WAHNcast

CHAMpioning Affordable Housing: A Conversation with CHAM’s Julia Pierson

In this episode of WAHNcast, hosts Angie Truitt and Ashley Northcutt sit down with Julia Pierson, Executive Director of the Consortium for Housing and Asset Management (CHAM) and one of the most respected voices in affordable housing. Julia reflects on her four-decade career, from her start as a HUD intern to becoming a nationally recognized leader shaping the field of asset management.

Julia breaks down what asset management really is, why it matters, and how strong partnerships between owners, syndicators, lenders, and HFAs can mean the difference between stable properties and those at risk. She also discusses the evolution of the field, the growing demand for skilled asset managers, and the importance of technical knowledge paired with strong soft skills.

As Julia prepares for her upcoming retirement, she shares her vision for CHAM’s future, the culture she has intentionally cultivated, and why she believes “housing policy is human policy.” This conversation is full of insight, clarity, humor, and heart, just like Julia herself.

Leadership Beyond Titles: Practicing Empathy, Presence, and Purpose with Michele Stowe & Shannon Wallis

In this deeply moving episode of WAHNcast, host Ashley Northcutt sits down with Michele Stowe, founder of Skyrocket Coaching and former COO of Mercy Housing, and Shannon Wallis, founder and managing director of Cascade Leadership and former global director of High Potential Leadership Development at Microsoft.

Together, they explore how profound loss can reveal the truest forms of leadership. Drawing from their essays in the new anthology Lives Lost and Leadership Found, Michelle reflects on the legacy of Sister Lillian Murphy, the visionary CEO of Mercy Housing, while Shannon shares lessons learned from her mother’s journey through resilience, disability, and love.

This conversation challenges the notion that leadership is about titles — instead, it’s a practice rooted in presence, empathy, and action. From “assuming positive intent” to “underlooking” others, Michele and Shannon remind us that leadership begins in the smallest acts of compassion.

Tune in for insights that connect loss, love, and legacy — and rediscover the heart of what it means to lead.  And get your copy of Lives Lost and Leadership Found and Shannon's new book, WE the Change: Launching Big Ideas and Creating New Realities, on our website.

Building Valor: Housing and Hope for America’s Veterans

In honor of Veterans Day, this special episode of WAHNcast spotlights the inspiring work of Gorman & Company and their veteran-centered housing developments.

Host Angie Truitt speaks with Rachel Snethen, Director of Development Operations, and Sally Schwenn, Arizona Market President, about the company’s efforts to build communities that go beyond shelter—providing wraparound services, mental health support, job training, and a true sense of belonging for America’s veterans.

From the Valor on Eighth development in Tempe, Arizona—a pioneering community for women veterans and families—to the Fort Whipple Project in Prescott and Valor in Washington (Madison, WI), Rachel and Sally share how public–private partnerships, local service providers, and dedicated nonprofit partners are transforming lives through housing.

They also discuss national progress in reducing veteran homelessness by 50%, the importance of supportive services, and how to connect veterans in need with help right now.

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Housing Assistance: va.gov/housing-assistance

• VA Benefits Hotline: 1-800-827-1000

• National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: 1-877-424-3838

• Veterans Crisis Line (24/7): Dial 988, then Press 1

• Gorman & Company: www.GormanUSA.com

• US VETS (Veteran Nonprofit Partner): www.usvets.org

• Save the Family (AZ Nonprofit Partner): www.savethefamily.org

• Dryhootch (WI Nonprofit Partner): www.dryhootch.org

Thank you to Gorman & Company for generously sponsoring this episode! Listen wherever you get your podcasts and join us in honoring veterans by supporting the organizations that build safe, stable, and supportive homes for those who served.

Green Meets Good Building Wealth and Sustainability for All with Dr. Reginald Parker

In this episode of WAHNcast, host Ashley Northcutt sits down with Dr. Reginald Parker, President and Chairman of Freedmen Green Bank & Trust, to explore how clean energy, finance, and community development can work together to build true equity.

Dr. Parker — an engineer, innovator, and visionary leader — shares how his journey from technology and consulting to community banking became a mission to “make it make sense” for those historically excluded from opportunity. From financing solar projects for churches and schools to redefining how creditworthiness is measured, Dr. Parker and his team are proving that sustainability and social justice are inseparable.

