Who We Are - Community Land Trust

Who We Are

Our Mission: The National Community Land Trust Network provides research, advocacy, education, and support for its member organizations that nurture and sustain healthy and economically diverse communities by providing permanently affordable access to land, homes, and community assets.

Our organization’s first duty is to develop resources that help the members of our Network. This website plays a key role in fulfilling this responsibility. It’s intended to be a place to share ideas and lessons learned. This information is designed to both introduce newcomers to the basics about community land trusts (CLTs) and permanently affordable housing and to increase the knowledge and skills of experienced practitioners.

The National Community Land Trust Network (the Network) was incorporated in 2006 to provide support and leadership for CLTs around the country. Today the Network also welcomes other organizations that offer...

Our Mission: The National Community Land Trust Network provides research, advocacy, education, and support for its member organizations that nurture and sustain healthy and economically diverse communities by providing permanently affordable access to land, homes, and community assets.

Our organization’s first duty is to develop resources that help the members of our Network. This website plays a key role in fulfilling this responsibility. It’s intended to be a place to share ideas and lessons learned. This information is designed to both introduce newcomers to the basics about community land trusts (CLTs) and permanently affordable housing and to increase the knowledge and skills of experienced practitioners.

The National Community Land Trust Network (the Network) was incorporated in 2006 to provide support and leadership for CLTs around the country. Today the Network also welcomes other organizations that offer homeownership programs with lasting affordability. Along with CLTs, this includes some Community Development Corporations, Community Development Financial Institutions, Habitat for Humanity affiliates, government-based inclusionary zoning programs, and deed-restricted programs that are providing permanently affordable housing.

Guiding Principles

We’ve identified three core principles that embody the values of community land trusts.

Perpetual Affordability and Sustainability

We will create access to land and affordable homes for people of lower incomes, people of color, and others most marginalized in society. We will ensure durability and ongoing affordability for future generations, and create stewardship programs that support residents in achieving long-term success.

Community Stewardship of Land and Assets

We will steward the land for a variety of purposes that benefit the community, such as affordable homes, community based businesses, community supported agriculture, and preservation of green space.

Representative Governance and Community Engagement

We will serve our communities most effectively by involving key stakeholders and residents in decision making for the organization. We will prioritize residents we serve and community empowerment and provide opportunities for our members, board and staff to engage more fully in their community.

Board of Directors

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Jesse Beason

President

Jesse Beason lives in Portland, Oregon and serves as the Director of Public Affairs for the Northwest Health Foundation. Prior to this, Jesse served as the Executive Director of Proud Ground until June of 2013. Jesse joined the Proud Ground staff in 2008 after serving for three years as Vice Chair, Interim Chair and member of Proud Ground’s...

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Jesse Beason lives in Portland, Oregon and serves as the Director of Public Affairs for the Northwest Health Foundation. Prior to this, Jesse served as the Executive Director of Proud Ground until June of 2013. Jesse joined the Proud Ground staff in 2008 after serving for three years as Vice Chair, Interim Chair and member of Proud Ground’s Board of Directors. Prior to Proud Ground, Jesse worked for Commissioner and now Mayor Sam Adams as Senior Policy Director on issues and policy relating to housing, arts & culture and planning. He worked at the Portland Metropolitan regional government in public affairs and served as Communications Director for a mayoral campaign. Jesse was a graduate of the Future Leaders Initiative, a year-long intensive leadership training focused on community development professionals and based on Harvard’s Achieving Excellence program. Jesse serves on the board of directors of the Neighborhood Partnership Fund, the Regional Arts & Culture Council, and Just Portland.

Connie Chavez

Connie Chavez has over 15 years experience in administrative management for non-profit organizations. Connie was with Sawmill Community Land Trust in Albuquerque for 10 years, until the spring of 2013, where she was appointed Associate Director in 2004 and Executive Director in October, 2005. She was the Portfolio Manager/Information...

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Connie Chavez has over 15 years experience in administrative management for non-profit organizations. Connie was with Sawmill Community Land Trust in Albuquerque for 10 years, until the spring of 2013, where she was appointed Associate Director in 2004 and Executive Director in October, 2005. She was the Portfolio Manager/Information Systems Manager for the New Mexico Community Development Loan Fund, a state-wide loan fund for small business and non-profit groups. She grew up in the Sawmill/Wells Park Neighborhood and holds both a historical perspective and a future vision for the area. She is the mother of two lovely daughters, and three very special granddaughters.

Robert Dowling

Vice President

Robert began his working career as a high school teacher and basketball coach before moving into banking in New York City. While employed at Chase Manhattan Bank and Irving Trust Company, Robert completed an MBA in finance at NYU in 1986. Robert worked in the retail branches for Citibank in the early 1990’s before moving to...

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Vice President

Robert began his working career as a high school teacher and basketball coach before moving into banking in New York City. While employed at Chase Manhattan Bank and Irving Trust Company, Robert completed an MBA in finance at NYU in 1986. Robert worked in the retail branches for Citibank in the early 1990’s before moving to Carrboro in 1994. It was in early 1995 that Robert began working in the nonprofit field. He assumed his current position as executive director of Community Home Trust in late 1997. The Home Trust sells permanently affordable homes using the community land trust model. Robert remains motivated by the desire to successfully integrate affordable homes into market-rate neighborhoods.

Anthony Jones

Anthony Jones, artist, teacher, quiltmaker, community builder, and social entrepreneur. Currently serving as CEO of Bright Community Trust. Executive board member of Florida Community Loan Fund and former Vice President of Florida Housing Coalition and Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless. Retired Director of Pinellas County Community...

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Anthony Jones, artist, teacher, quiltmaker, community builder, and social entrepreneur. Currently serving as CEO of Bright Community Trust. Executive board member of Florida Community Loan Fund and former Vice President of Florida Housing Coalition and Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless. Retired Director of Pinellas County Community Development and the Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County. Founding director of Venture House, the Homebuyer’s Club of Tampa Bay, and Tampa Bay Harvest. Anthony divides his time between changing the world and pursing his passion for fiber art.

Cheryl Key

Treasurer

Cheryl Key, First Homes Properties, has been involved with providing affordable housing for low-to-moderate income households since 1989. Her career in housing started with the Southeastern Minnesota Multi-County Housing and Redevelopment Authority where she served in a variety of positions and worked with several housing programs and housing...

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Cheryl Key, First Homes Properties, has been involved with providing affordable housing for low-to-moderate income households since 1989. Her career in housing started with the Southeastern Minnesota Multi-County Housing and Redevelopment Authority where she served in a variety of positions and worked with several housing programs and housing developments. In May of 2001 she started employment with First Homes Properties and currently administers the Community Land Trust program. In addition to Cheryl’s career in housing, she was elected to serve on the City Council for Lake City for four terms from 1994 to 2002 and has served on various city boards including the Library Board, Ambulance Commission, Streets & Parks Board, Tree Board, and the Charter Commission. She currently serves on the Economic Development Authority Board of Directors for Lake City. She also serves on the MN CLT Coalition Board of Directors and is currently the Treasurer for that organization. Cheryl graduated from Winona State University with a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice.

Scott Loomis

Scott Loomis has been executive director of Mountainlands Community Housing Trust (MCHT), a non-profit organization located in Park City Utah since 2001. Prior to that he practiced law in Tucson, Arizona for more than 20 years. MCHT has a mission to create, preserve and advocate for affordable housing in Summit And Wasatch Counties Utah. Since...

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Scott Loomis has been executive director of Mountainlands Community Housing Trust (MCHT), a non-profit organization located in Park City Utah since 2001. Prior to that he practiced law in Tucson, Arizona for more than 20 years. MCHT has a mission to create, preserve and advocate for affordable housing in Summit And Wasatch Counties Utah. Since 2002 MCHT has built 152 homes and will have 23 under construction by the end of this summer. In additional MCHT has obtained or built 253 apartments and is developing 28 more. MCHT operates its Housing resource Center to assist local and seasonal workers in meeting their rental or ownership needs. MCHT provides twelve transitional units and case work for temporarily homeless households. Scott was instrumental in the creation of inclusionary zoning requirements in Summit County and MCHT contracts with the county to assure meaningful affordable housing will be created and preserved. Scott is a graduate of the Neighborworks Achieving Excellence in Community Development Program at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Selina Mack

Selina Mack currently serves as the Executive Director of Durham Community Land Trustees, Inc. (DCLT) located in Durham, North Carolina. Selina joined DCLT in 1996, and has been a strong advocate for community stabilization, community organizing and ensuring access to affordable housing in Durham’s inner-city neighborhoods. She was...

