Jubilee Housing Welcomes Hameed Haqparwar

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Jubilee Housing is pleased to welcome Hameed Haqparwar as its new Director of Research, Impact and Evaluation. The Research, Impact and Evaluation Department performs data-based analysis, monitoring, and evaluation of Jubilee’s programs, providing leadership and program staff with accurate data for reporting and documentation.

Born and raised in Afghanistan, Haqparwar earned his bachelor’s in business administration from Maryam Institute of Higher Education in Kabul. He went on to work for several USAID programs in the field of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation in Afghanistan. As a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, he earned his master’s degree in Demography and Population Statistics from Florida State University in 2015. In March of 2017, Haqparwar and his family immigrated to the United States through the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program.

Haqparwar brings with him a decade of experience in research and data analysis, including managing related programs in the nonprofit sector. He is the former Interim Director of Research and Evaluation for St. Vincent De Paul of Baltimore, former Manager of Research and Evaluation for Collaborative Solutions for Communities (CSC) in Washington DC, and a former Data Program Coordinator for the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services in Baltimore.

Jubilee Housing remains committed to its mission of providing high-quality and deeply affordable housing within thriving neighborhoods. Research, Impact and Evaluation is vital for Jubilee to continue assessing its outcomes and improving the support it provides the community.

Jubilee Housing Names Clint Mann as Board Chair

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Jubilee Housing names Clint Mann as its new Chair of the Board of Directors. Mann is President of Urban Pace, which provides marketing, sales, leasing, and advisory services to real estate developers. Over his 19-year career, he has managed the marketing for more than 175 communities in six states and Washington, D.C., and leverages his expertise to steer Jubilee’s work developing deeply affordable housing with supportive services in resource-rich neighborhoods.

Mann joined Jubilee’s Board of Directors in 2019 and was quickly tapped to lead development for the Justice Housing Partners Fund 2.0 that raised nearly eight million dollars in investments. This fund made it possible for Jubilee to acquire three properties totaling 165 units in Mount Pleasant that will provide high quality affordable housing for new and existing households for generations to come. Mann also supported progress on Jubilee’s development pipeline, totaling seven properties and 285 homes, many of which are family-sized residences. He helped to advance the recent groundbreaking for the EucKal Project, two properties totaling 50 units in Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights, and created a Real Estate Advisory Committee to guide the organization as it doubles its housing and services.

“As a proud resident of the Mount Pleasant neighborhood, it is a great honor to serve on and now lead Jubilee Housing’s Board of Directors and to play an active role in something so important to me: preserving housing affordability in the District,” said Mann. “I am excited to step into the role of Board Chair during a critical period of growth for the organization and look forward to helping Jubilee continue its mission of providing deeply affordable housing and services in the city.”

Mann is also Vice President of the Board for the District of Columbia Building Industry Association (DCBIA); a founding Board Member of QCity; on the Advisory Board for Capital Bank; an active member of the Urban Land Institute of Washington; and a past Board Vice-Chair and current Leadership Council member for Sitar Arts Center.

Mann assumes the role of Board Chair following the successful leadership of Alex Orfinger, Market President and Publisher of the Washington Business Journal. During Orfinger’s four-year tenure, the Board foresaw narrowing opportunities to compete for affordable properties in Jubilee’s core Ward 1 neighborhoods and greenlit an ambitious plan to expand housing and services. Orfinger stewarded the creation of the inaugural Justice Housing Partners Fund, which provides quick-strike acquisition capital that enables Jubilee to compete in Ward 1’s real estate market. The fund was leveraged to purchase four properties totaling 120 units and created a successful model for the Justice Housing Partners Fund 2.0.

In addition to Mann, Jubilee welcomes three other Board Members into leadership roles:

Khulud Khudur (Vice Chair) is an Epidemiologist at the CDC Foundation, Deputy Editor at HPHR Journal, Pre-doctoral Clinical Research Fellow at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and a Jubilee resident and youth services participant.

Samuel Buggs (Secretary) is a longtime Jubilee resident, mentor of young men, and community leader plugged into issues affecting people returning from incarceration.

Jim Gray, Jr. (Treasurer) is a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy focusing on national affordable housing policy and previously managed the Center for Excellence in Affordable Housing for Capital Impact Partners.

“Jubilee is proud to have an engaged Board of Directors that brings together real estate experts, residents, and community leaders,” says Jim Knight, President and CEO of Jubilee Housing. “We look forward to welcoming Clint and this new slate of leadership as we take on one of the most challenging but worthwhile pursuits in D.C. — ensuring that people facing the greatest systemic barriers to housing can live and thrive in the District.”

2022 Jubilee Housing Resident Champion: Clara Velasquez

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At Raise the Roof on October 26, 2022, Jubilee presented the annual Resident Champion award, which recognizes a resident for their leadership, passion, and dedication to the Jubilee community. Last year’s inaugural champion was Jubilee resident and Board Member Romaine Johnson. Jubilee is proud to name longtime resident and Youth Services volunteer Clara Velasquez as the 2022 Jubilee Housing Resident Champion!

Remarks by Audrey Walker, Director of Youth Services

Honored guests, I am thrilled to present this year’s Jubilee Housing Resident Champion Award, which annually recognizes a resident for their leadership, passion, and dedication to the Jubilee community. Last year’s awardee, Ms. Romaine Johnson, is here tonight — Ms. Romaine, please wave!

This year’s awardee is another longtime Jubilee resident who represents the very best that Jubilee stands for. I am pleased to announce that our very own Clara Velasquez has been named the 2022 Jubilee Housing Resident Champion. Ms. Clara was not able to be here tonight, but she has asked Eduardo Herrera-Diaz, Jubilee’s Early Start Program Coordinator to accept on her behalf and read her remarks. First, I would like to share some words about Clara.

Clara came from Colombia to the United States to pursue the American Dream. She loved Colombia, but after her father passed away, Clara felt it was up to her as the oldest sibling to support her family financially, and that living and working in the US provided better opportunities. Shortly after arriving in the US, Clara secured a job as an au pair and helped raise three children from birth through adulthood, then continued to be a caregiver to other children in her neighborhood. During this time, Clara also obtained her US citizenship, entirely on her own, which she describes as one of the happiest moments of her life.

Clara became a resident of Jubilee Housing in 1984, approximately 38 years ago. I, along with many of my colleagues and residents, can attest that Clara is one of the kindest and most generous people you will ever meet. Personally, she is like a second mother to me. Since I’ve been employed at Jubilee for the past 8 ½ years, I have seen firsthand how Ms. Clara goes above and beyond to help many people with just about anything within her power.

This includes volunteering for the past seven plus years in Jubilee Youth Services, working directly with youth and families almost every single day that the program is in session, year round. She is also constantly checking on her neighbors, making sure that they are safe, and have food and vital resources to thrive. She supports the Jubilee Housing mission anytime — and I mean anytime — volunteer opportunities arise… which happens a lot! For all of that and more, Ms. Clara is the definition of Resident Champion. If you were to look up the word Champion in the dictionary, Ms. Clara’s picture should be there.

One thing I admire about Clara is how humble she is by not wanting to be compensated or even recognized for her kindness and her time spent working to support the mission of Jubilee Housing. For instance, Jubilee wanted to provide Clara with a small stipend to compensate her for the many hours she has worked supporting the community. Ms. Clara accepted the stipend, then immediately used the money to buy the children in Youth Services pizza and gifts. This has happened several times. She just loves to give back to her community. Another memory I have of Clara is of her making me and my team the most scrumptious salads, giving us the freshest strawberries along with a fresh can a whipped cream and baking brownies. Clara did this every week for years and years!

I have been so blessed to know Clara and have been a recipient of her generosity and kindness. Along with myself, she has been a blessing to so many in the Jubilee Housing Community and our neighborhood. This is just my story, and I am sure many others can attest to how they’ve been a recipient of Clara’s generous heart. She is truly, truly an angel on Earth and I am so honored to present Ms. Clara Velasquez with Jubilee Housing’s Resident Champion Award. Even though she could not be here tonight, we wanted to say we love you Ms. Clara and wish you nothing but the best!

Please join me in congratulating and celebrating this wonderful person, and join me in welcoming Eduardo to the stage to share Clara’s remarks.

Remarks by Clara Velasquez, 2022 Jubilee Housing Resident Champion

Good evening everyone. First, I would like to thank Jubilee for this recognition. Everything I do, I do without expecting to get anything back. What’s more, everything I do for the children is in thanks for all Jubilee has done for me. I thank God for the opportunity that He gives me to serve other people with my time and effort.

