Lack of affordable housing continues to be one of the most significant challenges we face in our region. Join us to hear how four leaders are developing innovative housing solutions, including removing obstacles for landlords to supply housing, directing legislation to support low-income families and renters, grassroots organizing to supply affordable housing for low-income families, and securing permanent affordable and wealth-generating housing for middle income families.
Presenters:
Shkëlqim Kelmendi, LT’18, Executive Director, Housing Connector
David A. Baker, Real Estate Development Project Manager, Homestead Community Land Trust
Evana Enabulele, Housing Coordinator and Core Member, Queer the Land
Rachael Myers, Executive Director, Washington Low Income Housing Alliance
Working in groups, you will have an opportunity to discuss a shared vision of housing in our region, as well as review and discuss potential legislation to make housing more accessible for people impacted by the criminal justice system.
Who: LT Alumni, current class members, Honorary LT, and guests
Cost: Pay what you can ($0-$50)
When: May 20, 2021, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Where: Zoom - Register so we can send you the Zoom link the week of the event.
Presenter Bios
Shkëlqim Kelmendi, LT’18, is the Founder and Executive Director of Housing Connector, a B2B organization partnering with property owners and managers to eliminate barriers and increase access to housing for individuals exiting homelessness. In this role Shkëlqim oversees the strategic direction of the organization and champions solutions that build bridges between the private, public, and nonprofit sectors to resolve our housing affordability crisis. In 2020 Housing Connector was recognized as a Fast Company World Changing Idea and Shkëlqim was selected as a Puget Sound Business Journal Innovator of the Year.
In 1999, Shkëlqim and his family immigrated to the United States as refugees following the Kosovo war. His experience growing up in a society torn by war and navigating a new country fuels his personal and professional commitment to serving his community.
Currently, Shkëlqim is on the Board of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he has Chaired the Seattle Human Rights Commission, served on the South Lake Union Community Council, founded the Young Albanian Professionals network, and is a member of the Leadership Tomorrow Class of 2018.
Shkëlqim is a member of the Harvard Business School Young American Leaders Program and a graduate of Southern Methodist University.
David A. Baker is a Real Estate Development Project Manager with Homestead Community Land Trust. He joined the organization in September 2020 and is responsible for housing development and ongoing stewardship of homes in trust. Working with the Director of Real Estate Development he manages projects in construction, conducts feasibility analyses on prospective projects, works with community partners, and provides maintenance and warranty support to current Homestead homeowners. David recently completed his Master of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Michigan where he focused on housing finance and policy. Previously, David served the Detroit Land Bank Authority as a Project Manager in the Community Partnership program where he worked with non-profit and faith-based organizations to return vacant land and homes to productive use. Prior to that, David worked as a Community Safety Assistant with Focus: HOPE where he first made the connection between housing policy its impact on communities in the wake of Detroit’s foreclosure crisis. David is from Detroit, Michigan and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
Evana Enabulele is a core member of Queer The Land (QTL), a QTBIPOC advocate and affordable housing organizer. Evana leads the housing circle in QTL, nurturing the dreams of QTBIPOC of building a home and safe community space. Their passion is not only working on unique housing strategies but also finding ways to combat the mental aspect of displacement and gentrification. Evana has also worked for the City of Seattle in the Parks Department for 8 years, working as a recreation attendant, event scheduler, and assistant coordinator. Evana is a featured organizer in the book Nourish, a collection of short stories, photos, and recipes from 10 local Seattle organizers. Evana is a part of the Bill and Melinda Gates 100 Changemakers Project with a permanent plaque in the Discovery Center. Evana participated in the entire legal process of purchasing Queer the Land’s new 12-bedroom home in Beacon Hill, Seattle. Evana is a proud Houston native and currently lives in the south end of Seattle. Evana has over 100 plants and is a collector of unique carnivorous and rare plants.
Rachael Myers (she/her) has served as Executive Director of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance since 2008 and of the Washington Housing Alliance Action Fund since 2011. Through advocacy, organizing, and holding decision makers accountable, the Housing Alliance creates equitable and racially just public policy to ensure that more people in Washington have a safe, affordable place to live. Prior to joining the Housing Alliance, her professional work included serving as Organizing and Advocacy Director at Real Change (Seattle’s street newspaper), working with homeless youth in Seattle’s University District, and lobbying the state legislature for health care, housing, and human services. Rachael has over 20 years of professional experience in advocacy and a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Washington.