On June 25, 2021, HAND celebrated its 30th anniversary with an immersive virtual experience designed to inspire, create space for ideation, and strengthen the relationships that are vital to the creation of equitable communities. Check out the recap below to hear reflections on the organization’s past three decades, perspectives from industry thought leaders and powerful insights from our 2021 Housing Achievement Award Winner slate.

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The history of our nation is tainted with smears of systemic racism and discrimination from the very first steps of settlers onto American land. In 1619, a ship carrying the first enslaved Africans arrived at Point Comfort in Virginia. Just 15 years later, colonizers would make contact with Piscataway Conoy – the largest and most powerful tribal nation in our region, with a footprint that extended across DC, Maryland, Virginia and even further into the Mid-Atlantic. The dark days that followed laid the foundation for systems, policies, and programs that are still with us to this very day. HAND is standing firm in its commitment to centering equity, and as we recognize the milestone of 30 years, we would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge that we have been battling the same challenges for hundreds of years. Still here in celebration. Still here in challenge. We remain dedicated to working alongside you to address the root causes that amplify housing disparities and restrict access to opportunity for communities of color. We celebrate, but we also say their names. George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Piscataway Conoy. And so many others. THANK YOU to all of our speakers, sponsors, members, partners and guests who attended this year’s Annual Meeting & Housing Expo. We truly appreciate your commitment to creating a more just and equitable region. Check out the recap below to hear reflections on the past three decades, perspectives from industry thought leaders and insights from our award winners.

 


9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Expo Hall and Social Lounge Open

 

9:05 AM – 9:40 AM        
Honoring Native Land | Piscataway Conoy                       



 

Three Decades of Reflection | HAND Leadership 

HAND leadership reflects on the organization’s 30-year journey.

Speakers

     
Jill Norcross
Former Executive Director, HAND
Heather Raspberry
Executive Director
HAND
 John Spencer
Founder
HAND
     

9:40 AM – 2:00 PM
IGNITE TALKS

Ignite Talk Correspondents
Also known as the “griots” or storytellers for the day, Gaskins and Andere provided key context for each Ignite Talk and offered insightful analysis on each dialogue. 

       
Alyia Gaskins
Founder and CEO
CitiesRX, LLC
Amanda Andere
CEO 
Funders Together to 
End Homelessness
       

Equity In Action | Removing the Barriers, Unlocking Access for Black & Brown Developers
Brought to you by 


Even in the midst of the growing housing affordability challenge, black and brown real estate developers are still met with the obstacle of accessing the capital needed to execute their plans to revitalize communities. Confronting the idea of “a seat at the table,” this moderated dialogue featured leaders in finance and real estate development who spoke candidly about these difficulties and solutions to drive more equitable outcomes for HAND members and other stakeholders.

Speakers

Catherine Buell
Head of
Community Development
Amazon in the Community
Ellis Carr
President & CEO
Capital Impact Partners
Brett Macleod
Executive Director
JPMorgan Chase
(Moderator)
Steve Rosenberg
CEO & Founder
Greystone
Ernst Valery
Co-Managing Member
SAA | EVI
Adrian Washington
CEO & Founder
Neighborhood Development Company

Putting the Community Back in Community Development
Brought to you by


Warning: This video features explicit language.

The GateBridge Community represents an innovative approach to mixed-income, mixed-use affordable housing – one that centers placemaking, closing the racial wealth gap, and building more diverse, inclusive, and equitable economies. This captivating discussion examined the GateBridge model from the perspectives of its founder Professor Anthony Cook and the development, philanthropic, and investor partners needed to bring it to fruition.

Speakers

 
Mustafa Abdul- Salaam
 Managing Partner
Community Economic Development Partners
Anthony Cook
Professor of Law
Georgetown University
(Moderator)
Vance Gragg 
Partner
Gragg Cardona Partners
Dan Tangherlini
Managing Director
Emerson Collective
Ed Delany
Senior Director 
Senior Capital Officer
Community Finance
Capital One
 
A Conversation with Dr. Andre M. Perry |
Know Your Price:
Valuing Black Lives and Property in
America’s Black Cities
Brought to you by
 

The deliberate devaluation of communities of color has had very real, far-reaching, and negative economic and social effects. There is a longstanding myth claiming that brutal conditions in Black communities are mainly the result of Black people’s collective choices and moral failings. Dr. Andre Perry’s publication, Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America’s Black Cities, takes readers on a tour of six Black-majority cities whose assets and strengths are undervalued. This exciting and informative dialogue explored his findings and what this means for our industry.

Speakers

     
Dr. Andre Perry
Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives
and Property in America’s Black Cities
Monica Warren-Jones
President, HAND
Director,
Capital Solutions, Enterprise
 
Susan Dewey
Chief Executive Officer
Virginia Housing
     

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Expo Hall & Social Lounge


3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Presentation of Housing Achievement Awards & Children’s Essay Contest

Brought to you by 

       
Roderick Hirsch
Mortgage Area Sales Manager
PNC Bank
Derrick Perkins
SVP & Market Executive
Bank of America
       

Have you discovered your WHY?
President’s Choice Awardee Angie Rodgers shares her why.

Don’t miss your chance to listen to Children’s Essay Contest Winner, Taamre Solen
share her gripping poem titled, “A Moment in Time.” 

Thank you to Enterprise Community Partners for Sponsoring the Essay Contest and Taamre’s Award Package: 
● A generous donor matched the original monetary award of $500, bringing the total to $1,000!
● A brand new Macbook Air
● The Big Life Journal, a growth mindset journal & planner for children
● A copy of Amanda Gorman’s Presidential Inauguration Poem,‘The Hill We Climb’
● A Notebook for her to continue penning her thoughts
● Participation in a poetry writing camp

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Closing Remarks and Honoring HAND’s Founder & Trailblazers



Speakers

     
Heather Raspberry
Executive Director
HAND
 John Spencer
Founder
HAND
Monica Warren-Jones
President, HAND
Director,
Capital Solutions, Enterprise
     
   
Nina Janopaul Pam Mitchell Craig Pascal Brian Tracey    

 

CHECK OUT OUR DIGITAL PROGRAM 

HAND-AM_Program-Master_FINAL_LINKED_-2

DOWNLOAD THE PDF

 

CHECK OUT OUR GRAPHIC RECORDING

HAND-GRAPHIC-RECORDING-1

DOWNLOAD THE PDF

 

The 2021 Housing Achievement Award & Children’s Essay Contest Winners!

Developer of the Year 
Arlington Partnership of Affordable Housing

Best Large Affordable Housing Project 
Crystal House Apartments 
Washington Housing Conservancy

Best Small Affordable Housing Project 
Ainger Place Apartments 
The Michaels Organization

Virginia Peters Nonprofit Friend 
Delegate Alfonso Lopez 
Virginia General Assembly

Emerging Leader 
Mansur Abdul-Malik 
The NHP Foundation

President’s Choice 
Angie Rodgers 
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer,
Economic Development,
Prince George’s County

Children’s Essay Contest Winner 
Taamre Solen, AHC Inc.

Thank You to Our Judges

Conrad Egan 
National Housing Policy Expert

Donna Gambrell
CEO 
Appalachian Community Capital

Margaret McFarland, JD 
Founding Director 
Colvin Institute of
Real Estate Development

Thank You HAND Family!

Check out the anniversary shout-outs 
from Elected Officials, HAND Members & Stakeholders, and HAND Staff & Board Members. YOUR voice is an integral part of the organization which is why we could not celebrate our 30th without you.

Thank you again for your well wishes!

 

Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Bozzuto Construction Company
Capital Impact Partners
Capital One
Citi
CohnReznick
Enterprise
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Klein Hornig LLP
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
National Housing Trust
Nixon Peabody
PNC Bank
Reno & Cavanaugh PLLC
SC&H Group, Inc.
Truist
Virginia Housing
Wells Fargo


 


AHC, Inc.
Alexandria Housing Development Corporation 
Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing 
Community Solutions
Cornerstones Housing Corporation 
DC Department of Housing & Community Development
Fairfax County DHCD
Goldstein Hall PLLC
Greystone 
Harkins Builders
Hessel Aluise & O’Leary, P.C. 
Homes for America






 

Housing Initiative Partnership
Kaiser Permanente
Miles & Stockbridge PC
Mission First Housing Group
 
Neighborhood Development Company
NHP Foundation 
SAA | EVI 
Telesis Corporation
The Community Builders, Inc.
Tiber Hudson
United Bank
University of Maryland 
Victory Housing 
Wesley Housing Development Corporation