of Research and Evaluation, Sarah is responsible for developing and implementing a data collection, analysis and performance measurement system for The Brownsville Partnership, Community Solutions’ Brownsville-based neighborhood initiative. She develops metrics and information sharing protocols with partner organizations and agencies, and oversees the work of documenting the Partnership’s collective impact approach to community development.
Prior to joining Community Solutions, Sarah was the Director of Research and Policy at the New York branch of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, a national community development intermediary organization. She has also worked at the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board and the Community Service Society of New York. During her years of experience in New York’s affordable housing and community development world, she has facilitated collaborative advocacy campaigns, researched and authored studies on third sector affordable housing models, and evaluated community-based housing preservation initiatives.
Sarah received her BA in English Literature from Cornell University and her Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from Columbia University.
Becky Kanis
Director, 100,000 Homes Campaign
bkanis@cmtysolutions.org
Becky Kanis is the Director of the 100,000 Homes Campaign for Community Solutions. She joined the team in 2003 with the goal of reducing street homelessness in Times Square by two-thirds and after four years, Becky and her team reduced street homelessness in the neighborhood by 87 percent. As a result, the Street to Home Initiative became a model for New York City and the country. Prior to that, Becky served for nine years as an officer in the United States Army.
Becky holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Change Management from The New School and a Bachelors of Science Degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Becky was the founding board chair of Knights Out and currently serves on the board of Invisible People. She co-founded The Social Change Agency with her partner to help non-profit leaders create thriving teams.
Rasmia Kirmani-Frye
Director, Brownsville Partnership
rkfrye@cmtysolutions.org
As the Director of the Brownsville Partnership, Rasmia manages a Brownsville-based staff of 20, and provides overall strategic leadership, vision, guidance and direction to the Brownsville Partnership. Rasmia is also responsible for the development of a governance structure that deepens the relationships between the various partners and the Brownsville community.
Rasmia is a founding staff member of the Brownsville Partnership and began working in Brownsville in 2008 as Director of Programs and Operations. Prior to joining the Partnership, Rasmia was a New York City-based independent researcher and consultant working with community based organizations and government entities. She has taught classes both at Milano Graduate School and Eugene Lang College at New School University, including a course called “Mobilizing the City,” which addressed various theories and practices of community organizing. Rasmia has also worked as a community organizer in Brooklyn, where she has lived for the last 18 years. Rasmia received her BA in Urban Studies from the College of Wooster; her MS in Urban and Public Policy from the Milano Graduate School, New School University where she is currently a PhD candidate.
Caitlin LaCroix
Chief of Staff
clacroix@cmtysolutions.org
Caitlin serves as Chief of Staff to the President at Community Solutions. Prior to joining the Community Solutions team, Caitlin was a consultant at Tusk Strategies, where she focused on the unique public outreach, government relations and strategic communications needs of not for profits and clients who are interested in public/ private partnerships.
Caitlin is a board member of Community Resource Exchange. She earned her BA in Political Science from the College of the Holy Cross.
Corinne LeTourneau
Director, Policy
cletourneau@cmtysolutions.org
Corinne LeTourneau oversees planning efforts with community partners. She brings more than 10 years of experience in government and non-profit sectors working on strategic planning, project management and program design and implementation. Previously, Corinne served as Director of Special Projects at the New York City Department of Transportation, where she worked with the Commissioner and First Deputy Commissioner on various operational and policy issues including the agency-wide strategic plan. Corinne received her BA in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles and her MPA from Columbia University.
Nadine Maleh
Director, Inspiring Places
nmaleh@cmtysolutions.org
Nadine is responsible for the development of supportive housing and community development through local partnerships and the implementation of strategic development initiatives that support the mission of the organization.
Nadine has extensive experience in planning, design and construction supervision for housing development projects. Her expertise include sustainable design, program development based on needs of diverse populations and the integration of health concerns into building design. Nadine has been responsible for overseeing the design and development of more than 1,000 units of affordable housing, over 800 of which were built sustainably.
She is a member of the Architectural League of New York, Architecture for Humanity and the Housing Committee for the Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program in the Northeast. Nadine has been a visiting critic and lecturer at Columbia University, Pratt School of Architecture, Parsons School of Design and Yale University.
Nadine earned her BA in architectural studies from Tufts University and her Masters of Architecture with Honors from Illinois Institute of Technology.
Beth Sandor
Director, Quality Improvement
bsandor@cmtysolutions.org
Beth is the Director of Quality Improvement for the 100,000 Homes Campaign, an initiative of Community Solutions. In this role, Beth leads and coordinates all quality improvement efforts designed to support enrolled campaign communities to drastically improve the speed and process for housing the most vulnerable homeless individuals from streets and shelters.
Beth brings more than 13 years of experience working in the field of supportive housing and community development both in the United States as well is in the United Kingdom.
Beth’s recent work to integrate a “Rapid Results” approach into the 100,000 Homes Campaign has been highlighted in both the New York Times and the Harvard Business Review
Mike Shore
Director, Campaign Operations
mshore@cmtysolutions.org
Mike directs operations for the Campaign, providing support and coordination for teams working toward accomplishing Campaign goals. Mike focuses on creating the infrastructure and conditions that sustain and continuously improve the operations of an impeccably high-functioning team.
Mike is also CEO of HOM, Inc., a leader in innovative permanent supportive housing solutions in Phoenix, Arizona. He has been working to end homelessness at HOM, Inc., since 1994, assisting more than 1,100 formerly homeless individuals and families obtain housing stability on an annual basis.
Mike was selected as one of the Forty Under 40 by the Phoenix Business Journal in 2011. He also serves on the board for the Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness.
Mike holds a BS in Political Science from Arizona State University.
Jessica Venegas
Director, Strategic Partnerships
jvenegas@cmtysolutions.org
Jessica Venegas is Director of Strategic Partnerships for Community Solutions, where she supports the 100,000 Homes Campaign.
Prior to joining Community Solutions, Jessica staffed a long-term partnership between Common Ground and UNITY of Greater New Orleans to help create 3,000 new units of affordable and supportive housing in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. She has also held executive positions at the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations and the Community Preservation and Development Corporation in Washington DC.
Jessica holds a BA in Urban Community Development from Azusa Pacific University and a graduate certificate from the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Urban Redevelopment Excellence (CUREx).
In 2008, she was named an inaugural fellow of the Louisiana Effective Leaders Program, and in 2009, she was recognized as a Louisiana Heroine by the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations. Jessica currently sits on the boards of Puentes New Orleans, the Louisiana Housing Alliance and Academy of Hope.
Kristin Woods
Deputy Director, Brownsville Partnership
kwoods@cmtysolutions.org
As the Deputy Director of the Brownsville Partnership, Kristin works closely with the BP Director on the strategic development of the Partnership. She is responsible for overseeing the BP's budget, as well as creating and implementing systems that sustain and continuously improve the operations of the BP. Kristin's position functions similarly to a Chief-of-Staff – she works alongside program leaders and staff to ensure that all of the BP's objectives are met.
Kristin hails from the sunny state of California. She initially joined the Brownsville Partnership as a member of the Homelessness Intervention Program in 2008. She went on to lead the team's eviction prevention efforts as the Program Coordinator for a year before becoming the Brownsville Partnership's Deputy Director in 2013. In 2010, Kristin received the Above and Beyond Award from Common Ground for her extraordinary service at the Brownsville Partnership. In 2011, she was selected for the We Are All Brooklyn Fellowship. She is currently a member of the African-American Alumni Association of Vassar College.
Kristin holds a BA in psychology with a minor in urban studies from Vassar College.
Staff
Nupur Chaudhury
Programs Manager, Community Planning and Health
nchaudhury@cmtysolutions.org
As the Brownsville Partnership's Health Coordinator, Nupur designs and manages the entirety of the organization’s health programs in Brownsville Brooklyn. In that role, she deliberately focuses on bridging city agencies and professionals in the urban planning and public health fields to facilitate changes to the neighborhood’s urban form in order to improve health outcomes in Brownsville.
Prior to joining the Community Solutions team, Nupur Chaudhury worked at the nexus of urban planning and public health with projects in Ecuador, India and the United States and through organizations such as the Clinton Foundation, UNICEF, UN-Habitat, the InterAmerican Development Bank and New York City’s Department of City Planning.
Nupur received her BA in the Growth and Structure of Cities from Bryn Mawr College, where she won the Bolton Award for her analysis of the urban form of Kolkata, India. She received her Master’s degree in Urban Planning at New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service in 2009, and her Master’s in Public Health at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. Nupur was awarded the Indicorps Fellowship in 2005. She is a member of the American Planning Association and the American Public Health Association.
Leslie Lee Colon
Coordinator, Job Development and Placement
lcolon@cmtysolutions.org
Lee is responsible for daily activities for the career development training program, supervision and maintenance of student records, reports, and policies and procedures for the department. In his role, he works to implement and evaluate employability and retention status for employed graduates through outreach and network development.
Lee has been an Employment Specialist for more than 19 years. Through his work, he has impacted the personal and professional lives of hundreds of clients by helping them launch successful careers.
Lee’s is a graduate of the New York Institute of Technology, where he earned a degree in Communications Arts.
Anna Marie Creegan
Associate, Health Policy and Practice
acreegan@cmtysolutions.org
Anna holds a BA in sociology, a BA in Spanish language and literature, an MA in international development and a Certificate of Global Health Affairs.
Talia Davidow
Family Coach / MSW Intern
tdavidow@cmtysolutions.org
As a Family Coach for the Homelessness Intervention Program, Talia works intensively with families and individuals who are at risk of becoming homeless. She identifies families through extensive outreach in the Brownsville community, helps stabilize those families when there is an immediate housing crisis with financial assistance and service supports, develops relationships with particular families most at risk of continued housing instability and helps those families maintain their housing, stabilize their lives and achieve their goals. In addition, Talia assists the mental health coordinator and on-site psychiatry residents with coordinating and conducting mental health evaluations.
Prior to working in Brownsville, Talia was a legal assistant at a civil litigation firm in Berkeley, California, where she also conducted research for an organization that focuses on juvenile justice reform. Talia has also taught English in Turkey and is a trained labor and birth doula.
Talia is in her first year at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, with a practice concentration in Clinical Practice with individuals, families and groups. She received her BA in History and Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Ana Paula Delja
Coordinator, Development Operations
apdelja@cmtysolutions.org
Ana Paula is the Coordinator for Fundraising and Deveopment at Community Solutions. Ana Paula’s duties include writing proposals for Community Solutions’ initiatives, managing donor reports for existing program funders and planning site visits and donor events.
Prior to joining the team, she was a Program Associate at United Way of Greater Los Angeles where she wrote RFPs and managed the Housing Stability grantees. She also helped write and launch Home for Good, the five-year plan to end chronic homelessness in Los Angeles County. Ana Paula received her BA in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University and is currently an Urban Policy graduate student at The New School for Public Engagement.
Emmily De Los Santos
Family Coach
esantos@cmtysolutions.org
As a Family Coach for the Homelessness Intervention Program, Emmily De Los Santos, works intensively with families and individuals who are at risk of becoming homeless. She works to identify families through extensive outreach in the Brownsville community, stabilize those families who have an immediate housing crisis with financial assistance and service supports, develop relationships with the particular families most at-risk of continued housing instability, and help these families maintain their housing, stabilize their lives and achieve their goals.
Emmily became a Family Coach at the Brownsville Partnership in July 2012. She is passionate about social justice and has actively advocated for racial, social, and economic equality. Prior to joining the BP, Emmily worked as a Public-Policy Intern for the Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness (IAHH), where she supported the essential need for safe, habitable and affordable housing. Emmily also has experience in research from her days as a Research Intern for the Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDCo).
Emmily was awarded the Best Undergraduate Poster in the 2011 Eastern Sociological Society Conference. She holds a BA in sociology and a minor in law and society from Skidmore College.
Mirline Desir
Family Coach
mdesir@cmtysolutions.org
As a Family Coach for the Homelessness Intervention Program and the Intensive Family Support Program, Mirline works intensively with families and individuals who are at risk of becoming homeless. She works to identify families through extensive outreach in the Brownsville community, stabilize those families where there is an immediate housing crisis with financial assistance and service supports, develop relationships with the families most at risk of continued housing instability, and help those families to maintain their housing, stabilize their lives and achieve their goals. Mirline has five years of experience working with youth in foster care and group homes, where she has prepared youth for successful transition into independent living. She has been on a mission since joining the Brownsville Partnership to provide services that empower and strengthen individuals and families toward achieving their desired goals, while working to limit family barriers that affect their lives. Mirline has been able to help families develop the skills necessary to maintain housing through the utilization of community resources that provide positive change toward a sustainable and self-sufficient future within the Brownsville Community.
Caitlin DiMaina
Associate, Community Engagement
cdimaina@cmtysolutions.org
Caitlin works to engage and enroll Los Angeles and Southern California communities in the 100,000 Homes Campaign. She also provides nation-wide support for newly enrolled Campaign communities, Registry Week Boot Camp logistics, coordination and training. In addition, Caitlin does outreach in the Skid Row community in downtown LA, working with homeless individuals toward permanent supportive housing.
Caitlin is participating in a year of service through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, which connected her to Community Solutions and the 100,000 Homes Campaign. She graduated with a BA in Sociology with a concentration in Peace & Conflict Studies from the College of the Holy Cross.
Jayce Elliston
Associate, Logistics
jelliston@cmtysolutions.org
Jayce coordinates logistics for day-to-day management of the 100,000 Homes Campaign, as well as special projects and training seminars.
Jayce joined the Campaign with a commitment to help end veteran homelessness. Prior to joining the Campaign team, he served as an airborne field artillery cannon crewmember in the Army, including combat service in Desert Storm. He has several years of logistics and project management experience in various corporate arenas, including live remote broadcast television. Jayce also owned and operated three award winning restaurants in the Phoenix metro area.
Jayce received his BS in Public Administration from the University of Arizona.
Aaron Evans
Family Coach
aevans@cmtysolutions.org
Aaron Evans serves as a Family Coach at Brownsville Partnership in the Home to Stay Program. He brings a wealth of knowledge to his role regarding outreach, advocacy and case management.
Prior to working for the Brownsville Partnership, Aaron worked as a Case Manager at The Center for Health, Identity Behavior and Prevention Studies program in collaboration with Steinhardt, New York University’s school of behavioral and social intervention, and the city. He also has experience doing international advocacy work in New York City with Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom, a not for profit operated out of the United Nations.
Aaron is a graduated from NYU with a Master’s in Public Health Advocacy and Gender Theory.
Benjamin Faust
bfaust@cmtysolutions.org
Benjamin is part of Community Solutions’ Research and Evaluation Department. He analyzes the impact of internal programs in Brownsville, as well as community-wide efforts, to increase the safety, health and prosperity of Brownsville residents. Benjamin is also working to develop a new database that will help Community Solutions track and document organizational progress.
He graduated from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy with an MA in City and Regional Planning. Prior to that, he created and directed a community organizing department with The Neighborhood Developers in Chelsea, Massachusetts.
Fredjean Funn
Community Planning Partner
ffunn@cmtysolutions.org
As a Community Planning Partner, Fredjean works in collaboration with the Homelessness Intervention Program Family Coaches. Fredjean assists current Brownsville Partnership participants by providing individualized assistance to families at risk of losing their apartments. When needed, she accompanies Brownsville residents to housing court and public assistance and other appointments related to maintaining housing.
Fredjean joined the Brownsville Partnership team in July 2012. Prior to that, she worked as a Direct Care Provider, assisting adults with mental health concerns. After becoming unemployed, Fredjean came to the BP’s Homelessness Intervention Program for help with her housing crisis. With the help of a Homelessness Intervention Program Family Coach, Fredjean prevented her eviction and enrolled in a pre-GED program. A part-time position opened up at the BP and Fredjean jumped at the opportunity. She has since enjoyed helping her neighbors by connecting them to services that will help them remain housed.
Fredjean is also member of the Brownsville Partnership’s Safe Routes Project, a small group of residents who are committed to helping Brownsville’s youth get to and from school safely.
Erin Healy
Improvement Advisor
ehealy@cmtysolutions.org
Erin is member of the 100,000 Homes Campaign's improvement team. Her work is dedicated to helping Campaign communities get and stay on track to meet or exceed their goals. In this role, Erin provides one-on-one support to campaign communities and helps design and deliver the Campaign's Rapid Results Housing Boot Camps.
Erin has more than 10 years of experience in homelessness and housing policy, including managing initiatives focused on employment services, veterans and reentry supportive housing, as well as systems change. Prior to joining Community Solutions, she was the Associate Director of the Corporation for Supportive Housing’s New York office.
With a background in law, Erin has done a variety of policy and legislative work in the not for profit and governmental sectors, and has a genuine passion for developing collaborative solutions through facilitation of multi-system teams. In 2012, she was selected for the American Express Leadership Academy, a national leadership initiative for the non-profit sector.
Erin holds a BA from Mount Holyoke College and a JD from the University of Washington School of Law.
Diana M. Jimenez
Community Planning Partner
djimenez@cmtysolutions.org
Diana serves as the Community Planner Partner to the Lead Outreach worker. Diana’s work includes developing methods to best connect former Prospect Plaza residents to financial management services. Diana’s role also includes assisting Community Planning Partners in organizing outreach, events and meetings specific to community needs.
In addition to her part time work at Community Solutions, Diana currently works at Woodhull Hospital as a Confidential Secretary.
Ionna L. Jimenez
Lead Outreach Worker
ijimenez@cmtysolutions.org
As the Lead Outreach Worker, Ionna's main focus is to ensure New York City Housing Authority's Brownsville residents and former Prospect Plaza residents are continuously engaged and partake in Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners’ "Getting Ahead" financial management program. She coordinates the scheduling and logistics of the program, and builds and maintains relationships with community organizations and numerous NYCHA departments.
Prior to being a Lead Outreach worker, Ionna held the Community Planning Partner position, in which her primary responsibility was outreach to former Prospect Plaza residents. Preceding her time at Community Solutions, Ionna worked for Housing Preservation & Development as a Housing Specialist for Code Enforcement, servicing HPD's Section 8 Subsidy holders.
Linda Kaufman
Director, National Field Organizing
lkaufman@cmtysolutions.org
Linda Kaufman is the National Field Organizer for Community Solutions’ 100,000 Homes Campaign. In this role, Linda invites communities and states to join the Campaign, works with them to determine which homeless individuals in the community are vulnerable and assists in developing resources.
She has worked in homeless services in Washington, DC since the mid-1980s, most recently as Chief Operating Officer of Pathways to Housing DC. Linda was also the Director of Homeless Services at the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID), and earlier served as the Director of Adult Services for the DC Department of Mental Health. In addition to her work to end homelessness in DC, she is also involved in other issues of social justice in the City.
Linda received a Masters of Divinity at Virginia Theological Seminary. She is ordained as an Episcopal priest and ministers at St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church in Washington, DC.
Jacqueline Kennedy
Coordinator, Community Mobilization
jkennedy@cmtysolutions.org
As the Community Mobilization Coordinator at the Brownsville Partnership, Jacqueline facilitates community mobilization and engagement activities within the Brownsville community. She also manages resident leadership initiatives including the Community Planning Partner Program.
Jacqueline’s interest in community development began in her own neighborhood, where she worked as an intern at a community-based not for profit organization.
Jacqueline expanded her knowledge of community development in low-income communities while consulting at the San Diego Foundation and serving as Assistant Project Manager for a local nonprofit affordable housing developer. Jacqueline originally joined the Community Solutions team as an intern for the Brownsville Partnership, where she consulted on Special Projects in Brownsville before serving as the Outreach Coordinator.
Jacqueline holds a BA in Sociology and an MPA in Nonprofit Management and Policy.
Quardean Lewis-Allen
Greg Jackson Community Fellow
qlewis@cmtysolutions.org
Quardean is a Community Fellow tasked with marketing and media content production for the Brownsville Partnership. In this capacity, he seeks to aid in streamlining graphic content for print and the web. He also assists the IFSP team in connecting homeless families to affordable housing and is using his fellowship hiatus to research and impact the architecture and arts landscape in Brownsville.
Prior to joining the BP team, Quardean was an architecture intern with an international design firm. He also worked on developing eco-sustainable affordable housing in rural Nigeria prior to his time studying social housing under architect Anne Lacaton in Paris. He has written and edited a handful of print and web publications and has had extensive experience in fabrications and woodshop assistance.
Quardean is the first Greg Jackson Community Fellow and was a recipient of the Harvard GSD International Community Service Fellowship.
Quardean holds a BS in Architecture from SUNY at Buffalo and will complete his Masters of Architecture at Harvard Graduate School of Design when he has completed his fellowship with BP.