This conversation dives deep into:

• The intersection of energy equity and economic empowerment

• How community-led finance can build generational wealth

• What it means to “win or learn” as a principle for leadership and innovation

• Why women — and organizations like WAHN — are essential to shaping the next era of clean energy and affordable housing

Whether you’re in housing, development, or advocacy, this episode is a masterclass in purpose-driven progress.

Breast Cancer & the Strength We Don’t See

In this deeply personal WAHNcast conversation, host Ashley Northcutt sits down with Brooke Etie, Cayleigh Miller, and Liz Childers — three women whose lives have been shaped by breast cancer in powerful ways. Together, they pull back the pink ribbon to talk about the hard truths behind awareness: missed mammograms, environmental causes, body image, advocacy, and the mental and emotional toll of diagnosis and caregiving.

They share how early detection and self-advocacy saved lives, how supportive workplaces — like Quadel, Eisner Amper, and DOZ — made healing possible, and why being open about the reality of cancer can change how we care for ourselves and each other.

This episode is as real as it gets: raw, informative, and full of the strength we don’t often see.

Resources Mentioned:

• Freedom Natural Deodorant – a clean alternative created with women’s health in mind

• SheMD – preventive health, risk testing, and education for women

• Flat Out Love – community and advocacy for women choosing to go flat after mastectomy

• Food Babe – clean food movement and ingredient transparency

• Cancer Vaccine Collaborative – advancing research toward a breast cancer vaccine

Breast Cancer & the Strength We Don’t See is a reminder that awareness is only the beginning — advocacy, compassion, and conversation are what truly move us forward.

When Housing Becomes Healing: Vanessa Volz on Trauma-Informed Support

Note: This episode includes discussion of survivor recovery and support in the context of domestic violence and human trafficking.

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October, we’re honored to bring you this inspiring conversation on WAHNcast. Hosts Angie Truitt and New England WAHN President Susanna Medoff sit down with Vanessa Volz, President and CEO of Sojourner House, a Rhode Island nonprofit redefining what survivor support and housing can look like.

Vanessa shares how Sojourner House evolved from a small crisis hotline into a multifaceted agency offering trauma-informed housing, legal aid, and wrap-around support for hundreds of survivors and families each year. She reflects on her leadership journey — from attorney to nonprofit change-agent — and how building safe, stable homes is a key part of helping survivors rebuild their lives.

This conversation highlights:

• the critical role of safe, affordable housing in healing and stability

• how partnerships and systems change make a difference

• what it means to stand with survivors, always

If you or someone you know is in need of help, reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) or visit thehotline.org — confidential support and local resources are available 24/7.

Listen now and join us in honoring survivors and advancing hope, healing and community.

Visit: https://sojournerri.org

Project HOME Field Advantage: Donna Bullock on Hope, Housing and the Power of Community in Philadelphia

In this episode of the WAHNcast, host Ashley Northcutt sits down with Donna Bullock, President and CEO of Project HOME and former Pennsylvania State Representative, to explore how housing can heal and empower entire communities.

From growing up with housing insecurity to now leading one of Philadelphia’s most transformative nonprofits, Donna shares her journey of resilience, purpose, and partnership. Under her leadership, Project HOME continues to thrive — backed by a powerful community that includes the Philadelphia Eagles and Jon Bon Jovi, both champions for housing and hope in the city they love.

Donna talks about the importance of collaboration, meeting people where they are, and building a future where every Philadelphian has a place to call home.

Financing Change: Valerie White’s National Vision for Affordable Housing

Valerie White’s career spans over three decades in finance, housing, and community development—from shaping bond ratings and housing authority strategies at S&P to leading statewide MWBE initiatives and now serving as Head of National Housing Strategic Initiatives at LISC. In this WAHNcast conversation with Ashley Northcutt, Valerie shares her journey, the bold three-pronged strategy LISC is deploying to expand affordable housing, and the critical role of thought leadership, capital access, and community partnerships. From working with emerging developers and faith-based institutions to advocating for transformative policies, Valerie’s vision is rooted in equity, innovation, and collaboration. Listeners will gain insights into how national systems can better support local communities, and how women leaders can sustain momentum in the face of the industry’s toughest challenges.