Urban Strategies, Inc.

Our vision is clear. Our work is rooted. Our results are real. For nearly 50 years, we have built bridges, informed policy, managed public-private partnerships, and transformed the places we call home. For nearly 50 years, our work has been rooted in love. 💙

Join us tomorrow from 1 – 2:30pm CST for third webinar in the Investing in Place, Investing in People webinar series! Sign up now: bit.ly/4vh1fOe

Tiffany D. Thomas
City of Norfolk Government
The Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools
Fort Worth Housing Solutions

For more than three decades, federal place-based housing policy has shaped the trajectory of neighborhoods across the country. From the bold transformation efforts of HOPE VI to the more comprehensive, cross-sector model of Choice Neighborhoods, communities have wrestled with a central question: how do we revitalize neighborhoods without displacing opportunity?

Our panel of experts across multiple sectors, cities, and lived experience will be weighing in at our upcoming webinar, Hope to Choice: Connecting the Past to the Present—and the Path Forward.

We encourage you to join us on May 20th from 1 – 2:30 pm CST. bit.ly/4vh1fOe

Our Moderator:

➡️ Tiffany D. Thomas was re-elected in 2024 as the first female Houston City Council Member for District F. Since taking office, Council Member Thomas has delivered measurable changes across public infrastructure, affordable housing, homelessness, public safety, and disaster preparedness. She acts as Chair of the Housing and Affordability Committee at the forefront of housing affordability and investment championing policy reforms.

Our Panelists:

➡️ Marcia Davis has more than 21 years of public housing development experience and currently serves as the Executive Director for The Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers. Davis has directly designed and managed several complex affordable housing redevelopment projects and is experienced with administering HUD programs including HOPE VI implementation, Choice Neighborhoods Initiatives, and more to further the redevelopment of communities.

➡️ Mary-Margaret Lemons is the President of Fort Worth Housing Solutions. She has led the transformation of FWHS from a traditional housing authority to an innovative developer and community collaborator recognized as a national leader in affordable housing. Mary-Margaret serves as Vice-Chair of the Continuum of Care for Tarrant County, Vice-President of Professional Development and Trustee for the Public Housing Authority Director’s Association, committee member for the International Research and Global Exchange of NAHRO, Senior Vice President of Texas NAHRO, and Board Chair of North Texas LEAD.

➡️ Dr. Effie McMillian currently serves as the Chief of Staff and Strategic Planning for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Dr. McMillian has had the opportunity to consult and collaborate with leaders and facilitate conversations with audiences across the nation, as well as in Puerto Rico and Canada. She is an author and research interests include educational equity, school integration, trauma, literacy, and culturally responsive pedagogy.

➡️ Dr. Susan L. Perry is the Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for the City of Norfolk Government. She also leads the City’s St. Paul’s Transformation initiative. She advances equitable, people‑centered revitalization through the redevelopment of three public housing communities into a mixed‑income neighborhood, ensuring long‑term residents benefit from new investment. Dr. Perry also oversees citywide residential development, federal entitlement funding, housing preservation strategies, and fair housing efforts.

Learn from these distinguished leaders on housing by registering for the upcoming webinar on May 20th from 1 – 2:30 pm CST.
➡️bit.ly/4vh1fOe

We know that data drives results. Today, our CEO, Esther Shin, our COO, Donovan Duncan, our VP of Policy & Influence, Kristie Stutler, and our VP of Educational Initiatives, Tyronda Minter, attended the Results Count 10 Year Celebration, held by our esteemed partner, Annie E. Casey Foundation.

We utilize the Results Count® framework, a proven, data-informed method to clarify high-level goals, ensure accountability, and track progress across systems and stakeholders. With this disciplined approach, we cultivate alignment, unlock impact, and ensure the communities we serve don’t just survive but thrive.

"Housing instability may not be as visible as homelessness, but it is present in every neighborhood, in every council district across this city. We are asking you to meet that challenge with innovation and data-driven solutions. Because housing stability is not just a service, it is the foundation on which everything else in a person's life is built."

Our Senior Director of Operations in Louisville, Ta'Londa Holland was featured on WDRB News recently, advocating for more funding for housing stability in Louisville City's budget.

See Ta'Londa speak:

Louisville housing advocates seek $2.5M for stabilization fund to help prevent homelessness The coalition called Safe & Stable: Housing for All wants funding included in next year's city budget.Subscribe to our channel: https://wdrb.news/3dTREaiDown...

The past offers lessons. The present demands clarity. The future requires courage.

Next week, we’re hosting a powerful webinar that bridges decades of practice and policy to explore what we’ve learned, what has evolved, and what must come next in federal place-based housing programs.

From the bold transformation efforts of HOPE VI to the more comprehensive, cross-sector model of Choice Neighborhoods, communities have wrestled with a central question: how do we revitalize neighborhoods without displacing opportunity?

Through candid reflection and forward-looking dialogue, this session connects policy to lived experience, lifting up lessons and best practices from a panel of expert leaders who have shaped and implemented these transformative initiatives.

This webinar is being held on May 20th from 1 – 2:30 pm CST.
We encourage you to register: bit.ly/4vh1fOe

Tiffany D. Thomas City of Norfolk Government The Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Fort Worth Housing Solutions