My passion lies in forming connections, particularly to foster community and strengthen social fabric, and employing systematic thinking to tackle complex problems. My personal life vision is a world in which healthy, resilient and compassionate communities are fostered by cycles of learning and giving.As an affordable housing finance professional and urban planner with over a decade of experience across government, private, and nonprofit sectors, I bring a multi-faceted perspective. Community engagement is at the heart of my approach, and I firmly believe it’s the key to positive impact. As Executive Director of NASLEF, an association of members that thrive on keeping it local and in engaging communities, I aim to apply that principle to deliver programs, projects, and policy that help people thrive in all aspects of life.Speaker Bio:Michelle Foster is executive director of the National Association of State and Local Equity Funds (NASLEF). As NASLEF’s first full-time executive director, Foster is tasked with building on NASLEF’s strengths and creating opportunities for members. She has extensive experience in affordable multifamily deal and fund structuring having previously served as equity data manager at Cinnaire, analyzing more than $2.3 billion in equity investments. Prior to her work at Cinnaire, Foster engaged communities in a dynamic career as an urban planner, including crafting and implementing pioneering land use policy and streamlining entitlement processes. Foster is a recognized leader within her community and serves on the following boards Michigan Rural Development Council, Community & Home Supports, and the City of Ferndale Planning Commission. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Saginaw Valley State University and a master’s degree in urban planning from Wayne State University, fascinated by the cyclical influence of behavior and built design.