Our Team
Aila Prieto, Program Manager
In Spring 2019, Aila started working as an undergraduate intern at the University of Delaware’s Center for Drug & Health Studies (CDHS). She assisted on multiple research projects with local and national entities such as SAMHSA and NIH. Currently, she focuses on mental health & substance abuse, and criminal justice projects. The long-term detrimental effects of incarceration became a passion of hers. She connected a volunteer opportunity with her work at CDHS to create a program focused on improving recidivism rates in Wilmington, DE. After graduating from the University of Delaware, she pursued her Master’s in Public Health, which she received in December of 2021 from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. During her graduate education, Aila worked as a Case Investigator during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and as a Health Equity Intern for Texas Health Institute where she continued later as a contractor. While at Texas Health Institute, she assisted in developing multiple health equity reports for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and America’s Health Rankings.
Algenita Scott Davis, Esq., Housing Program Manager
Government and Community Affairs Officer for Central Houston, Inc. and Visiting Professor with Jesse H. Jones School of Business of Texas Southern University for five years; Executive Director of Houston Habitat for Humanity, managing $30MM operation; constructing 350 affordable houses and three complete affordable subdivisions, operating mortgage company serving over 500 low-to-moderate income residents, directing $2MM restore operations, Served as SVP and Community Affairs Officer for JPMorgan Chase and its predecessor Texas Commerce Bank; Serving as Founding Chair of Tax Increment Zone Number Nine that includes 460 affordable houses and Founding Vice Chair of Tax Increment Zone Number Seven with over $50 MM in community investment, Served as founding President of William A. Lawson Institute, constructing 50 unit senior housing project. Professional Leadership as President of the National Bar Association and Houston Lawyers Association.
Angelita M. Gomez, Senior Administrator
Senior Administrator of Center for Civic and Public Policy Improvement for five years, Executive Director of Finance and Administration for Affordable Apartments or America for 12 years operating a non-profit organization and its $19 MM affordable housing community, supervising third-party administrators of 360 unit bond-financed community, reviewing and approving leases, preparing all regulatory compliance certifications; Guardian Savings and Loan Executive Administrator for nine years.
Joy W. Fitzgerald, Esq., Housing Resource Manager
Principal: Joy Wardlaw Fitzgerald, Esq., President and CEO of The Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA), awarded $30 Million Neighborhood Transformation Plan; SVP of Real Estate Development for eight years, successfully repositioned public housing into healthy mixed-income, mixed-finance mixed-use communities; Director of Office of Affordable Housing for State of Georgia Department of Community Affairs; President of Houston Housing Authority (HHA) for nine years after a 20-year career with HHA.
Kate Ranachan, Ph.D., MPP, Health Equity Analyst
Kate Ranachan holds a Ph.D. in Communication Studies (with a focus on Critical Media Studies) from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the University of Houston (with a focus on health policy). After completing her Ph.D., she taught for six years at the University of Minnesota in the Communication Studies department, teaching courses in visual communication, critical media studies, intercultural communication, and argumentation. While completing her MPP, she served as an intern for the Texas Women’s Health Caucus during the 87th legislative session, where she wrote policy briefs on Black maternal mortality and expanding postpartum Medicaid coverage (HB 133), worked on bills HB 321 (exempting period products from state sales tax) and HB 1953 (liability protection for donated period products), and helped run the Caucus’ social media pages. As a graduate intern for CCPPI, she worked with the Executive Director to produce a white paper exploring how healthcare industry investment in affordable housing can address Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), improve community health conditions, and reduce healthcare costs.
Linda Larry-Mitchell, Office Administrator
Linda Larry-Mitchell is the CCPPI Office Administrator and formerly a Certified Legal Assistant for JP Morgan Chase Bank and Northern Trust Banks, as well as the Port of Houston Authority. With extensive years of detail-oriented professional experience in finance, corporate, public, and legal, she excelled in office administration and organization, technological proficiencies, accounts management, and preparation of corporate documentation. In addition to financial and public positions, I spent over twelve years of tedious preparation of presentation documents, such as PowerPoint, etc., related to construction, survey, environmental, wastewater treatment safety, and other compliance measures. Using independent judgment, Mitchell gained from over thirty years of administrative support for executives, project managers, and engineering staff and now provides compliance documentation for the Center for Civic and Public Policy Improvement, a non-profit dedicated to improving the quality of life in inner-city neighborhoods by assembling and analyzing complex data, coordination communication of its leadership team and preparation of weekly and monthly reports.