Nadia Lugo
Coordinator, Community Health
nlugo@cmtysolutions.org
As Community Health Coordinator, Nadia provides community-based care coordination to individuals who frequently visit the local emergency rooms, boosting their health outcomes by connecting them to the care or additional resources they need. She has developed and maintains a catalogue of local resources and a Community Asset Map to identify and liaise with partner organizations.
Nadia has more than a decade of case management experience with vulnerable populations. She brings a strengths-based approach to her work and is adept at leveraging community resources to enhance individuals’ natural support networks. Nadia holds a BS in social work.
Jake Maguire
Director, Campaign Communications
jmaguire@cmtysolutions.org
Jake serves as Communications Director to the 100,000 Homes Campaign. Prior to joining the Campaign team, he helped to develop and execute successful communications strategies for a diverse range of corporate, political and non-profit clients, including the Center for American Progress, Goldman Sachs, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, the New York City Center for Charter School Excellence and the Omega Institute. As a speechwriter, spokesman and media strategist, he specializes in the implementation of robust, campaign-style efforts that emphasize proactive messaging and rapid response. Jake holds a BA from Amherst College and an MA from the University of Texas at Austin.
Rosalind C. Magwood
Community Planning Partner
rmagwood@cmtysolutions.org
As a Community Planning Partner, Rosalind works to mobilize residents and assess community needs as related to the goals of the Brownsville Partnership. Her work includes making information and resources accessible, convening residents through the facilitation of house meetings and advocating for residents’ voiced needs.
Before becoming a Community Planning Partner Rosalind was a Healthy Families Family Coach and a client at the Brownsville Partnership. Rosalind is the Chairwoman of SCO Family of Services’ Early Head Start Policy Council, a member of The Early Intervention Program and a member of the Social Work Club at York College.
Rosalind holds an AA in Human Services Mental Health.
Jessica Marcus
Coordinator, Research and Quality Assurance
jmarcus@cmtysolutions.org
As the Research and Quality Assurance Coordinator for the 100,000 Homes Campaign, Jessica participates in both the Campaign’s field organizing and process improvement work. She serves as the primary contact for Campaign communities for all data and analytical support and regularly provides the 100,000 Homes team with up-to-date national metrics and quantitative analysis.
Jessica graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in Political Science.
Maygen Moore
Project Manager
mmoore@cmtysolutions.org
Maygen Moore serves as the Project Manager for Brownsville. She is responsible for researching and developing built environment interventions that will have meaningful impact in the community. Maygen practiced real estate law for several years in both the public and private sectors, where she gained significant experience in acquisitions, re-financing, asset management, and leasing. Maygen currently serves on the board of Women in Housing and Finance. She obtained her BA from Amherst College and her JD from the University of Virginia. She completed her MS degree in Real Estate Development at Columbia University, where she wrote her graduate thesis entitled, “Re-Thinking the NYC Housing Authority’s Budget through Holistic Community Development.”
Sarah Morrison
Senior Advisor, Quality Assurance
smorrison@cmtysolutions.org
Sarah came to the Brownsville Partnership in 2007 to launch a pilot program designed to end homelessness for episodically homeless families. She focused her efforts on homeless housing advocacy and working to end family homelessness after seeing the devastating impact of displacement on children and families while working with youth in homeless shelters. Sarah’s experience includes community organizing in West Africa, community building through the arts in New York City shelters, program development and program management. Sarah received an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and a MSW in Community Organizing and Planning from Hunter College School of Social Work.
Kyle Mushkin
Program Manager
kmushkin@cmtysolutions.org
Kyle Mushkin is Program Manager at Community Solutions' Brownsville Partnership, where since 2009 she has overseen and developed intensive stabilization programs for families at risk of homelessness. She brings 12 years of domestic and international experience to her work in Brownsville, including serving as Program Director for Jumpstart and the YMCA’s literacy-based and preventive youth programs in New Haven and Brooklyn, three years conducting outreach and coordinating family support services at a community mental health clinic in the Boston area, and a fellowship to develop domestic violence programming at a health clinic in rural Nicaragua.
Kyle currently holds her LMSW and is a member of the NASW and APHA. She earned her BA in Urban Studies from Connecticut College, and her MSW and MPH from Columbia University, with a focus on Social Enterprise Administration and Urbanism.
Gina Muslim
Project Manager
gmuslim@cmtysolutions.org
Gina is a Project Manager for Community Solutions’ Hartford Initiative. Her work is focused on the management of two community revitalization projects in Hartford, Connecticut. She is part of the Inspiring Places team and works closely with the Healthy Communities team.
Prior to joining Community Solutions, Gina served as the Development Director for John Dempsey Hospital and the UConn School of Medicine at the University of Connecticut Foundation. Gina has more than 15 years of experience in the non-profit field and has held leadership posts at The Children’s Museum in West Hartford, the Wadsworth Atheneum, Boston Children’s Museum and Boston Children’s Hospital.
She is a Director at Large at for the Aurora Foundation for Women and Girls, an Advisory Board Member at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hartford and a mentor at The Village for Families and Children. She is also a board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Connecticut Chapter.
Gina has a BA from Smith College and has completed graduate study in non-profit management at Harvard University.
Sweta Patel
Senior Project Manager
spatel@cmtysolutions.org
As Senior Project Manager of Inspiring Places, Sweta brings her design background to guide our real estate and community development initiatives in Hartford, CT. She has more than 10 years of work experience in the fields of architecture, urban planning and economic development, which she uses to foster Community Solutions’ integrated approach of building healthy and sustainable communities.
Prior to joining Community Solutions, Sweta worked as an architectural designer in Philadelphia, PA and with Common Ground to manage the development of supportive housing projects in New York City.
Sweta received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Pennsylvania State University and an MS in City Design and Social Science from the London School of Economics.
Lujuanda Rush
Program Coordinator
lrush@cmtysolutions.org
As Program Coordinator, Lujuanda is responsible for coordinating the program services of the Brownsville Partnership’s Shelter to Home and Intensive Family Support Programs. She ensures that participating families receive the appropriate level of individualized, comprehensive services, including referral services, and assists episodically homeless families with locating affordable, permanent housing. She also works with at-risk New York City Housing Authority residents in Brownsville to help them maintain housing stability.
Lujuanda has been working with families in various capacities for more than 15 years. She holds a master’s degree in Education and is currently working on a Masters in Social Work.
Alexandra Sanders
Coordinator, Communications
asanders@cmtysolutions.org
As the Communications Coordinator for Community Solutions, Alexandra serves as a social media strategist, a public relations professional and a web producer. While sculpting a constantly-evolving communications strategy, she works to ensure that Community Solutions has a robust online presence by monitoring metrics that detail our online community engagement and reach.
Prior to joining the Community Solutions team, Alexandra was a journalist who covered City Hall, education, crime and the community in New Haven, CT at the New Haven Register. She was a member of the New Haven Register reporting team who won the 2012 Society of Professional Journalists award for coverage of Hurricane Irene and she is a New England First Amendment Coalition Fellow.
Alexandra received a BA in journalism and a BA in psychology from the Univeristy of Connecticut.
Karrie Scarboro
Community Planning Partner
kscarboro@cmtysolutions.org
As a Community Planning Partner, Karrie works to mobilize residents and assesses community needs as related to the goals of the Brownsville Partnership. Her work includes facilitating house meetings throughout New York City Housing Authority developments and making information and resources accessible to her fellow residents. Karrie is most interested in the stabilizing Brownsville’s most vulnerable populations: seniors and children.
Karrie is the President and Founder of Striving to Build a Better Brownsville, an organization that works to create a safer and more beautiful Brownsville for everyone in the area.
Donna Smith
Coordinator, Operations and Information Technology
dsmith@cmtysolutions.org
Donna joins the Community Solutions team with more than eight years of experience in the not for profit sector and many years in the for profit sector. She worked for the Greater New York Hospital Association and United Way of New York City, where she worked with a team that was instrumental in the development of the Women United in Philanthropy. Donna was part of the start-up of the Young Leader initiative, which aimed to encourage the next
generation of philanthropists.
She has a BA in Pre-Law and Political Science from Saint Augustine’s University and certifications in multiple computer programs. She was also awarded the Junior Fellowship in 2008.
Terry Starks
As a Community Planning Partner, Terry’s responsibilities include developing community leaders in Northeast Hartford, facilitating coalitions and advocating for social justice.
