Learn and be inspired by leaders from across the Purpose Built Communities Network and field

The conference assembles a diverse array of speakers, panelists, and facilitators, each hand-selected for their deep knowledge and forward-thinking.

Check back frequently for ongoing additions to the speaker roster.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Dr. Tiffany Manuel
TheCaseMade Incorporated
CEO
Michele Norris
MSNBC
Senior Contributing Editor
Soledad O’Brien
Soledad O’Brien Productions
Founder

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Anne Whitlock
My Connect Community
Executive Director
Armando Orduña
Inspira, Ltd Co
President & CEO
Catalina Sibilsky
Purpose Built Communities
Sr. Vice President Education Initiatives
Drew Smith
Purpose Built Communities
VP, Education Initiatives
Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice
Morehouse School of Medicine
President and CEO
Edward Pollard
City of Houston
Council Member
Ilham Askia
East Lake Foundation
President & CEO
Jose Antonio Vargas
Define American
Media/Comms Strategist + President of Define American
Lesley Briones
Harris County Precinct 4
Commissioner
Mashonda Taylor
Woodlawn United
CEO
Regina Hall
Boston-Thurmond United (BTU)
Executive Director
Sandra Rodríguez
Gulfton Super Neighborhood Council
President
Shannon Heath-Longino
Truist Bank
Senior Vice President

SESSION SPEAKERS

John Newsome
Public Equity Group
Principal
Nicole Tuttle
Drew Charter School/Purpose Built Communities
Director of Pre-K/Consultant
Joe Fretwell
Purpose Built Communities
Vice President, Neighborhood Planning
Marvin Nesbitt
Focused Community Strategies (FCS)
Sr. Director of Community Development
Mike Davis
Purpose Built Schools Atlanta
CEO
César Garcia
Canopy South
Executive Director
Santrice Jones
Harris County Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity (DEEO) - Early Childhood Initiatives
Director, Early Childhood Initiatives
Michele Norris
MSNBC
Senior Contributing Editor
Curtis Minter, Jr.
ThirdSpace Action Lab
Senior Fellow, Community of Practice & Convenings
Elaine Yee
Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA)
Vice President, Community Real Estate
Rachel Greene
Bayou Microfund and Kiva Houston
Capital Access Manager
Juan Diego Castro
Mission Economic Development Agency
National Partnerships Director
Derek Mallow
East Savannah United Inc
Exective Director
Jasmine Washington
East Savannah United Inc
Community Engagement Team Member
Kimberley Brown
South Carolina Community Loan Fund
Community Development Lending Officer
Carol Naughton
Purpose Built Communities
President and CEO; Board Member
Sandra Rodríguez
Gulfton Super Neighborhood Council
President
Pilar Fuentes
Harris County Office of County Administration
Climate Justice Analyst
Ilham Askia
East Lake Foundation
President & CEO
Lesley Briones
Harris County Precinct 4
Commissioner
Alan Cohen
Child Poverty Action Lab (CPAL)
Founder & CEO
Alfield Reeves
Alfield Reeves Photography & Amplify GR
Photographer
Alison Novak
Upside Collaboration Company
CEO
Andrea Arroyo
Purpose Built Communities
VP, Network Member Success
April Callen
Purpose Built Communities
VP, Narrative Strategy
Breauna Dorelus
Focused Community Strategies
Lead Trainer and Consultant
Brett Theodos
Urban Institute
Senior Fellow and Director, Local Growth and Finance Initiative
Cali Slepin
Trust Neighborhoods
Senior Project Manager
Carey Rothschild
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System
System Director of Community Health Policy & Strategy
Carson Bryant
East Colfax Community Collective
MINT Director
Cassandra Webb
Russell: A Place of Promise
Interim Co-Executive Director
César Garcia
Canopy South
Executive Director
Christopher Miller
National Coalition for Community Capital
CEO
Curtis Minter, Jr.
ThirdSpace Action Lab
Senior Fellow, Community of Practice & Convenings
Davon Gray
Purpose Built Communities
Vice President of Policy
Derek Mallow
East Savannah United Inc
Exective Director
Efrain Segundo Orozco
Mission Asset Fund
Director of Partnerships
Elaine Yee
Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA)
Vice President, Community Real Estate
Elle Arlook
APCO Worldwide
Senior Director
View More Speakers
John Newsome
Public Equity Group
Principal
Nicole Tuttle
Drew Charter School/Purpose Built Communities
Director of Pre-K/Consultant
Joe Fretwell
Purpose Built Communities
Vice President, Neighborhood Planning
Marvin Nesbitt
Focused Community Strategies (FCS)
Sr. Director of Community Development
Mike Davis
Purpose Built Schools Atlanta
CEO
César Garcia
Canopy South
Executive Director
Santrice Jones
Harris County Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity (DEEO) - Early Childhood Initiatives
Director, Early Childhood Initiatives
Michele Norris
MSNBC
Senior Contributing Editor
Curtis Minter, Jr.
ThirdSpace Action Lab
Senior Fellow, Community of Practice & Convenings
Elaine Yee
Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA)
Vice President, Community Real Estate
Rachel Greene
Bayou Microfund and Kiva Houston
Capital Access Manager
Juan Diego Castro
Mission Economic Development Agency
National Partnerships Director
Derek Mallow
East Savannah United Inc
Exective Director
Jasmine Washington
East Savannah United Inc
Community Engagement Team Member
Kimberley Brown
South Carolina Community Loan Fund
Community Development Lending Officer
Carol Naughton
Purpose Built Communities
President and CEO; Board Member
Sandra Rodríguez
Gulfton Super Neighborhood Council
President
Pilar Fuentes
Harris County Office of County Administration
Climate Justice Analyst
Ilham Askia
East Lake Foundation
President & CEO
Lesley Briones
Harris County Precinct 4
Commissioner