By Dan McGowan, Published July 2,2024
One of Rhode Island’s most important problem solvers when it comes to addressing the state’s housing crisis is stepping away her job.
Jennifer Hawkins, who has led ONE Neighborhood Builders for nearly 11 years, announced Monday that she is stepping down as president and CEO of the nonprofit at the end of September.
I asked Hawkins to tell us a little more about her decision and what she sees as the key challenges ahead as Rhode Island attempts to build more housing for people at all income levels.
[…]
Q: ONE Neighborhood Builders is now one of the most successful community development corporations in the state. What have you gotten right?
Hawkins: For us, it starts with proven partnerships. We have strong relationships with local leaders in all our communities and those are built on trust and transparency. In the last 18 months, we’ve cut the ribbon on two developments in East Providence and are accelerating construction on another. None of those projects would have moved ahead without a strong relationship with Mayor Bob DaSilva and his planning team. The other thing we’ve done is authentically included community members in our work, and not just in housing. One of the things I’m most proud of is the participatory budgeting initiative we led in Central Providence and the community business loan program we launched. When we invest resources in the neighborhood economy and provide residents with direct control of real capital investment, we solidify the foundation that’s needed to build community wealth. It’s initiatives like those that I hope other CDCs in Rhode Island and across the region will replicate.
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