During the summer of 2012, Terry rallied a team to canvass Hartford’s northeast neighborhood residents about their primary concerns. The survey results spurred the plan to redevelop the historic Swift Factory. As a result of Terry’s initiative, the community’s concerns for health, safety and prosperity are being addressed.
Terry is affiliated with Three Generations Nevaehn Inc. and The Salvation Army. She is also Head Coach of the HPD’s Drill team.
Terry graduated from Thomas Snell Weaver high school, and is working toward obtaining her associates degree in Social Service.
John J. Thomas
Community Planning Partner
jthomas@cmtysolutions.org
As a Community Planning Partner, John engages residents of Hartford's Northeast Neighborhood through Community Solutions' Northeast Neighborhood Partnership. Through canvassing, conversation and community meeting attendance, John establishes a community presence and collects data regarding the needs and concerns of Hartford's Northeast neighborhood residents. John works to disseminate information about the Swift Factory Development while getting input about community expectations for the factory's use.
Prior to joining the Community Solutions team, John served as an organizer for various political campaigns in Hartford's north end. John also served for eight years as a staff writer and photographer for Hartford's African-American newspaper, The Hartford Inquirer.
Kristel Thompson-Bush
Coordinator, Mental Health
kbush@cmtysolutions.org
As the Mental Health Coordinator in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Kristel works closely with the consulting psychiatrist and program staff to coordinate mental health services for the Brownsville Partnership’s program participants. Together they provide short-term stabilizing treatment, facilitate connections to ongoing mental health services and foster collaboration among providers and program partners. In addition to conducting outreach, assessments and advocacy, Kristel also coordinates monthly mental health education workshops for staff and Brownsville community members in an effort to strengthen awareness about mental health issues and to combat stigma.
Kristel has more than eight years of intensive case management experience with specialization in advocacy and mental health. Prior to her current role, she worked as a Family Coach with the Shelter to Home program.
She is a member of the NASW and is a Prep for Prep alumna. Kristel holds a BA in Sociology from Mount Holyoke College and will complete her LMSW from New York University this year.
Leslie Wise
Director, Southern California Field Organizing
lwise@cmtysolutions.org
As the Southern California Field Organizing Director, Leslie leads the engagement and enrollment of communities in Los Angeles and Southern California for the 100,000 Homes Campaign and supports the improvement of local systems for most effectively housing the chronic and vulnerable homeless residents in these areas. In Los Angeles, Leslie is responsible for partnering and aligning Campaign targets and goals with staff and system leaders working toward the goals of Home for Good, the local plan to end chronic and veteran homelessness.
Leslie is also responsible for setting national targets and tracking outcomes for community enrollment, training and completion of Registry Weeks.
Prior to joining the Community Solutions team, Leslie was the Director of Policy and Planning with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), where she helped oversee one of the nation’s largest homeless Point in Time enumerations and applications to HUD for Homeless Assistance Program funding. Leslie also served as Homelessness Policy Advisor to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villarigosa, where she worked with the County of Los Angeles on the first ever joint City / County homelessness policy platform.
Leslie holds a BA in Social Work from Ohio University. She also completed the Ross Minority Program in Real Estate at the University of Southern California, and the Community Development and Empowerment Series presented by the Chicago Rehab Network in Chicago, IL, each designed to designed to provide the technical expertise and knowledge of the resources needed to develop significant urban real estate and affordable housing projects.
Bryan Woll
Family Coach
bwoll@cmtysolutions.org
As a Family Coach for the Homelessness Intervention Program, Bryan works intensively with families and individuals who are at risk of becoming homeless. He works to identify families through extensive outreach in the Brownsville community, helps stabilize those families when there is an immediate housing crisis with financial assistance and service supports, develops relationships with the particular families most at-risk of continued housing instability and helps the families to maintain their housing, stabilize their lives and achieve their goals.
Bryan is participating in a year of service through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, which connected him to Community Solutions and the Brownsville Partnership. Prior to joining the team in Brownsville in 2012, Bryan worked as an aide to a member of Pittsburgh's City Council and interned for U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (PA-14), U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and the Budget Office at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Bryan earned a BA in economics from Georgetown University in May 2012, where he was an Undergraduate Fellow at the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor.