Message from Traci: People, Purpose, Possibility
Dear friends,
When I agreed to serve as HDC’s interim executive director in June, I expected my role to be “interim.” But the better I got to know HDC and the people who work here—and the more I shared my admiration of HDC with others, and expressed my excitement about its future—the more I wanted to be a part of that future. So, I put my hat in the ring to be HDC’s fourth executive director. And I am delighted and honored to be starting my first week on the job.
I’ve known and worked with HDC since my earliest days on the affordable housing scene. To me, HDC is an organization defined by its people—and by the curiosity, creativity, deep technical skills, and sense of purpose they bring to their work. That sense of purpose is beautifully captured in HDC’s new vision, mission, and values statements, which came out of our recently concluded strategic planning process and were written by HDC’s staff and board.
Our vision: Soon, an abundance of healthy homes will support all people to thrive in communities of their choice.
Our mission: Centering those who have been historically oppressed, HDC collaborates with its partners to envision, develop, and sustain affordable homes and community places.
Our values: Orient to justice, practice creativity, seek environmental balance, center community.
I feel a deep connection to these statements and to the organizational culture and values they represent. I am proud and excited to join an organization that is putting housing equity at the center of its mission. I am proud and excited to join an organization that is such an important part of our state’s network of people and organizations working to ensure every resident has an affordable, healthy home. I look forward to learning how HDC can continue to enhance and adapt the way we do business to meet the evolving needs of Oregon’s housing system and our clients, and to build power of historically under-resourced communities.
HDC and our partners are in a historically strong position to make a difference. To meet this exciting future, HDC is growing. In the next two weeks, four new staff members will join HDC. We look forward to introducing you to Senior Finance Project Manager Ben Loftis, Senior Asset Management Project Manager Liz Winchester, Associate Project Manager Blair Schaeffer-Bisht, and Operations Manager Chelsea Lancaster. HDC continues to draw people who are purpose-driven to serve our community. And there is nothing more inspiring to a new executive director than that.
I’m excited to be part of the affordable housing industry in Oregon, working with some of the best people and organizations I know. I look forward to doing this work with you.