Community & Economic Development
Sub-Priority Area
Financial Security & Wealth-building
Project: Analysis of NeighborWorks America’s Network Members (Community Development Financial Institutions and Community Development Corporations)
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Client: NeighborWorks America
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Description: Analyzed NeighborWorks America’s Community Development Corporation (CDC), Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Network members’, with up to $785M in assets, business model changes, opportunities, partnerships, and racial equity, diversity, and inclusion capacity building efforts. Analysis included review of members’ small business development, lending (mortgage and small business), workforce development, affordable housing, shared equity, climate resilience and adaptation, and social programming throughout the United States. Compiled key findings and informed existing data collection and previously used analysis strategies.
Project: Baltimore New American Access Coalition
Client: Baltimore City Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs
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Description:​ Oversaw implementation of program and pertinent infrastructure, including the development of grant agreements, capacity building and evaluation framework for a coalition of providers tasked with accessing and connecting the city's immigrant and refugee families with benefits (food, housing, health, utilities, etc) via case management to facilitate their integration and financial stability.
Project: “Creating the Right Business Strategy” Montgomery County, MD Black Collective’s “Business Essentials” Video Series for Aspiring Small Business Owners
Client: Montgomery County Black Collective
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Description:​ Collaborated with the Montgomery County Black Collective in the development of a video focused on crafting the right business strategy when launching a business. The video was part of a series of videos for aspiring business owners of color.
Project: Development of McElderry Park, Baltimore City Neighborhood Homeownership Plan
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Client: Southeast Community Development Corporation (SECDC)
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Description: A 50-year-old Community Development Corporation in Baltimore City that drives and facilitates investments and the engagement of community members in housing and infrastructure initiatives and provides social, educational, small business development, and workforce supports to residents. We were contracted to support a needs assessment designed to inform community members’ efforts to develop a neighborhood-based homeownership plan. Conducted qualitative interviews with residents and analyzed quantitative data collected via survey by community members to produce homeownership development plan for a Baltimore City neighborhood with a history of disinvestment and a subsequent low homeownership rate, particularly among its legacy residents. Drafted a report summarizing interview findings and provided an analysis of community-administered survey data. Facilitated session with neighborhood resident leaders to inform them of the findings and solicit feedback.
Project: Development of Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Framework and Analysis of Small and Midsized City (SMC) Hub Program
Client: New Growth Innovation Network (NGIN)
Description: A national nonprofit tasked with advancing inclusive economies in cities and regions across the United States. Developed a monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) framework, analyzed program data, and produced MEL guidance and recommendations for national entity’s Small and Midsized City (SMC) Hub program, which shares knowledge, insights, and innovation in economic development among practitioners in the small business development, lending, workforce development, housing, and financial capability space across the country to drive inclusive economic development, advance equity, and reduce health disparities. Analyzed quantitative and qualitative data to assess existing participant base, needs, engagement, and impact; gaps in existing data collection and analysis; and identify next steps to advance the assessment of impact, learning processes, and program design. ​​
Project: Exploration of Grantee Portfolio for Debt Reduction Initiatives
​Client: Annie E. Casey Foundation
Description: Assessed the Foundation’s existing consumer debt reduction initiative via a scan that included key informant interviews and a literature review of common debt types and the use and impact of debt among young adults.​
Project: Housing as a Pathway to Justice: Baltimore City and District of Columbia Landscape Assessment
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Client: Enterprise Community Partners
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Description: Conducted landscape assessments to assess the intersection between housing and the legal system reform in Baltimore, MD, and Washington, DC. Assessment included a mixed method quantitative and qualitative analysis to strengthen internal policies and advocacy efforts. Analysis was designed to deepen understanding of internal and external policies, best practices, existing service infrastructure, innovative programs and services, resources, and collaborative efforts in Baltimore, MD, and Washington, DC pertaining to closing gaps in housing needs among individuals with justice system contact. Services included literature reviews; listening sessions with legal system reform stakeholders, housing and service providers, individuals with lived experience, policy and legal experts, funders, and local government representatives; case studies; a report of internal housing practices; a report of intrnal housing practices; and development of comprehensive landscape assessment reports for each city.
Project: Housing and Returning Citizen Provider Convening to Facilitate Advancements in Affordable Housing Access Among Individuals with Justice System Contact
Client: Enterprise Community Partners
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Description: A leading national economic development nonprofit that has invested over $72 billion in community and economic development across the United States. We designed in-person convening, tools, and materials in collaboration with Enterprise Community Partners to facilitate session with housing and returning citizen providers committed to improving access to housing among individuals with justice system contact in Washington, DC and Baltimore City, MD. Session and event evaluations were analyzed and summarized to identify lessons learned, partnership opportunities, and continued priorities, support needs, and areas of interest.
Project: Montgomery County, MD Office of Food Systems Resilience - Grant Deployment & Program Service Supports
Client: Montgomery County Office of Food System Resilience (OFSR)
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Description: Contracted to support the County’s new Office of Food System Resilience with grantmaking and impact analysis. Supported team with the development of a notice of funding opportunity for their largest grant deployment effort. Analyzed and summarized the Office’s data across programs and initiatives including school-based, food as medicine, community gardening, SNAP outreach, and food infrastructure and system development. County food investments also sought to ensure grantees sourced food from local and minority owned food businesses. Analyses were prepared to inform legislators, decisionmakers, partners, and the community at large of OFSR’s impact and ongoing efforts to ensure sufficient investments are made to address hunger among a culturally and economically diverse population and the resilience of the County’s food system in the face of climate change.
Project: National Women’s Law Center’s Participatory Grantmaking and Community Impact Fund Evaluation and Technical Assistance
Client: National Women’s Law Center (NWLC)
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Description: A national nonprofit entity responsible for securing key legal protections and supports for women in the United States over the last half century. Contracted to provide technical assistance and evaluate the organization’s participatory grantmaking making process related to their Community Impact Fund Initiative focused on building partnerships between national and local level community-based organizations focused on strengthening childcare sector policies that impact the financial security of Black and Brown female workers and parents.
The evaluation is focused on the participatory grantmaking process and the impact of grantees’ childcare sector advocacy in southern and southwestern states by woman of color led entities and entails the design, data collection, analysis, and drafting of findings to facilitate learning within NWLC and the larger field. Technical assistance is focused on program design and grantee capacity building.