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New York, N.Y. (May 22, 2024). The Community Development Trust (“CDT”) announced today it has elected Raquel Favela, Brenda Loya, and Laura Keenan to CDT’s Board of Directors.
Laura Keenan is the Managing Director of Investor Relations at National Equity Fund (“NEF”). In her work at NEF, Laura establishes key partnerships and syndicating low-income tax credit investments nationwide to prominent equity investors in proprietary and multi-investor funds. Her 25+ years of comprehensive community development real estate experience include roles in development, financing, and investment.
Prior to joining NEF, Laura was a Senior Vice President at Bank of America Community Development Bank for 23 years, which included a breadth of senior roles in affordable housing, including single family for sale and multifamily rental development, and asset management of more than 20,000 units of affordable apartments.
Laura has served on the Boards of a range of organizations, including Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, Central Atlanta Progress, and Urban Land Institute. She is also the Co-Founder and President of New Jersey Women’s Affordable Housing Network.
Brenda Loya is the Chief Operating Officer of BlueHub Capital and President of BlueHub Managed Assets. Brenda works with members of the senior management team to build on the strength of BlueHub’s existing programs, while developing new strategies and products consistent with our mission. She works closely with each business line to increase collaboration and efficiency and enable growth.
Previously, Brenda was the National Director of Community Development Finance and Commercial Banking at Amalgamated Bank. She oversaw affordable housing and community facilities investments, economic development initiatives, and environmental justice projects.
Brenda currently serves on the Board of Directors of Raza Development Fund as Vice Chair and is also on the Board of the Nonprofit Finance Fund.
Raquel Favela is the Executive Managing Director at Grow America, an organization dedicated to revitalizing communities through strategic economic development, and housing initiatives. Raquel leads a regional team in helping public & private sector clients understand their markets and develop customized strategic plans and policy solutions that build eco-systems critical to equitable job creation and diverse housing operations. Her practical experience combined with her long-range planning and policy acumen help to bring balanced problem solving to communities.
While previously serving with the City of San Antonio, Raquel developed the city’s inaugural Strategic Community Development Plan in 2007. A decade later, as Dallas’ Chief of Economic Development and Neighborhood Services, she crafted the city’s first Comprehensive Housing Policy, tackling long-standing fair housing challenges and issues of disparate impact.
Raquel is on the Board of Directors of The Reinvestment Fund. She holds certifications as an Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) and Housing Development Finance Professional (HDFP).
“CDT is thrilled to have these three industry leaders join our Board of Directors. As we continue to expand our impact in the community development industry, the strength and leadership of our Board is critical to our strategic growth. We welcome the contributions that Laura, Brenda, and Raquel will bring to CDT’s Board,” said Joseph F. Reilly, CDT’s President and CEO.
About The Community Development Trust (“CDT”)
The Community Development Trust (“CDT”) is a national investor that provides long-term capital for the preservation and creation of affordable housing. Working with local, regional, and national partners, CDT makes long-term equity investments and originates and acquires long-term mortgages. Now in its 26th year, CDT has $3.6 billion under management in debt and equity capital for properties in 45 states and regions. CDT’s total current investments help to create and preserve more than 38,000 units of affordable housing; providing homes for more than 140,000 residents. CDT is a private real estate investment trust (REIT) and a certified community development financial institution (CDFI).
Contact info
Web: www.cdt.biz
Phone: 212-271-5080
Email: cdtinfo@cdt.biz