Many people ask me why I am going to help the children’s program or why I help different people, and I tell them that I do it because it makes me happy. I appreciate this recognition, but I know that I am not the only person who is so grateful to Jubilee. Jubilee has impacted individuals, families, and generations with its housing program and services.

Jubilee not only supports residents like me, Jubilee improves the community, Jubilee opens the door to all people regardless of their circumstances and I am so grateful. Thank you very much!

Our Growing Leadership Team

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A number of incredible leaders have joined Jubilee Housing recently, encompassing HR, Property Development and Management, Finance, Advancement, and more. These hires represent our continued commitment to building a remarkable team with a strong, shared commitment to justice housing during this exciting period of Jubilee Housing’s meaningful growth.

David Jefferson
Chief Operating Officer
Joined July 2022

David is responsible for leading strategic planning; managing human resources, finance and accounting, resident services, youth services, and research and evaluation; and overseeing property management. David was previously the Regional Vice President of Conifer Realty LLC in Rochester, New York, in addition to being an Adjunct Professor and Executive in Residence at the University of Maryland. He has served as the VP of Operations at Edgewood-Vantage Management and as Executive Director and CEO of Rockville Housing Enterprises. David has managed multiple teams and has demonstrated the ability and vision to lead the Operations of Jubilee Housing. David is earning his MBA at Loyola University in Baltimore. He has earned a Master of Divinity from Howard University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Sojourner Douglass College in Baltimore.

Dawanna (Dee Kay) Kennedy
Director of Development
Joined July 2022

Raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, Dee Kay knew early on that she would dedicate her life to serving vulnerable populations and reducing systematic barriers. In her role as Development Director, Dee Kay will help implement a robust strategic plan for deepening supporter engagement and stewarding relationships with current and potential donors. Dee Kay prides herself on cultural competency and her ability to create inclusive environments where staff and clients can flourish. A tireless fundraiser and grant writer, Dee Kay routinely exceeded fundraising goals in previous nonprofit leadership roles and brings years of experience serving at-risk populations to her new role as Director of Development. As a published author, LGBTQIA success coach, pastor, and new media thought leader, she excels at guiding organizations to reach vulnerable populations wherever they may be. A firm believer in one’s ability to help others heal, in March of 2019, Dee Kay published her second book: “Rewriting my Body: A Guided Journal for Tracing and Transcending Trauma”. She looks forward to bringing a new perspective into her new role as she dedicates herself to increasing donations, recruiting new supporters and increasing awareness, developing community connections, and cultivating repeat givers. She is a graduate of Seton Hall University’s Master in English Literature program, and holds a Doctorate of Divinity and Philosophy.

Yolanda Beale
Director of Property Management
Joined June 2022

Yolanda has worked in property management for almost three decades and previously worked with Faria Management, Winn Companies, Wilson Technologies, and Borger Management. Yolanda is a creative and dynamic problem solver with extensive property management experience in customer service, staff development, community relations, recruiting, budget control, resident relations, and property acquisitions. Yolanda’s property management expertise and passion for our mission are integral to our Justice Housing growth.

Shelia Davis
Director of Asset Management
Joined June 2022

Shelia Davis is a results-oriented professional with over twenty-five years of experience managing large affordable housing portfolios, new commercial developments, new acquisitions, housing compliance, and bringing distressed properties into compliance increasing occupancy rates. Ms. Davis has led efforts in identifying and facilitating new housing development, assisted living for seniors, veterans’ projects, commercial projects, and rehabilitation projects for private companies and housing authorities across the United States. She has a strong reputation as a superb team builder with stellar interpersonal skills who is proficient, meticulous, and forward thinking. While working with HUD on financing programs and the financing and design of mixed income neighborhoods, a repositioning strategy was developed. Under the heading of “Preserve, Grow, Diversify, and Expand Capacity”, Ms. Davis led a yearlong process to increase mixed income developments, replace inadequate public housing subsidies with Section 8 subsidies and RAD rents, re-syndicate expiring use properties, and improve the cash flow on underperforming properties.