Lorenzo A. Salinas, Program Manager
Lorenzo A. Salinas, is an accomplished Lamar University graduate and current dual Master's student in Public Policy and Social Work at the University of Houston. As a Graduate Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant at the Hobby School of Public Affairs, he's significantly contributed to student mentorship, academic content development, and in-depth research on Texas energy policy, offering vital insights for the Texas House Committee on State Affairs and CCPPI. His internship at CCPPI focused on the Southeast Houston Affordable Housing Initiative, showcasing his dedication to meaningful policy initiatives. Lorenzo's impactful work as an Administrative Liaison at Some Other Place in Beaumont, Texas, alsofocused on addressing homelessness. His nomination to the Houston Food Insecurity Board underscores his commitment to addressing critical social issues and enhancing public policy for the betterment of society.
Robert Bradford, Risk and Finance Manager
Regulatory Compliance Consultant for Community Bank of Texas, Redstone Business Consultant, Housing Community, and Economic Development for six years developing reliable cash flow projection process and management, directed full-scale accounting activities; JPMorgan Chase/SVP Loans Operations Financial Controller and other positions 14 years. Houston Downtown Management District.
Sean A. Haley, Ph.D., Executive Director
Sean A. Haley, Ph.D., has always focused on people and community empowerment while working to create equitable and sustainable programs, systems, and structures that improve conditions for all citizens, especially those historically marginalized or underserved. His work as a leader, strategist, thought partner, facilitator, developer, and executive coach has led to positive outcomes in communities of various demographics nationwide. As a consultant, Sean worked with hundreds of leaders, community members, stakeholders, and educators to align and improve practices. His expertise includes non-profit leadership, change management, program design, strategic planning, partnership development, community engagement, talent development, and systems-level transformation. In addition, Sean has been a consultant to nationally recognized organizations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the International Center for Leadership in Education, the Institute for Public School Initiatives, and the National CARES Mentoring Movement. Currently, he engages in several servant-leadership roles: Board Vice-Chair, Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Houston Galveston; Board Member, Patient Care Intervention Center; Steering Committee/Co-Chair Community Voice, Health Equity Collective; Statewide Steering Committee on Aligning Systems for Health Equity in Texas, Texas Health Institute; Community Engagement Advisory Board, Change Happens; and Community Advisory Board, University of Houston HEALTH NIMHD-RCMI. Sean grew up in Houston, is a lifelong member of St. James’ Episcopal Church, and is a graduate of Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, Morehouse College, and the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology.
Zack Martin, Construction/Development Manager
CCPPI Interns:
Current
- Alirma Davis, University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work
- Pakavi Williams, Jr., University of Texas
Past
- Myriam Grajeda, University of Houston, Hobby School CHIP Program
- Catherine Miers, University of Houston, Hobby School of Public Affairs
- Lorenzo Salinas, University of Houston, Hobby School of Public Affairs
- Lauren deFrance, University of Houston, Hobby School CHIP Program
- La'Dereka Christian, University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work
- Simone Green, University of Houston
- Stephani Brodi, University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work
- Dejah J. Washington, University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work
- Kate Ranachan, University of Houston, Hobby School of Public Affairs
- Grant Edmonstone, University of Houston, Hobby School CHIP Program
- Aaron Rollins, University of Houston, Hobby School CHIP Program
- Kathryn Schaffer, University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work
- Caleb Venerable, University of Houston, Hobby School CHIP Program
- Maya Ali, University of Houston, Hobby School CHIP Program
- Claude Johnson, University of Houston, Hobby School CHIP Program
- LaNecia Salsman, Prairie View A&M, Department of Social Work
The Honorable Garnet F. Coleman, former State Representative of HD147, founded CCPPI.