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Selina Mack currently serves as the Executive Director of Durham Community Land Trustees, Inc. (DCLT) located in Durham, North Carolina. Selina joined DCLT in 1996, and has been a strong advocate for community stabilization, community organizing and ensuring access to affordable housing in Durham’s inner-city neighborhoods. She was instrumental in revising North Carolina’s General Statutes to give community land trust homeowners a special reduced property tax classification. Under her leadership, DCLT has expanded its housing portfolio to over 200 units – including homeownership, rental and commercial development. As executive director, Selina has presented trainings, site visits and consulted in the start-up of numerous CLT’s in the Southeastern US. She serves on several Boards and committees of the NC Community Development Initiative and NeighborWorks America. Selina hold a BSBA in Accounting and a Masters in Public Administration.

Marge Misak

Marge Misak is the Land Trust Program Director at Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland in Ohio, which was established in Fall 2011 as a result of a merger with the Community Land Trust of Greater Cleveland. Marge was a member of the Advisory Board of the National CLT Network’s CLT Academy from 2009-2012 and was chair of the...

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Marge Misak is the Land Trust Program Director at Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland in Ohio, which was established in Fall 2011 as a result of a merger with the Community Land Trust of Greater Cleveland. Marge was a member of the Advisory Board of the National CLT Network’s CLT Academy from 2009-2012 and was chair of the Research and Publications Committee. She has led classes and participated in forums at the CLT Academy, Ohio CDC Association, Cleveland State University Forum series and Cleveland City Club. Marge has a Bachelor of Science of Journalism degree from Northwestern University and lives in Cleveland.

Christopher Ptomey

Christopher Ptomey

Focusing on US government relations and housing policy, Christopher Ptomey, Habitat for Humanity International’s director of government relations, has been with the organization since 2006. Before joining Habitat, Christopher served as federal liaison for the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and, previously, as senior...

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Focusing on US government relations and housing policy, Christopher Ptomey, Habitat for Humanity International’s director of government relations, has been with the organization since 2006. Before joining Habitat, Christopher served as federal liaison for the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and, previously, as senior legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Mac Collins (GA). Christopher holds a JD from the George Mason University School of Law and a BA in philosophy from Haverford College. Christopher lives in Alexandria, VA, and holds a law license in his native state of Tennessee.

Emily Seibel

Emily Seibel lives in the Village of Yellow Springs, Ohio and serves as Executive Director of Yellow Springs Home, Inc., a Community Land Trust dedicated to strengthening community and diversity through permanently affordable, sustainable housing. Emily joined the agency’s staff in 2009 as Program Manager, developing stewardship programming,...

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Emily Seibel lives in the Village of Yellow Springs, Ohio and serves as Executive Director of Yellow Springs Home, Inc., a Community Land Trust dedicated to strengthening community and diversity through permanently affordable, sustainable housing. Emily joined the agency’s staff in 2009 as Program Manager, developing stewardship programming, coaching clients, and managing construction projects. Prior to her work in the CLT field, Emily worked at several nonprofits in the US and abroad and earned a BA in Social and Global Studies with a concentration in Economics at Antioch College. She earned a Certificate in Project Management from Antioch University and is a certified Housing Development Finance Professional by the National Development Council. Emily serves on the Board of Trustees of the Ohio CDC Association, where she engages in policy work.

Brenda Torpy

Brenda Torpy is the CEO at Champlain Housing Trust and has 34 years experience in the affordable housing field starting with rural community development and affordable housing advocacy in northern Vermont.

Norma Valdez

Secretary

Norma Valdez lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico and currently serves as the Community Development Director of The Loan Fund. Norma joined The Loan Fund staff in 1996 after working for Bank of America in various positions including branch manager, sales manager and Neighborhood Development Officer. Norma has served on various non-profit...

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Secretary

Norma Valdez lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico and currently serves as the Community Development Director of The Loan Fund. Norma joined The Loan Fund staff in 1996 after working for Bank of America in various positions including branch manager, sales manager and Neighborhood Development Officer. Norma has served on various non-profit boards in Albuquerque.

Staff

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Melora Hiller

Executive Director

Melora Hiller has over 20 years of experience working in the world of affordable housing and has worked with numerous CLTs in the Northwest. Prior to becoming the Executive Director, she consulted with nonprofit organizations, foundations and local governments in areas related to organizational development, nonprofit capacity building,...

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Melora Hiller has over 20 years of experience working in the world of affordable housing and has worked with numerous CLTs in the Northwest. Prior to becoming the Executive Director, she consulted with nonprofit organizations, foundations and local governments in areas related to organizational development, nonprofit capacity building, strategic planning, and program development. Before becoming a consultant, Melora managed a statewide capacity-building program for housing and community development organizations, including: designing and implementing a technical and organizational development training program for professional staff and board members; overseeing investments in organizational core support for 15 nonprofits; brokering technical assistance capacity grants through an assessment and joint problem-solving approach and referral to appropriate technical consultants. Melora earned her Master’s degree in public administration at Seattle University’s Institute for Public Service. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards and school committees and is a graduate of Leadership Tomorrow. Melora is the founding board chair of the Capitol Hill Housing Foundation.

Jessica Grant

Member Services & Operations

Jessica joined the National CLT Network in the beginning of 2008, bringing with her over nine years experience in nonprofit administration. She previously lived in Berkeley, California, working as the Director of Operations for Global Routes. This innovative nonprofit specializes in experiential education in Africa, Asia, and Latin...

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Jessica joined the National CLT Network in the beginning of 2008, bringing with her over nine years experience in nonprofit administration. She previously lived in Berkeley, California, working as the Director of Operations for Global Routes. This innovative nonprofit specializes in experiential education in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Prior to moving to Portland, Oregon, Jessica worked for Yosemite Institute as the Site Manager of Crane Flat. She oversaw all daily operations at this environmental education campus, located in northern Yosemite National Park. Just prior to working for the CLT Network, Jessica worked for Outside In, where she managed a county funded program for homeless youth in downtown Portland. In addition to her work with nonprofits, Jessica spent two years working in the classrooms of the Berkeley Unified School District.

Lisa Johnson

Communications and Fundraising Coordinator

Elizabeth (Lisa) Johnson brings six years of nonprofit communications and administration to the National Community Land Trust Network. Coming most recently from Puget Sound Blood Center, Lisa has previously designed communications for CommonBond Communities, Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington County and the Chimacum Corner...

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Elizabeth (Lisa) Johnson brings six years of nonprofit communications and administration to the National Community Land Trust Network. Coming most recently from Puget Sound Blood Center, Lisa has previously designed communications for CommonBond Communities, Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington County and the Chimacum Corner Farmstand. At CommonBond Communities, the upper Midwest’s largest provider of affordable housing, she worked closely within the fundraising department to reach new donors, strengthen their brand standards across their nearly 100 housing communities, and expand their web presence. At Community Action, Lisa designed outreach techniques to help eligible and underserved communities access financial help with heating bills and free home weatherization. Her work at Finnriver Farms and start-up Chimacum Corner Farm Stand supported local, sustainable farming practices and community based economic development. Lisa received her BA from the Colorado College.

Mark Perlman

Research & Policy Associate

Mark Perlman joined the National Community Land Trust Network in August 2014. He has experience working with local governments in the Washington, D.C. area on various housing issues, including working with Montgomery County, Maryland’s Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit program to determine whether its 30-year affordability period had a negative...

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Mark Perlman joined the National Community Land Trust Network in August 2014. He has experience working with local governments in the Washington, D.C. area on various housing issues, including working with Montgomery County, Maryland’s Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit program to determine whether its 30-year affordability period had a negative impact on demand for units. Most recently, he was an Examiner with the Federal Housing Finance Agency, where he participated in oversight of Fannie Mae’s multifamily business to determine the adequacy of risk management practices. Mark was a Peace Corps volunteer in northern Malawi from 2007 to 2009, where, among other projects, he worked with a local HIV/AIDS advocacy group on programming, organization management, and fundraising. Mark earned his Master of Public Policy from the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, with a focus on social policy, housing, and community development. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the Ohio State University. A native of Dallas, Texas, Mark currently lives in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Beth Sorce

Community & Capacity Building Manager

Beth Sorce brings over eight years of affordable housing and shared equity experience to the National CLT Network. She currently lives in Boulder, Colorado. She earned her masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of New Orleans and has worked as both an urban planner with GCR, Inc. and a Community Development...

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Beth Sorce brings over eight years of affordable housing and shared equity experience to the National CLT Network. She currently lives in Boulder, Colorado. She earned her masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of New Orleans and has worked as both an urban planner with GCR, Inc. and a Community Development Finance Fellow with Providence Community Housing, a local nonprofit specializing in affordable housing development. She also served on the board of Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative, a neighborhood based CLT located in Mid-City. Prior to moving to New Orleans, Beth served as the Director of Training at the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB)—an organization dedicated to creating, supporting and sustaining limited equity cooperatives throughout New York City. She designed and implemented curriculum for co-op residents and staff and served on the management team that oversaw the cooperative development pipeline. In addition to her work experience, Beth has conducted research on the role of CLTs in weak market cities, in the commercial realm and in the development and preservation of Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects.

Emily Thaden

Research & Policy Development Manager

Emily Thaden joined the National CLT Network in December of 2011. Previously, Emily built and managed a new shared equity homeownership program called Our House at The Housing Fund (THF), a Community Development Financial Institution in Nashville, TN. During her two years at THF, funding for the program’s first 100 homes had been secured, the...

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Emily Thaden joined the National CLT Network in December of 2011. Previously, Emily built and managed a new shared equity homeownership program called Our House at The Housing Fund (THF), a Community Development Financial Institution in Nashville, TN. During her two years at THF, funding for the program’s first 100 homes had been secured, the development of 22 homes was completed, and stewardship policies and practices were established. Additionally, Emily acted as a research consultant for the Network conducting the 2009 CLT Foreclosure and Delinquency Survey and The 2011 Comprehensive CLT Survey. Her work on CLTs has been published by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy in Landlines and working papers and by the National Housing Institute in Shelterforce. Emily completed her doctorate in Community Research & Action at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. Her dissertation focused on low-income and minority homeownership and the solution of shared equity homeownership. Her teaching has focused on organizational development, community development, and applied research. During graduate school, she directed a community organizing and documentary photography program with youth in public housing, organized to develop a local Housing Trust Fund, and consulted with the TN Dept. of Human Services to revamp their welfare system. Prior to graduate school, she worked as a researcher and practitioner with youth diagnosed with psychiatric illnesses and as a crisis counselor and curriculum developer for the Anti-Violence Project, which serves LGBTQ communities in New York. She received her undergraduate degree from New York University in Psychology and Gender & Sexuality Studies.

Jason Webb

Community & Capacity Building Associate

Jason Webb comes to the Network with 25 years of experience in community revitalization, specializing in housing development in his neighborhood of Roxbury in Boston. He spent 15 years working for Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) and Network Member Dudley Neighbors Inc. (DNI), serving in several roles such as Director of Real...

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Jason Webb comes to the Network with 25 years of experience in community revitalization, specializing in housing development in his neighborhood of Roxbury in Boston. He spent 15 years working for Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) and Network Member Dudley Neighbors Inc. (DNI), serving in several roles such as Director of Real Estate and Technology, Director of DNI “The Community Land Trust,” and Director of Administration and Finance. He oversaw the development of several community land trust developments and created a youth development / youth jobs program called CommunityScapes. Over the years, this land stewardship and community outreach program has hired significant numbers of youth and young adults, including new immigrants and young people with criminal records.

In addition, he has played a significant role with DSNI’s internal technology capacity as well as the use of technology innovations in the community building process. Jason joined the DSNI staff after a long history of involvement as a dedicated resident volunteer, dating from the age of seven. He was a co-founder of Nubian Roots Youth Committee, and served on the boards of both DSNI and Dudley Neighbors, Inc.