People

Doug Nelson is the retired President and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Sarah Marxer focuses on collective impact, educational equity and the Urban Strategies Council’s Boys and Men of Color initiatives. She analyzes data, designs and conducts research projects, and communicates findings to partners and stakeholders.

JaNay Queen Nazaire is a facilitator, collaborator, and bridge-builder with a fierce belief that every person has the right to a healthy, abundant, and connected life.

Eleanor Tutt is the open data and knowledge manager at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

Bob Gradeck manages the Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center at the University of Pittsburgh’s University Center for Urban and Social Research.

With an extensive background in finance, administration and operations, David has worked for a variety of nonprofit organizations and associations in New England and New York.

Jonathan Bowles is the Executive Director of the Center for an Urban Future, a Manhattan-based think tank dedicated to independent research about key issues facing New York and other cities. He has authored more than two-dozen policy reports, includ…

Tim is the Founder and Chairman of Next Street.  Next Street is a certified B Corporation with offices in Boston, New York City, and Chicago. 

Madeline Janis is co-founder and national policy director of the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE). Under her stewardship as executive director from 1993 to 2012, LAANE became an influential leader in the effort to build a new economy b…

Alison Lingane is co-founder of Project Equity, which builds economic resiliency in low-income communities by increasing worker ownership.

Dr. Taino J. Palermo has worked as an education and nonprofit leader for over a decade focusing on community and economic development, urban education and neighborhood revitalization.

Thaddeus joined Living Cities in May 2019 as a Senior Investment Associate with the Capital Innovation team, and supports its origination and asset/portfolio management efforts for Living Cities’ impact investments.

Jessie Feller is the Executive Director of Meeting of the Minds.

Scot Spencer leads Annie E. Casey Foundation’s work in advancing community-focused policies, practices and strategies that increase opportunities for children, families and the places where they live and foster their success. Spencer also coordinate…

Tawa has responsibility for grantmaking in the Chicago Commitment program, a portfolio aimed at achieving a city that is connected and integrated, where prosperity is shared, opportunity is equitable, and civic and cultural assets are available to e…

Ryan Whalen joined The Rockefeller Foundation in 2014. As Director, Initiatives and Strategy, Mr. Whalen focuses on developing the Foundation’s cross-sectoral partnerships with the public and private sectors, as well as managing its global program t…

Michael Bodaken serves both as President of the National Housing Trust and of the National Housing Trust Community Development Fund, NHTCDF.

Katy Silliman is the Director of Strategic Assistance at Strive, a national initiative working to build the cradle to career civic infrastructure in communities to identify, sustain and scale what works.