Naomi aims to reinvent her childhood “sustainable-square-mile” here in the Age of Climate Crisis. She is the founder/President of Blacks In Green (BIG™), an urban theorist, attorney, activist, and proud granddaughter of Mississippi sharecroppers. Her heritage forms the foundation for BIG's course in Grannynomics™, The 8 Principles Green-Village-Building™ and The Sustainable Square Mile™ which Naomi authored and teaches nationally in lectures and workshops, and universities. Naomi serves as a bridge and catalyst among communities and their stakeholders in the design and development of green, self-sustaining, mixed-income, walkable-villages within black neighborhoods – so that every household can ultimately walk-to-work, walk-to-shop, walk-to-learn, walk-to-play – and neighbor dollars can circulate locally to limit the greenhouse gases overheating our planet. She conveys the risks of global warming; the health/wealth opportunities of the new green economy; the power of neighbors to lead in their city’s enviro-economic policy and practice; and the primacy of land ownership.

Based in West Woodlawn, BIG's mission is to address the chronic proliferation of blight and poverty in the black community through the development of whole-system solutions that drive education and economic empowerment, reduce pollution and improve quality of life. To support its mission, BIG produces a wide range of successful education and training programs, publishes articles, research-based advocacy campaigns, large-scale community engagement events, fundraising/sponsorship initiatives, and policy adoption strategies.- Authored works include: The 8 Principles of Green-Village Building: Chicago's Healthy Land Use PLan; The 12 Propositions of Grannynomics; 5 Things Every Black Person Should Know About Sustainable Communities & The New Green Economy- Fundraising and volunteer recruitment for ongoing programs focused on environmentally-friendly landscaping, rainwater retention, solar investment and installation, forticulture education, gardening, litter cleanup, real eastate-based financial literacy, and property improvements designed for youth, adults and seniors- Launched 16 Great Migration Gardens of West Woodlawn as model for job creation, heritage tourism industry, and spiritual healing for neighborhood- Created implemented strategy for development without gentrication displacement including campaigns which impacted development directions of Obama Presidential Center, Norfolk Southern Railroad, and CREATE federal transportation plan in Illinois- Curated and published researched portfolio of all West Woodlawn properties, including maps and database of parcel ownership, photographs of front/rear of all buildings, tracking change of ownership in 3-year period, with series of socialized community and professional convenings

Based in Chicago's South Side, Daughter's Trust provided strategic advisory consultancy services supporting environmental, economic development and social impact initiatives. Representative engagements include:- CDC representative for Ujima at the Madden/Wells Transformation. Led mixed-income community planning, business partnerships, contracts, Section 3 hiring and training, general contractor negotiations, financial agreements- Management of The Oasis Apartments. Identified and negotiated the purchase of $1.5 million commercial/residential development. Led surge in property value surged through higher occupancy rates, commercial and residential rental income increases, decreasing expenses and implementation of improved financial controls and product/service warranty tracking system- Management of True North Underground Railroad Festival & Living Heritage Farm Village. Based in Altgeld Gardens/Riverdale, this annual community festival featured stories of the underground Railroad/African- American freedom seekers told through song, dnce, lectures and oral history workshops. Produced Farm Village Master Plan in partnership with residents and University of Illinois College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs