Mentorship Program
SBAN launched a mentorship program in 2025 to foster professional growth through one-on-one networking, mentorship, and problem-solving. This 12-month program pairs mid-to-late career experts on particular anti-displacement topics with emerging leaders to share knowledge, develop actionable strategies, and create lasting community impact. This is a unique opportunity for peer-to-peer mentorship within our network.
2025 Mentorship Program Participants
| Name | Column 4 | Designation | Organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Amaker | Amaker | Director of Advocacy & Communications | Lowcountry Local First |
| Evette Banfield | Banfield | Chief Economic Development Officer | The Coalition (formerly CNHED) |
| Dionne Baux | Baux | Chief Programs Officer | Main Street America |
| Jolie Brownell | Brownell | Associate | ECOnorthwest |
| Amy Chong | Chong | Policy Associate | Inclusive Action for the City |
| Kimberly Dietz | Dietz | Principal Planner & Special Programs Manager | City of Redmond |
| Stephanie Geller | Geller | Director | Center for Community Wealth Building |
| Stacy Rebich Hespanha | Hespanha | Co-Founder | Flourish Local |
| Sylvie Gallier Howard | Howard | Founder & CEO | Equitable Cities Collaborative |
| David Johnson | Johnson | Business Development Officer | LISC |
| Christie Li | Li | Community Planner | Chinatown Community Development Center |
| Stella Linardi | Linardi | JD Candidate | UCLA School of Law |
| Rachel Lyons | Lyons | Program Manager | Denver Economic Development & Opportunity |
| Levar Martin | Martin | Executive Vice President & COO | NALCAB |
| Allyson Martinez | Martinez | Founding Executive Director | Brooklyn Level Up |
| Anthony Miller | Miller | Commercial Corridor Coordinator | New Kensington CDC |
| Jennie Nam | Nam | Commercial Corridor Manager | New Kensington CDC |
| Lee Nentwig | Nentwig | Commercial Corridor Manager | NKCDC |
| Dee Lara O'Neal | O'Neal | Main Street Project Manager | Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce |
| Manuel Ochoa | Ochoa | Principal | Ochoa Urban Collaborative |
| Derek Peebles | Peebles | Managing Director | Common Good Alliance |
| Joyce Pisnanont | Pisnanont | Chief Strategy & Impact Officer | National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development |
| Ilana Preuss | Preuss | Founder & CEO | Recast City |
| Greg Reaves | Reaves | CEO | Mosaic Development Partners |
| Javier Rivas | Rivas | Executive Director | Takoma/Langley Crossroads Development Authority |
| Emma Gonzalez Roberts | Roberts | Chief Operating Officer | TREND Community Development Corporation |
| Reemberto Rodriguez | Rodriguez | Owner | Reemberto Consulting |
| Elvis Rubio | Rubio | Director of Policy | Denver Economic Development & Opportunity |
| Dominique Russell | Russell | Co-Director | Kensington Market Community Land Trust |
| Sheila Somashekhar | Somashekhar | PLCC Director | Purple Line Corridor Coalition, NCSG |
| LeJuano Varnell | Varnell | Executive Director | Sweet Auburn Works, Inc. |
| Janae Wilson | Wilson | Collaborative Partnerships Director | ProsperUs Detroit |
| Apollo Woods | Woods | Executive Director | Bigger Than Food Foundation |
| Yi Zhong | Zhong | Director of Design and Construction | Community Arts Stabilization Trust |