CLPHA Press Room

From the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh's newsletter:

The HACP, its nonprofit affiliate, Clean Slate E3, and its community partners are committed to investing in the future of our youth. This common goal was evident during the HACP’s Citywide Tailgate Event on April 24.

The event was held at co-host ACH Clear Pathways’ headquarters in the Hill District during the pro football draft on the North Shore and Downtown. Five-hundred attendees turned out to show their mutual support of these future MVPs throughout the free, four-hour event.

Thanks to our sponsors — the Jourdan Kelli Fund of the Pittsburgh Foundation, Weatherspoon & Williams LLC, Championship Chase TV – and partners Machine Age Studios, STEM Coding Lab, Beyond Blessed Catering, Ebenezer Baptist Church, the CheatCode Gaming trailer, Mastro Gourmet Quality Ice, 412 Ice Cream, sorors of Zeta Phi Beta LLZ Chapter, and our Youth Career Forum panelists Joshua Sutherland, NFL music supervisor, Jourdan Washington, RCA/Sony Records associate director of marketing, and Ezra “Ezzy” Harris and Jaymir “Jammer” Walls, St. Benedict the Moor student-athletes and ACH Clear Pathways students for making this event a success.

Guests had the opportunity to sign a giant appreciation card for former Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin designed by ACH Clear Pathways art student 16-year-old Ta-Nyiah Benjamin, learn hands-on STEM technology and workforce development skills aboard our two CyberBus mobile units, battle each other in friendly video game play aboard the CheatCode Gaming trailer, learn about our Clean Slate E3 scholarship and outof-school-time programs, and enjoy free food from Beyond Blessed Catering and 412 Ice Cream.

Five lucky guests went home with donated PlayStation 5 video game systems.

Congratulations to the winners of our Youth Madden Football Tournament — first-place winner Nyzer McDonald and secondplace winner Caleb Hauser. Nyzer won a PlayStation 5 Pro, and Caleb won a PlayStation 5.

Three other lucky raffle winners took home the remaining donated PlayStation 5 systems — Ra’Dale Taylor, Ezzy Harris, and HACP Tenant Council representative Ms. Sandra Almond.

“I am so very thankful to receive something like this in a raffle,” Ms. Almond said during the April HACP Resident Advisory Board meeting. “I’m going to give it to my grandchildren, and they and my great-grandchildren are going to have so much fun!”

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles also donated raffle items, including a signed football by Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown.

Ty Miller of Championship Chase TV emceed our Youth Career Forum that further shined the spotlight on these future legends.

Jourdan Washington of RCA/Sony Records advised the youth in attendance to not be afraid to share their ideas.

She said as the associate director of marketing, she works closely with the management, creative, and digital teams, among others, and serves as a quarterback for the artists.

She also stressed the importance of networking with whoever you meet.

“Make sure you have conversations with people,” she said.

She and Joshua Sutherland of the NFL both grew up in musiccentric homes, and are both accomplished pianists.

As an NFL music supervisor, Mr. Sutherland has to keep track of current artists and music trends, as well as seasoned hits for older NFL fans.

He added when music is played for NFL games, they only have about 7-10 seconds to get your attention.

“We want to make sure we reach fans where they are,” he added. “We want to keep in mind where the game is being played, who is playing, and what music is trending right now.”

He said he wished he knew earlier on in his career that it was OK to make mistakes.

“I may not have put myself into situations where I would get something wrong. You can’t get everything right all the time. I didn’t put myself in situations where I would grow. By putting myself into situations where I didn’t know everything it helped me to gain more trust because people knew I wanted to grow.”

He wants the next generation to know that they can walk the path that he walks, and can have this platform. When Mr. Sutherland started in his career, there were no people of color in his field. He said he was thankful he could rely on his family and community to encourage him when he was down.

“You saw someone that looked like you hold this seat. I want you to know that you can hold this seat and so much more!” he said.

Ezzy Harris and Jammer Walls are both student-athletes who are aiming for the stars.

Ezzy plans to play baseball and basketball at Seton LaSalle High School, and aspires to study business management. He already runs his own summer snack shop at ACH during summer camp sessions, and has designed his own clothing line with a friend called Radiant Stars.

Jammer will play football at Central Catholic High School. He is aspiring to become a professional athlete.

They both say they want to be role models for fellow youth because they don’t want them to go down the wrong path in life.

“Our youth are our future,” HACP Executive Director Caster D. Binion said. “The HACP, Clean Slate, and ACH Clear Pathways have always strived to brighten the paths of our local youth, and we couldn’t think of a better time to watch them dazzle as the city shines its spotlight on the many talented young athletes hoping to be drafted into the pro football league.”

From WSOC-TV Charlotte:

Atrium Health has finalized a major land contribution that will help expand affordable housing in Charlotte.

The health system has transferred 14 acres off North Tryon Street to INLIVIAN, the city’s public housing authority, paving the way for new mixed‑income residential development.

The move comes after Atrium Health and INLIVIAN executed a land‑swap agreement this week. Under the deal, Atrium Health exchanged its 3‑acre property at 720 E. Morehead Street in Dilworth — which will also be developed for affordable housing — for a similarly valued 3‑acre parcel at Baxter Street Park in Midtown.

The Midtown property supports future expansion at The Pearl, Charlotte’s first innovation district.

With this agreement, Atrium Health has now contributed more than $51 million toward affordable housing and homelessness solutions in the Charlotte region over the past five years — one of the largest commitments made by any locally based organization.

“When families have a safe place to call home, we see it in their health and well‑being,” said Steve Smoot, EVP and president of the North Carolina and Georgia division at Advocate Health. “By partnering with INLIVIAN, we are helping create meaningful opportunities for families across Charlotte, while also supporting the continued growth of The Pearl.”

Wexford Science & Technology, a development partner at The Pearl, is also building a residential tower on about one acre of land, with 5% of units deed‑restricted for affordable housing.

The 14‑acre North Tryon property was deed‑restricted by Atrium Health in June 2024 to ensure it would be used for affordable housing. It sits between North Tryon and North Poplar streets and borders a 16‑acre INLIVIAN development already underway.

At least 25% of the units built on the site must be reserved for affordable housing, and half of those must be available to households earning 50% or less of the area median income.

Read the full article.

From the New York City Housing Authority:

On March 26, a proud and grateful gathering of NYCHA staff came together to celebrate the graduation of CMLA Cohort 3: the newest graduating class of the Authority’s Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA) .

“This isn’t just a graduation,” said Yvette Andino, Vice President of Employee Engagement and founder of the CMLA program. “It’s a visible shift in the culture of our organization.”

Over the course of the 16-week program, mentees are paired with mentors who share not only practical expertise but also the perspective and working wisdom that come from years of experience: successes, mistakes, lessons learned, and the realities of leadership inside a large and complex organization.

But the CMLA’s emphasis extends beyond technical skills alone. The program encourages participants to reflect more deeply on how they lead, communicate, collaborate, and support one another.

“These mentees balanced their everyday responsibilities with something much deeper,” Ms. Andino said. “They found the time not just to manage their jobs and responsibilities — but to reflect deeply on how they do that important work.”

That spirit of mutual investment and support was echoed throughout the ceremony.

“To all of you mentees — thank you for being part of this program, because being part of this program means you are taking an active part in creating a better NYCHA,” said NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “To all of you mentors — despite all the challenges you handle every day, you chose to give your precious time to help other people learn and grow and thrive.”

“When you have somebody who makes you feel supported and heard and understood, it just makes such a difference,” Ms. Bova-Hiatt added. “And the more we pay it forward, the more we create an incredible NYCHA.”

NYCHA Chief Operating Officer Eva Trimble reflected on the important role mentorship has played in her own life and career.

“I would not be here today without my mentors,” Ms. Trimble told participants. “They absolutely shaped my life and my career.”

Participants were also encouraged to continue building connections across departments and to carry the program’s lessons into their everyday work.

“Leadership is about service,” said NYCHA Chief Administrative Officer Erin Villari. “And a key ingredient of real leadership is humility.”

“The supportive, coaching aspect of leadership should be at the forefront of everything,” Ms. Villari added. “Service in leadership; humility in leadership; humanity in leadership — what a great program!”

Dr. Tischelle George of NYCHA’s Learning & Development team praised the program’s broader impact on both mentors and mentees alike.

“The CMLA program really opens your eyes,” Dr. George said. “We serve an organization that cares about all of us, about our growth and development as professionals.”

As mentors and mentees were recognized, the sense of a growing leadership community was unmistakable. Participants reflected on increased confidence, stronger relationships, and a deeper sense of purpose in their work.

That momentum is already continuing beyond graduation. Several participants now plan to join Learning & Development’s “Learning Leaders” initiative, extending learning opportunities throughout the Authority, while new graduates were encouraged to return to the program as mentors themselves.

As certificates were presented and the ceremony drew to a close, one message emerged clearly: leadership is not a static title, but an ongoing practice grounded in reflection, connection, humility, and service.

For NYCHA’s newest CMLA graduates, that practice is already well underway.

From the DC Housing Authority's press release:

Today, the Deputy Mayor’s Office for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA), nonprofit developer Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and Barry Farm community members celebrated the groundbreaking of the 90-unit, fully affordable Hillsdale Flats Phase I, the third new construction property in the multi-phase redevelopment of the Barry Farm-Hillsdale community in DC’s historic Anacostia neighborhood.

