Women's Affordable Housing Network (WAHN)

Five years ago, the founding members of WAHN's National board took the amazing foundation started in Atlanta and the chapters that followed in Ohio, North Carolina and Indiana, and put together a framework that would take Women's Affordable Housing Network (WAHN) national. CEO & President Ashley Prendergast Northcutt shares some incredible WAHN impacts, highlights wins from 2024 and provides a preview of what's coming in 2025 in her annual video address. Thanks to the passion of our members, the commitment of our allies, and the generosity of our sponsors, WAHN has become a movement with momentum and has so much unbelievable support from inside and outside our industry. We're grateful. We're excited. We're ready for what's next.

Free AI Webinar! AI is transforming multifamily & affordable housing—but are we governing it responsibly? From tenant screening to lease approvals and property management, AI is becoming a core part of housing operations. But without clear governance, AI can introduce bias, compliance risks, and security concerns. Join us for an exclusive AI Policy & Governance Webinar where we’ll discuss: ? How to align AI with your mission & values ? The AI lifecycle and where governance fits ? Best practices for fair, transparent, and responsible AI Date: Wednesday March 12 | ??Virtual Register now: https://lnkd.in/eRtZ7vFG #AI #Multifamily #AffordableHousing #AIinHousing #FairHousing #WAHN Thanks Anne Hollander for sharing your expertise! We look forward to learning even more at 2025 WAHN Summit! Women's Affordable Housing Network (WAHN)

March is Women’s Herstory Month, and at San Diego WAHN, we’re celebrating the women shaping affordable housing and the AEC industry, advocating for housing justice, and building community through creativity and connection. ?? Getting to Know You: Lakeysha Sowunmi For our first "Getting to Know You" feature, we’re spotlighting Lakeysha Sowunmi, San Diego WAHN Chapter President. Lakeysha shares her journey in affordable housing, her inspiration behind founding our chapter, and advice for women in the field. ? Upcoming Event: Building the Future: Women Leading Affordable Housing & Construction Join us as we highlight the impact of women in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC), with a focus on affordable housing and skilled trades. Learn about career pathways, inclusion, and leadership from developers, project managers, and tradeswomen making a difference. Click on the link to RSVP: https://lnkd.in/gZC2y-TM Together, we are building, advocating, and leading. Join us this month in celebrating and supporting women in affordable housing and beyond! ???? #WomensHerstoryMonth #AffordableHousing #HousingAdvocacy #WomenInConstruction #SDWAHN

In honor of International Women's Day, it is with immense admiration and gratitude that we announce the establishment of the Lori Little Lifetime Achievement Award. Lori has long been a champion for affordable housing, a dedicated mentor, and an inspiration to so many within our industry. It is only fitting that this award, which recognizes a lifetime of dedication and impact, carries her name. ? We are thrilled to share that Lori will also be the first recipient of this prestigious award in 2025. Her unwavering commitment to creating and preserving affordable housing, her ability to connect and uplift others, and her visionary leadership have left an indelible mark on our industry. Her work has not only shaped policies and programs but has also profoundly impacted the lives of countless individuals and families who now have a place to call home because of her dedication. ? Lori's career has been defined by a rare combination of innovation, integrity, and compassion. Through her leadership, Lori has not only built successful initiatives but also fostered an environment where women in affordable housing can thrive. Her support for women in this field has strengthened careers, empowered emerging leaders, and created a network of professionals who follow her example. Join us in congratulating Lori!! We're also opening nominations for our WAHNderful Woman of the Year award! Nominations open today, will close on March 31st, and the award will be announced at the 2025 WAHN Summit in Denver this May. Nominate a WAHNderful woman here: https://lnkd.in/ghUZfSzB

ONE WEEK!

SAVE THE DATE! Join us Thursday, March 27th from 12-1pm for PA WAHN’s next virtual lunch and learn! In partnership with the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation and a panel of powerhouse women developers,?we’ll learn about Philadelphia’s groundbreaking Turn the Key affordable homeownership program. Turn the Key helps Philadelphia families buy new affordable homes and build equity by partnering with developers to build on publicly owned land. This is the first – but certainly not last! – program of its kind. Our Philly members had a great time in the fall visiting a Turn the Key property, and we knew we had to share this with the greater WAHN community! ? Panelists include: Shelvia Williams - Community Engagement Officer at PHDC Erika Rosario - Rosario Estates, LLC Carolina Pena - Gil Property Group Britainy Stephens, MSW, LEED AP - BLA Holdings, LLC ? Register here! https://lnkd.in/e_XWp9Kn Women's Affordable Housing Network (WAHN)

National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) is hosting a virtual discussion on Wednesday, March 26, from 1:00 – 3:00 pm ET, with successful women in affordable housing finance to share how they got into and rose in the field! Join Cheryl Cohen, Maura Collins, Tanya Dempsey, Jennifer Ho, Tammy Neale, CPTD, and discussion leader Jennifer Schwartz to explore how formal and informal leadership development, mentoring, networking, and communications shape career paths and discuss how they are preparing the next generation of leaders in their organizations. Thank you to NCSHA for your continued and valued support of WAHN's goal to create more space for women leaders in our industry! We are grateful to have such committed partners and are excited for our future collaborations!

Join us to celebrate International Women’s Day, this Thursday, March 6th?from?5:30 - 7:00 pm at Bold Monk Brewing on Ellsworth Industrial Blvd in Atlanta! We will toast to all the amazing women in our lives at our International Women's Day Happy Hour. Spread the word to your Atlanta Women's Affordable Housing Network friends and join us for drinks, light bites, and good conversation in an amazing space. ? Your ticket includes one drink ticket and light apps (additional food and drinks are available for purchase). Register here: https://lnkd.in/gjXjvwHJ

Women in the U.S. still earn, on average, just 82 cents for every dollar earned by men. The gap is even wider for women of color. Negotiating your salary is one of the most powerful tools in closing this gap—but many women still hesitate to ask for more. Almost 400 of you signed up to attend the first session in the ADVOCATING FOR YOU series, led by experts Cheryl Alexander and Deborah Dancy, and we're just a month away from their session on earning what you're worth! On April 1st, Cheryl and Deborah will share strategies, real-life success stories, and expert insights on: ? How to confidently negotiate your salary ? Understanding your value ? Overcoming the fear of asking for more Let’s bridge the pay gap together—because equal work deserves equal pay. This session is FREE for WAHN members and is generously sponsored by Red Stone Equity Partners LLC. https://lnkd.in/gUtQAXYS #EqualPay #SalaryNegotiation #KnowYourWorth #WomenInLeadership #PayEquity #WAHN

PORTLAND – WAHN Mentorship Event Update – Join Us for Happy Hour! ? We appreciate everyone who signed up for the WAHN Mentorship event and your enthusiasm for connecting and learning! To ensure the best experience possible—and due to scheduling conflicts—we’re postponing the mentorship event until May. ? But the happy hour is?STILL ON, and we’d love to see you there!??????Join us for a fun evening of networking and great conversations: ? Date/time: Thursday, March 6th?@ 5:00 PM Location: Enterprise Community Partners Office - 1001 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97204 ? And don’t worry—the mentorship event is still happening, just at a later date. Stay tuned for more details! ? We look forward to seeing you at happy hour!