This episode of Changemakers LA is hosted by Alexandra Dawson, Director of Lending + Investments at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation’s Los Angeles office. Alexandra talks to our guests about how they are addressing the equity gap through public policy efforts. Our guests leverage public policy to address many regional issues, including affordable and fair housing, homelessness, and criminal justice.

Joining LISC LA for this conversation is:

Konstantin Hatcher, Senior Director of Community Impact at California YIMBY
Maria Casillas, Founder & Executive Leader of Pride In Truth
Alan Greenlee, Executive Director of the Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing (SCANPH)

Maria Casillas begins this episode by addressing the power in her experience as a formerly incarcerated mother. The challenges Maria faced were a big inspiration driving her passion for helping others. She talks about some of the root causes of the criminal justice system and its disparate impact on some communities. Community leaders like Maria were instrumental in achieving the Measure J funding outcomes.

Alan Greenlee discusses the power of coalition building in achieving the Measure ULA funding. He discussed the five components of coalitions and described the importance of generating resources sufficient to produce significant amounts of affordable housing.

Konstantin Hatcher discusses why it's essential to get people housed and build an environment that creates financial opportunities for those on the front lines and the most affected by the housing crisis. Finally, Konstantin explains how AB 2873 starts providing incentives for affordable housing builders that can diversify the pipeline of the folks they contract with.

About our panel:

Konstantin Hatcher is the Senior Director of Community Impact at California YIMBY. California YIMBY’s mission is to make California an affordable place to live, work, and raise a family. Their goal is to put California on a path of broad-based economic prosperity, creating vibrant, livable, and inclusive communities for everyone.

Maria Casillas is the Founder & Executive Leader of Pride In Truth, guiding the organization's strategy to center those most impacted by unjust systems. With a background as a formerly incarcerated, first-generation immigrant and single mother, Maria brings a unique perspective to the role. She serves on the Board of the Youth Justice Coalition and advocates for the rights of youth, incarcerated individuals, and undocumented people.

Alan Greenlee, is the Executive Director of the Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing (SCANPH), where he has served since 2012. With 25 years of experience, he has a strong commitment to helping low-income families, and he has designed and managed programs nationwide, impacting hundreds of thousands of families. His extensive experience allows him to bring innovation to the fight against poverty.

If you would like to learn more about how we support place-based initiatives for housing, economic development, and alternatives to incarceration at LISC LA, please visit us online at www.lisc.org/los-angeles and follow us on twitter @LISC_LA.

You can find the rest of the series on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Subscribe to hear more conversations about the people and places that shape Los Angeles.

This podcast was produced in collaboration with Ronnell Hampton, Founder of Growing Greatness Now. Growing Greatness Now is a consulting firm committed to social and environmental justice.

Changemakers LA Episode #12: Opportunity Zones

Changemakers LABy LISC LAAug 21, 2019