“This first phase of Hillsdale Flats marks a powerful step forward in one of the District’s most transformative redevelopment efforts,” said Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Nina Albert. “These 90 affordable homes build on more than $1 billion invested in Ward 8 under the Bowser Administration and reflect our commitment to creating opportunity, strengthening neighborhoods, and honoring this community’s legacy.”

Part of the New Communities Initiative (NCI) at Barry Farm, Hillsdale Flats Phase I will consist of 9 three-story, stacked-flat buildings constructed in a nearly 1.35 acre parcel between Sumner Road SE, Wade Road SE, Eaton Road SE and Firth Sterling Ave SE. It will offer 7 one-bedroom, 31 two-bedroom, 33 three-bedroom, 15 four-bedroom and 4 five-bedroom units.

Five of the 90 units are accessible for families with mobility impairments while two others are accessible for families with sensory impairments. Of the 31 two-bedroom apartments, nine will be live-work units where artists and entrepreneurs can take advantage of a hybrid studio space within the home. The apartment community’s 90 units are dedicated to residents earning up to 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), with 42 designated for former Barry Farm Dwellings residents.

“With this groundbreaking, we are fulfilling our promise to deliver safe and quality affordable housing that our Barry Farm families asked for and deserve,” said DCHA Interim Executive Director Nicole Wickliffe. “Hillsdale Flats Phase I was designed with the intention of supporting parents and children as they grow and thrive. These family-sized units will turn this idea into reality. Thank you to Mayor Bowser, DMPED, the DC Housing Finance Agency, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and POAH for your dedication to our shared vision of community-centered neighborhoods with high-quality, affordable housing for all residents. Most importantly, thank you to our DCHA families for your partnership as we create quality affordable housing while honoring Barry Farm’s rich history.”

“POAH is excited to collaborate with so many committed partners to construct the third new property and continue our work to create a vibrant, mixed-income community at Barry Farm, as well as provide greater economic opportunities for neighborhood residents,” said Aaron Gornstein, President and CEO of POAH. “We are grateful to the former Barry Farm residents, Mayor Bowser, the District of Columbia Housing Authority, DMPED, DC Housing Finance Agency, and all our financial partners for their unwavering support and patience.”

The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) underwrote short and long-term tax-exempt bonds and federal and DC Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity to fund construction of Hillsdale Flats Phase I. The project is also supported by DMPED, which provided NCI loans for predevelopment, infrastructure loans and construction gap financing. Other construction financing partners include JPMorgan Chase and Fannie Mae, National Equity Fund Inc. as the equity investor, and the District’s Department of Housing and Community Development.

“DCHFA is proud to support the continued transformation of Barry Farm through developments like Hillsdale Flats Phase I, which expand access to beautiful, healthy and high-quality affordable housing for District residents. This project reflects our commitment to preserving affordability while creating opportunities for families to thrive in vibrant, well-resourced communities. We are especially encouraged by the focus on inclusive design, multigenerational living, and pathways for returning residents, all of which honor the history of Barry Farm while preparing it for a strong and sustainable future,” said Christopher E. Donald, Executive Director/CEO, DCHFA.

DCHA and POAH serve as co-developers for the Barry Farm site, where the multi-phase redevelopment has already delivered The Asberry, a 108-unit, fully affordable, mixed-use property with a preference for elderly families. The first new construction project on the site, The Asberry opened in November 2024 and is fully leased. Construction began in 2024 on the 139-unit, fully affordable Edmonson, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Since commencing the Barry Farm redevelopment project, a total of 2,068 construction jobs were created and more than five dozen certified business enterprises (CBEs) delivered design, construction and other services.

Once complete, the project will create a vibrant, mixed-income community of at least 900 residential units, including at least 380 on-site replacement units for former Barry Farm residents; community-serving retail spaces; and central greenspace with community facilities for on-site services and programs. It will also feature five residential buildings designated as a historic landmark in honor of the community’s rich heritage.

Barry Farm-Hillsdale was established in 1867 as the first homeownership community in Washington, D.C. with land designated for newly freed enslaved African Americans. The community thrived and established a firm foundation of community organizations and leaders. This legacy continued through the Barry Farm Dwellings, a public housing community constructed in the 1940s whose residents continued to be trailblazers and advocates for racial and economic justice nationally, in D.C. and in their own community.

The multi-phase redevelopment of Barry Farm is one of four former public housing communities being revitalized through the New Communities Initiative (NCI), a District government program that creates vibrant mixed-income neighborhoods through a partnership between DMPED and DCHA.

Other NCI projects include the Rise at Temple Courts at Northwest One, which officially opened in Ward 6 in late 2022; Lincoln Heights – Richardson Dwellings in Ward 7, where hundreds of replacement units have been delivered; and Park Morton, where the first phase, the 142-unit Park Morton Apartments, opened in 2025.

From the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles' press release: