WAHNcast

A Blueprint for Change: 35 Years of Habitat for Humanity's Women Build

In this episode of WAHNcast, host Sadie Nott, National WAHN VP, celebrates the 35th anniversary of Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build initiative with two leaders from Habitat Charlotte Region: Mary-Margaret Johnstone, NC WAHN Board Member and Events Co-Chair, and Brooke Moose, Director of Development for Community Engagement.

What began in 1991 as a simple idea shared over brunch in Charlotte has grown into a global movement spanning more than 650 communities, engaging over 144,000 women volunteers, and helping build more than 5,700 homes.

Mary-Margaret and Brooke share the powerful origin story of Women Build—including Rosalynn Carter’s involvement in the very first build—along with reflections on what the initiative looks like today. From volunteer engagement across build sites and ReStores to expanding neighborhood development, Women Build continues to evolve while staying rooted in its mission: empowering women to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter.

We also explore:

• The impact of women-led households in housing

• Gender equity in construction and homeownership

• The importance of mentorship and intergenerational leadership

• How Women Build and WAHN share a common spirit of connection and action

Whether you’ve swung a hammer before or are just curious about getting involved, this conversation is a reminder that when women gather with purpose, communities change.

Training for the Long Run: Building Financial Foundations That Last with Emily Promise

In this episode of WAHNcast, Angie Truitt sits down with Emily Promise, CEO of Shorepoint Advisory Group and a trusted financial planner committed to helping women build confidence, clarity, and long-term financial stability.

Emily shares practical, approachable guidance on creating strong financial foundations, navigating career transitions, and building wealth in ways that align with personal values and community impact. From understanding your balance sheet and budgeting without overwhelm to preparing for career pivots, homeownership, and generational giving, this conversation demystifies money and puts women back in the driver’s seat.

Emily also joins WAHNcast as a recurring guest, offering quarterly financial insights to WAHN members at no cost because access to financial knowledge shouldn’t be a barrier to leadership or impact.

Whether you’re early in your career, considering a transition, or thinking about legacy and giving, this episode offers tools, mindset shifts, and encouragement to help you plan with intention and confidence.

Dressed by Love: How The Princess Project Helps Teens Find Confidence and Belonging

What does it mean to be dressed by love?

In this episode of WAHNCast, Angie Truitt and Celia Gunn-Zaboli are joined by Karen Martin-Spellerberg of The Princess Project, a nonprofit that has spent more than two decades creating spaces where teens are not only dressed for prom, but wrapped in dignity, confidence, and belonging.

Karen shares powerful stories of transformation — teens who arrive unsure and guarded and leave standing taller, parents experiencing the rare freedom of telling their child, “You can choose anything you want,” and volunteers who return year after year because of the joy this work creates. The conversation explores how The Princess Project goes far beyond formalwear, offering mentorship, leadership opportunities, and a community where every young woman is seen and celebrated without conditions.

This episode also highlights why The Princess Project is the 2026 WAHNprom beneficiary charity, and how partnerships, volunteers, and donors help sustain a mission rooted in love.

Support ensures that every teen who walks through their doors feels confident, welcomed, and worthy.  To donate visit https://www.princessprojectsd.org/donate

Monetary donations help fund year-round programming and allow The Princess Project to purchase dresses in hard-to-find sizes so no teen is ever turned away.

Other ways to support include:
• Donating prom dresses or accessories
• Volunteering with a local chapter
• Sharing The Princess Project with schools, families, and community partners

Every contribution helps create moments that last long after prom night ends.

Conversations with CohnReznick: 2025 Affordable Housing Credit Study

In this episode of WAHNcast, we sit down with leaders from CohnReznick to unpack insights from the 2025 Affordable Housing Credit Study, one of the most widely referenced performance benchmarks in the LIHTC industry.

Hosted by Stephanie Sleva, Senior Assurance Manager at CohnReznick and Founding Member and Board President of the Pennsylvania chapter of WAHN, the conversation explores how LIHTC portfolios are performing post-pandemic, what trends are holding steady, and where new pressures are reshaping underwriting, operations, and policy.

Stephanie is joined by:

• Cindy Fang, Partner at CohnReznick and Tax Credit Investment Services Leader, as well as a member of WAHN’s National Sponsorship Committee, who shares key takeaways from nearly 25 years of the study and what they signal for investors and developers.

• Regan St. Pierre, Director at CohnReznick and Co-Author of the Affordable Housing Credit Study, who highlights what makes the study unique and how stakeholders can use its interactive tools to inform smarter decision-making.

The episode also includes a special moment honoring Beth Mullen, CohnReznick’s Affordable Housing Industry Leader and WAHN’s Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, recognized for her extraordinary impact on the industry, her mentorship, and her unwavering commitment to advocacy.

Together, this conversation reinforces a powerful message: the LIHTC program remains resilient, effective, and essential—and the data behind it matters more than ever.

Access the full 2025 Affordable Housing Credit Study and interactive tools:
https://creditstudy.cohnreznick.com

Holding the Line for Rural America: A Conversation with Colleen Fisher

What does it take to steward an entire housing portfolio for nearly three decades?

In this episode, hosts Ashley Northcutt and industry legend Babbie Jaco sit down with Colleen Fisher, Executive Director of the Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), for a deep and candid conversation about leadership, legacy, and the future of rural affordable housing.

Colleen reflects on her 28-year tenure leading CARH, tracing the organization’s origins, the evolution of rural housing policy, and the high-stakes challenges facing the USDA rural housing portfolio today, from mortgage maturity and preservation to technology gaps and workforce strain. Together, Colleen and Babbie unpack what makes rural housing distinct, why it remains one of the most stable yet misunderstood asset classes, and how community, trust, and long-term commitment define success.

The conversation also explores women’s leadership in affordable housing, the importance of patience and institutional memory, and why mentoring the next generation matters more than ever. This episode is both a masterclass in rural housing policy and a powerful reminder of the human impact behind the work.

WAHN Birthday Celebration with Ashley Northcutt & Angie Truitt

This episode of WAHNcast is a celebration of growth, community, and six years of building something powerful together.

Angie Truitt, Vice President of Communications for the Women’s Affordable Housing Network (WAHN), is joined by WAHN’s CEO and President, Ashley Northcutt, to mark WAHN’s birthday and reflect on how far the organization has come. From the early days of explaining that “WAHN isn’t a person,” to sold-out national summits, national recognition through the Giving List, and a rapidly growing chapter network, this conversation captures the heart of what WAHN has become.

Whether you’ve been part of WAHN from the beginning or are discovering it for the first time, this episode is a reminder of why this work matters and why it’s better when we do it together.

The Art of Housing with Bob Moss

In this rich and wide-ranging conversation, host Ashley Northcutt interviews Bob Moss, one of the most respected champions of affordable housing policy in the United States. Bob traces his unexpected entry into the industry—from renting apartments in Maine to working alongside pioneers like Herb Collins and David Resnick—and shares how early lessons in advocacy shaped his approach on Capitol Hill.

He discusses the pivotal formation of the ACTION Campaign, the power of unified messaging, and why true housing equity requires creativity, bipartisan collaboration, and relentless persistence. Bob also reflects on women’s leadership, mentorship, innovation in housing finance and technology, and the need to rethink how we build.

In a heartfelt turn, Bob opens up about the role art and painting played in grounding him during the pandemic and how creativity continues to influence his professional life. This episode is both a history lesson and a masterclass in leadership—delivered with humility, humor, and decades of hard-earned insight.

From Family Resource Days to Scholarships; Emma Schumaker on Fairview's Resident First Mission

In this episode of WAHNcast, host Ashley Northcutt sits down with Emma Schumaker, Senior Associate at Fairview Housing Partners and Lincoln Avenue Communities, whose work exemplifies resident-centered, heart-driven leadership in affordable housing. Emma shares how Fairview’s mission—to strengthen communities through direct services, deep partnerships, and creative approaches to financing—comes to life through programs like Family Resource Days, youth enrichment initiatives, and their powerful new scholarship and grants program for residents.

Emma offers an inside look at what it means to build trust with residents, collaborate with local nonprofits, and listen deeply to community needs. She also reflects on stories from scholarship recipients that continue to fuel her passion for this work, reminding us that breaking down barriers to opportunity can transform generations.

This conversation is a celebration of compassion, partnership, and the belief that stable housing paired with meaningful support opens doors to brighter futures. A perfect reflection heading into the season of giving.