WAHNcast

A World of Good: A Conversation with WAHNderful Woman of the Year Beth Baar

In this inspiring episode, Ashley Northcutt, President & CEO of WAHN, sits down with Beth Baar, Vice President of Asset Management, Construction & Stabilized Assets at Cinnaire and our 2025 WAHNderful Woman of the Year.

Beth shares her journey from volunteering at a small community nonprofit in rural Wisconsin to leading asset management across multiple states. She reflects on how a single moment helping a senior apply for affordable housing showed her the life-changing impact of this work, and why she’s committed to creating what she calls “a world of good.”

Turning Vacant Spaces into Vibrant Places with Kathleen J. Guillaume-Delemar

In this inspiring episode of WAHNcast, WAHN President & CEO Ashley Northcutt sits down with Kathleen Guillaume-Delemar, President and CEO of the Center for Community Progress. Kat shares her remarkable journey from growing up in Brooklyn in the shadow of entrenched poverty and systemic inequities, to becoming a nationally recognized leader in community revitalization.

With candor and passion, Kat discusses how her lived experience informs her leadership, why she believes in “daring to dream,” and how vacant and abandoned properties can be transformed into community assets. She also unpacks the role of policy, philanthropy, and unlikely allies in creating dignified, affordable housing—and makes a powerful case against the criminalization of poverty.

This is a conversation about resilience, justice, and the possibility of building communities where everyone belongs.  

The Power of a Personal Board of Directors and How to Build One

In this WAHNcast replay from their hit session at the 2025 National Summit, four incredible women from Indiana WAHN, Danielle Smith, Scarlett Andrews, Jennifer Green, and Janine Betsey, share how building a “Personal Board of Directors” can shape not only your career, but your life.

What started as professional networking evolved into a trusted circle of mentors, cheerleaders, and truth-tellers who challenge, support, and advocate for one another—on the job and beyond. Along the way, these women became close friends, navigating leadership roles, career pivots, and life’s big moments together.

Tune in for stories, laughter, and practical tips for creating your own personal board, finding the right mix of voices at your table, and building relationships that last. Whether you’re early in your career or a seasoned leader, you’ll leave inspired to find your people and keep them close.

Supportive Housing Insights: Bridging Health and Home with Simmone Ruff

In this episode of WAHNcast, Lakeysha Sowunmi, founding president of the San Diego Women's Affordable Housing Network, chats with Simmone Ruff, Director at CSH Housing Solutions in San Diego. Discover the vital role of supportive housing, from its deep affordability to its essential wraparound services, and how it differs from traditional affordable housing models. Learn how policies like Cal AIM and collaborations with healthcare systems are transforming the landscape, providing sustainable funding, and fostering community health through housing. Tune in for an insightful discussion on overcoming barriers, building partnerships, and driving impactful change in the affordable housing sector.

The Heartbeat of a Neighborhood: Teara Harris & The Rail District

When you meet Teara Harris, you know instantly—this woman is a force. In this episode of WAHNcast, she shares her powerful journey: from overcoming childhood adversity and learning to read in 7th grade, to becoming a preacher, HR pro, nonprofit founder, and real estate developer transforming her hometown.  As the Founder and CEO of Communities of Tomorrow, Teara is on a mission to close the affordable housing gap in rural and small-town communities across Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. Her work at The Rail District is reshaping Lagrange, GA—turning neglected spaces into inclusive, mixed-income neighborhoods with affordable luxury homes, homebuyer assistance programs, and spaces that bring people together.  Teara reminds us that leadership isn’t about popularity—it’s about purpose, persistence, and showing up for your community, especially when it’s hard.  You’ll laugh and you’ll be reminded why home matters.

Systems, Strategy, and Social Fabric: Michelle Foster’s Leadership in Focus

In this episode, we’re joined by Michelle Foster, the first full-time Executive Director of the National Association of State and Local Equity Funds (NASLEF), whose career spans urban planning, government, nonprofit finance, and equity investing.  With a deep belief in the power of resilient, compassionate communities, Michelle shares her winding path into affordable housing finance—including a life-changing move to Detroit, a time bank she founded as a grad student, and a systems thinking approach that now drives her leadership. She reflects on the importance of local engagement, the impact of landmark projects like Andy’s Place, and NASLEF’s expanding vision—including the addition of its first national member.  Michelle brings over a decade of experience across sectors and a rare blend of data expertise, community insight, and visionary leadership. Her personal mission? To foster cycles of learning and giving that strengthen the social fabric.

Investing in Impact: Kim Duty on the Power of People, Policy & Peer Networks

In this inspiring and wide-ranging conversation, we sit down with Kim Duty, Executive Director of the Affordable Housing Investors Council (AHIC) and longtime housing policy leader, to talk about: Her unexpected start in housing while helping Holocaust survivors in Berlin; 25 years of industry-shaping work at the National Multifamily Housing Council The power of mentorship, association leadership, and self-advocacy, How AHIC is driving investor engagement and best practices in affordable housing, Why emerging leaders—and peer networks—are the future of the industry, Practical optimism on addressing housing challenges through tech, policy reform, and collaboration, Kim’s story is both energizing and instructive, filled with wisdom for anyone working in—or entering—the affordable housing space. Tune in for a masterclass in impact, leadership, and reinvention.

Bob Simpson and the Role of the Multifamily Impact Council in Affordable Housing

In this episode of "WAHNcast," host Katessa Archer interviews Bob Simpson, founder of the Multifamily Impact Council. They discuss the council’s mission to promote affordable and sustainable housing, the financial viability of affordable housing, and the importance of impact investing. Bob shares insights on industry challenges, the need for streamlined processes, and the value of diverse leadership. The conversation emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and resident-focused solutions, urging industry leaders to foster inclusive environments and prioritize long-term community impact in affordable housing initiatives.  Also, please follow The Multifamily Impact Council's Newsletter here: https://housingimpact.substack.com/