America faces compounding housing access and affordability crises. Addressing these challenges requires action at the federal, state, and local levels to overcome obstacles that have been decades—if not a century—in the making.Zoning reform is a powerful tool to get more people into homes in the right places. Yet, zoning reform efforts face resistance and misunderstanding when introduced in communities. At the Equity Summit, our Center for Zoning Solutions has organized an expert panel to tackle this issue head-on. Together with SGA’s Director of Land Use and Development, Toccarra Nicole Thomas, panelists will break down the best strategies to advance zoning reform for more housing at local and state levels. Meet the panelists who will help us learn how to change hearts and minds on zoning reform:

 

Chris Carr, CEO and Founder of Black Land Ownership
Chris Carr is a multi-hyphanate, creative problem solver from Washington DC with a strong presence across Brooklyn and NY state. His work spans music, visual arts, education, tech, conservation, event planning, and community development. Carr attended Morehouse College and Columbia University. His academic background as a historian and researcher has shaped his trajectory, particularly in developing curricula and learning frameworks for adults and youth. As the founder of Brooklyn Wildlife—an independent arts incubator that hosts the long standing BK Wildlife Summer Festival—he has curated and produced thousands of events, creating spaces for artists to collaborate and showcase their work. He is also the co-founder of Black Land Ownership, a grassroots initiative addressing systemic barriers to land access, he works to provide resources and support for Black folks seeking to acquire and maintain property. Additionally, he is a consultant on diversity, equity, and inclusion for tech companies, startups, and NGOs, helping institutions integrate equitable practices into their operations.

 

 

Krishana Jackson Perry, Senior Analyst of Physical Infrastructure Policy at the U.S. Government Accountability Office
Krishana Jackson Perry is a creative changemaker, problem-solver, and intrapreneur who brings equity thought leadership to her roles in government spaces. Krishana leads with building relationships and trust to engage the community, manage community and economic development programs, and analyze federal policies. As a principal planner over historic and cultural preservation, Krishana led efforts to further the healing process between the community and local government–building lasting trust and coalitions, while navigating zoning challenges from the past and present. Currently, as a senior policy analyst, Krishana leads efforts to improve federal physical infrastructure policies and programs. Krishana’s thought leadership led to published key considerations for the effective planning of highway projects, grounded in equity. Krishana also co-created an internal initiative that explores the role of equity in infrastructure policies (e.g., transportation) to encourage her colleagues to use more people-centered thinking concerning the built environment. Krishana serves as the strategy consultant to West Side Legends, a non-profit based in Pittsfield, Massachusetts (one of her many hometowns), where she consults on community development initiatives and grant writing.

 

Moses West, Founder, Moses West Foundation
Moses is the the Moses West Foundation, which drives educational outreach, sustainability projects, and collaborative efforts to expand clean water access globally. He is also the Founder of AWG Contracting and, which focuses on advancing Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG) technology to provide clean, sustainable drinking water where it’s needed most. He has deployed AWG systems in communities like Vieques, Puerto Rico, and Flint, Michigan, providing clean water to over 5,000 residents during critical situations. He also leads the development and approval of industrial AWG systems for military operations, disaster relief, emergency response, humanitarian aid, and sustainability initiatives.

 

 

 

Sonja Trauss, Executive Director, Yimby Law
In 2014, Sonja Trauss started organizing pro-housing renters in the Bay Area while working as a high school math teacher. She is a founder of the YIMBY movement in California. Sonja leads YIMBY Law, which is a project of Yes In My Back Yard. Sonja facilitates community organizing for housing projects that are compliant with state housing laws to be approved by local governments. Under Sonja’s leadership, YIMBY Law has won nine lawsuits since 2019. Sonja received her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Temple University, and holds a Master’s Degree in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis.