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Housing is more than just shelter—it's a reflection of our values, policies, and priorities. In this episode, we dive into the intersection of racial justice, climate change, and housing equity. From discriminatory housing practices to the growing threat of climate displacement, we unpack how systemic challenges are shaping where and how people live today. In today's episode, we're excited to have guest Pete Harrison from the Regional Plan Association.

Pete Harrison joined Regional Plan Association in February 2022 as the DesegregateCT Director, leading a statewide program to enact equitable and sustainable land use policies in Connecticut. In 2024 he became RPA’s director of Connecticut programs. Pete previously served for a year as Senior Policy Fellow for DesegregateCT crafting the 80-member coalition’s policy briefs, communications strategy, and local organizing campaigns and helped pass the first statewide zoning reform bill in over 30 years.

Prior to joining DesegregateCT, Pete worked on the intersection of housing, climate, and land use policy as a research scholar for the Buell Center of Architecture at Columbia University. He co-authored a portion of the textbook Green Reconstruction: A Curricular Toolkit for the Built Environment laying out a framework for graduate-level planning, architecture, and preservation programs to center equity and sustainability in their practices. Before that he was the senior national housing advisor for the progressive think tank, Data for Progress, where he co-authored briefs and articles on federal housing and land use policy including the Homes for All report. He also advised on the presidential campaigns of Vice President Kamala Harris, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, and former HUD Secretary Julian Castro.

Biography from RPA

https://rpa.org/about/staff/pete-harrison

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Connecticut is fast becoming the modern template for long-term growth and sustainability, particularly for its approach to gender, equality, diversity, and inclusion, and for how it plans to build the State by investing in innovation at all levels (not just big corporations and entities). Today, we are honored to welcome Connecticut's 109th Lieutenant Governor, Susan Bysiewicz. Susan developed a distinct work ethic while growing up on a farm, and she explains how this, her parents, and other life experiences shaped her passion for public service. She is passionate about helping young girls and women to see themselves becoming whoever they want to be, so after explaining how she motivates young women to pursue leadership positions in all fields, Susan walks us through the great work being done by Connecticut’s Governor’s Council on Women and Girls. We learn about the economic development opportunities in CT, what the State is doing for housing and affordability, how it approaches DEI, how it plans to improve healthcare, and what it has lined up for the fight against climate change. To end, Susan details an important and impressive notch in her legacy as a governor as we learn about the brilliance of Connecticut Paid Leave.

Key Points From This Episode:

• How LT Governor Susan Bysiewicz’s life experiences shaped her zeal for public service.
• Why she deems it vital to motivate young women to pursue leadership positions in all fields.
• Understanding the work of the Governor’s Council on Women and Girls.
• Economic development opportunities in CT, specifically for housing, affordability, and DEI.
• Programs, grants, and other resources that aim to improve the lives of Connecticuters.
• How Susan and her team plan to improve healthcare and student life in CT.
• What the State is doing for the environment and sustainability.
• Susan describes a standout achievement in her legacy as a governor: CT Paid Leave.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

LT Governor Susan Bysiewicz

LT Governor Susan Bysiewicz on LinkedIn

LT Governor Susan Bysiewicz X

LT Governor Susan Bysiewicz on Instagram

Ella: A Biography of Ella Grasso

Governor’s Council on Women and Girls

Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development

Connecticut Small Business Boost Fund

Ignite: A WBDC Grant Program

The Women’s Business Development Council

Connecticut Paid Leave

Connecticut Student Loan Repayment Program

Vincencia Adusei on LinkedIn

Vincencia Adusei on X

VASE Construction

Censere Consulting

Peter Wood on LinkedIn

YIMBY Nation Email

YIMBY

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It is often said that where you find food insecurity, you will also find housing insecurity. Today’s conversation focuses on enhancing our communities' quality of life by examining the role housing plays in food security. We are joined by Khaatim Sherrer El, whose work is vital to today’s topic. He is the Executive Director of Clinton Hill Community Action (CHCA), a non-profit community development corporation dedicated to revitalizing Newark’s Clinton Hill neighborhood. With over 20 years of experience leading place-based initiatives, managing strategic partnerships, and building organizational capacity, Khaatim brings a wealth of knowledge and an exceptional educational background to our discussion. Join us as we explore what inspired Khaatim to pursue community development and revitalization, the correlation between health disparities and housing conditions, the role of the city of Newark in CHCA's work, and the cultural impacts on health and food disparities within the communities they serve. Khaatim also shares his experience managing significant philanthropic investments and leaves listeners with compelling thoughts to reflect on. Thanks for tuning in.

Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction to our guest on today’s episode: Khaatim Sherrer El.
• What inspired him to pursue work in community development and revitalization, and what drives him to continue doing so.
• We delve into a discussion on the reports indicating that health disparities often correlate with housing conditions.
• He unpacks their work with food security.
• A crucial part of the conversation: being aware of what we are putting into our bodies (and food pantries).
• He details the role the city of Newark plays in the work that they do at CHCA.
• We look at cultural impacts on health and food disparities and the communities they work with.
• The journey to starting their first resident-run food cooperative.
• His experience managing significant philanthropic investments and how it has shaped his approach (and mindset) to community development and education initiatives.
• Khaatim shares compelling ideas for listeners to reflect on.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Khaatim Sherrer El on LinkedIn

Vincencia Adusei on LinkedIn

Vincencia Adusei on Twitter

VASE Construction

Jimmy Miller on LinkedIn

Censere Consulting

Peter Wood on LinkedIn

YIMBY Nation Email

YIMBY Nation