Uloma Nwauche
Vice President of Finance
Joined December 2021

Uloma Nwauche brings significant financial experience and an ability to lead teams in a productive, efficient, and positive way. Her expertise includes preparation of financial statements, cash flow, budgeting, taxation, investment analysis, and coordination of financial management software. Her career also demonstrates her passion for helping organizations that address social injustice. Before joining Jubilee Housing, Uloma was the Director of Finance at the American Society for Cell Biology and the Director of Finance and Administration at the Maryland Coalition of Families. She also spent almost a decade with the National Association for Social Workers, managing the day-to-day financial operations. In addition, she was Controller for Lutheran Social Services, Asian Relief Inc, American Preferred Provider Plan Inc as well as Goodwill of Greater Washington where she also managed their Best Kept Buildings (BKB) and Workforce Organizations for Regional Collaboration (WORC) programs. Uloma is a registered licensed Certified Public Accountant. She received a BBA from Howard University and a MBA from Southeastern University.

Jilian Johnson
Vice President of Human Resources
Joined November 2021

Jilian oversees all human resource functions and collaborates with leadership to strategize and facilitate staffing capacity and work plans for Jubilee’s expansion. Jilian was selected for her expertise in human resources, demonstrated ability to build diverse and inclusive team cultures, and enthusiasm for our mission after an extensive national search led by Good Insight, a national executive search firm for nonprofits. She brings over 15 years of experience across various topics – from employee relations to performance management systems to compensation and payroll analysis. Her last position was at American Girl, Inc. She served as a key leadership member responsible for broadening organizational awareness about diversity and inclusion, increasing employee partnership, and fostering an inclusive, positive workplace.

Robert (Bob) Mannon
Director of Real Estate Development
Joined August 2021

Bob is a senior real estate executive with extensive development and management experience throughout the United States with some of the country’s most prominent brands, including McDonald’s and Marriott International. He has completed projects encompassing all aspects of development, including market analysis, site selection, financial analysis, contract negotiations, land entitlements, and design coordination. Project examples include mixed-use, adaptive reuse, historic tax credits, urban infill site, and LEED certification. He has developed projects in Washington, D.C., including the NOMA area and the Nationals ballpark. Before joining Jubilee, the Archer boutique hotel, his latest project opened in September 2021 in Tysons, Virginia.

Jubilee Welcomes David Jefferson as New COO

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Jubilee Housing is pleased to announce that David Jefferson has joined the executive team as Chief Operating Officer, effective July 18, 2022. David will be responsible for leading strategic planning, managing human resources, finance and accounting, resident services, youth services, research and evaluation, and overseeing property management.

David was previously the Regional Vice President of Conifer Realty LLC in Rochester, New York, in addition to being an Adjunct Professor and Executive in Residence at the University of Maryland. He has served as the VP of Operations at Edgewood-Vantage Management and as Executive Director and CEO of Rockville Housing Enterprises. David has managed multiple teams and has demonstrated the ability and vision to lead the Operations of Jubilee Housing.

David is earning his MBA at Loyola University in Baltimore. He has earned a Master of Divinity from Howard University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Sojourner Douglass College in Baltimore.

We at Jubilee Housing are thrilled to welcome David to this new role. We eagerly anticipate the results his vision and passion will bring both to Jubilee and the community.

Jubilee Welcomes Dawanna Kennedy

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Jubilee Housing is pleased to announce that Dawanna Kennedy has joined the Institutional Advancement team as the Director of Development. Dawanna, who goes by Dee Kay, has a superb track record of leading nonprofit, healthcare, and community organizations. She will contribute to managing day-to-day operations of fundraising as Director of Development at Jubilee Housing.

Raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, Dee Kay knew early on that she would dedicate her life to serving vulnerable populations and reducing systematic barriers. In her role as Development Director, Dee Kay will help implement a robust strategic plan for deepening supporter engagement and stewarding relationships with current and potential donors. Dee Kay prides herself on cultural competency and her ability to create inclusive environments where staff and clients can flourish.

A tireless fundraiser and grant writer, Dee Kay routinely exceeded fundraising goals in previous nonprofit leadership roles and brings years of experience serving at-risk populations to her new role as Director of Development. As a published author, LGBTQIA success coach, pastor, and new media thought leader, she excels at guiding organizations to reach vulnerable populations wherever they may be.

A firm believer in one’s ability to help others heal, in March of 2019, Dee Kay published her second book: “Rewriting my Body: A Guided Journal for Tracing and Transcending Trauma”. She looks forward to bringing a new perspective into her new role as she dedicates herself to increases donations, recruiting new supporters and increases awareness, developing community connections and cultivating repeat givers.

She is a graduate of Seton Hall University’s Master in English Literature program, and holds a Doctorate of Divinity and Philosophy.

As the Director of Development at Jubilee Housing, Dee Kay will work closely with Rebecca Ely, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, to continue strengthening Jubilee’s community partnerships, bolstering and diversifying funding sources, and increasing engagement that centers housing and support services as the foundation for a more equitable DC.

Jubilee Housing is thrilled to have someone with Dee Kay’s expertise and passion join the movement for justice housing™ at this critical time of organizational growth. Please join us in welcoming Dee Kay to the Jubilee Housing team!

Jubilee Resident Terry Nicholetti Talks About Why a Deeply Affordable Home is Important to Her

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Jubilee resident Terry Nicholetti speaks with WUSA9 in an interview about the impact of justice housing on her life.

Read WUSA9’s article and watch the interview here!

Resident Spotlight: Clara Velasquez

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Jubilee Housing provides deeply affordable homes and a comprehensive range of services to a diverse community of about 500 residents. With four more properties providing an additional 120 units primed for development, this community is rapidly expanding. This is important because the community drives all that Jubilee does. This community-centric mission makes Jubilee truly unique, however, it is the extraordinary people who comprise it that have come to define it.

One such resident is Clara Velazquez (affectionately known as Ms. Clara), a native of Colombia who has been a Jubilee resident for 39 years. She worked in childcare as a nanny for 27 years, helping to raise three children who have gone on to very successful professional lives as a doctor, a lawyer, and a computer programmer. Having been retired for almost a decade, she still remains close with the now-adult children she helped shape and support.

Despite being retired, Ms. Clara has not stopped working. If anything, she has taken on an even larger role. About eight years ago, she began volunteering for Jubilee’s Early Start program. From preparing after-school snacks and dinners to leading activities, Ms. Clara keeps plenty busy during these afternoons.

Ms. Clara’s volunteer work with Early Start is just one part of all that she does for the Jubilee community. Whether she is checking on her neighbors, taking out people’s trash, or assisting disabled residents, she always seems to be lending a helping hand. She does not want to be perceived as unable to help due to her age, small stature, or gender. Above all else, Ms. Clara just wants to make sure that her neighbors are taken care of and that anyone she comes across has all that they may need.

It is hard to find someone at Jubilee who does not have a heartwarming story about Ms. Clara. Her generous and friendly demeanor is apparent everywhere she goes. No one can attest to how much she means to the Jubilee Housing community quite like Jorge Torres, a Jubilee maintenance worker and another extremely familiar face in the community, who has worked here for 15 years and has known Ms. Clara for 12 of them.

“Ms. Clara does not care if someone is a tenant or an employee of Jubilee Housing, anything they need they can call her,” Mr. Torres explained. He further elaborated, “She will bring things to the elderly or disabled. She will make birthday cakes for neighbors and soup for the sick. On cold days she will bring hot chocolate or coffee and on those hot summer days sandwiches, bananas, or water.”

Ms. Clara says that she appreciates Jubilee because they help everybody regardless of their situation. She explains, “They care about people in the building, providing supplies and programs for children.”

Undoubtedly, this ethos is one that is shared by Jubilee and Ms. Clara herself. In addition to working with Early Start and helping her neighbors, she is a monthly donor.

Ms. Clara thinks of the Jubilee community as her family and treats it as such. She does things out of the kindness of her heart and her actions speak to this sentiment. Residents and employees alike appreciate her dedication. It only seemed right to share Ms. Clara’s story with everyone not only to show appreciation, but also to inspire.

Marty Mellett on K-Love with Billie Branham

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K-Love’s Billie Branham recently chatted with Jubilee’s Vice President of External Affairs, Marty Mellett, about Jubilee’s history and mission and the need for affordable housing and services in DC.

Listen to the interview here!

Testimony Before the DC Council

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During the DC Council’s recent oversight hearings, Jubilee Housing staff members provided testimony related to the issues that most impact our work.

Read in full the remarks of Marty Mellett, Vice President of External Affairs, and Miya Gaskins, Director of Resident Services, before the council.