Elevating Housing Through Storytelling

A topic that doesn’t always get the spotlight: the 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠.

Leadership in our field isn’t solely about regulations, compliance, budgets, or policies. It can also be about how we 𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 ... how we shape the narrative and make sure the power of housing is seen, heard, and felt.

As the year closes, it’s a natural moment to reflect and set intentions for the year ahead. Consider how you can better utilize your own voice and even invite others into the mission of affordable housing.

At NAHRO National, I shared practical ways to jump off the bench and start:
▶️ Choose one platform and one clear message to focus on
▶️ Follow and learn from others - “best practice shadowing”
▶️ Build allies and know how to navigate protocols
▶️ Create a buddy system for collaboration and accountability
▶️ Pick one visible action to signal change is happening

Shoutout to the powerhouse panelists who also took the mic - proving that when we tell our stories, we don’t just build our organizations … we elevate HOUSING itself.