After pursuing a doctorate in ecology, during what I thought was a six-month break between post-docs, I had a major career change and turned to community development. I now have over twenty-five years of experience in non-profit leadership and community organizing primarily in the Bronx, NYC, but also supporting projects in New Haven (CT) and Gloucesters (MA). My first project in New York was creating SHARE - New York, a 10,000-member food assistance program in the South Bronx. I then went on to be the lead organizer of South Bronx Churches. In that role, I led the teams that created new approaches to affordable housing development, school reform, and building public-private-nonprofit partnerships that led to the restoration of large areas of the South Bronx. I moved to Duluth MN in 2011 and worked with Duluth LISC for two years as a program officer. I worked with non-profit organizations and government agencies on affordable housing, economic development, improving education, helping families increase their incomes and assets, and building healthy and safe neighborhoods. My particular responsibilities included implementing comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans, fundraising and communications.On May 1, 2013 I became Executive Director of CHUM. CHUM's mission statement is "people of faith working together to provide basic necessities, foster stable lives, and organize for a just and compassionate community." CHUM's 42 member congregations pool resources to provide emergency shelter for families and individuals, food shelves in three Duluth neighborhoods, the CHUM Center, permanent supportive housing, a clinic, and outreach and support to people in Duluth who are experiencing homelessness, hunger and social isolation. I "retired" from CHUM to become the inaugural director of the College of St. Scholastica's new Masters in Nonprofit Leadership program.