Beyond Four Walls: Conversations on Affordable Housing

In this week's episode, we're joined by Brittany Webb, Senior Research Director at the National Housing Conference (NHC), whose experience in affordable housing property management and development brings a unique perspective to her research on housing affordability. Webb reflects on her path into housing, the challenges she witnessed firsthand, and how those experiences continue to shape her approach to research and housing policy. Webb sits down with NHC President and CEO David Dworkin to discuss key findings from NHC's latest report, Priced Out: When a Good Job Isn't Enough, and what the data reveals about the growing challenges facing renters and prospective homebuyers across the country. They explore how NHC's Paycheck to Paycheck database tracks housing affordability across occupations and metropolitan areas, why even workers in traditionally stable professions are struggling to afford housing, and how data and artificial intelligence can help inform housing policy and advocacy.

In this week's episode, we're joined by Noerena Limón, CEO of the Casita Coalition and a longtime housing leader whose organization works to expand housing options by advancing accessory dwelling units (ADUs), starter homes, and other forms of middle housing. Limón joins NHC President and CEO David Dworkin to discuss the solutions needed to address the nation's housing supply and affordability challenges. She reflects on her path into housing policy, from her experiences during the financial crisis to her time at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and explores lessons from California's housing reforms, rebuilding efforts following the Los Angeles County fires, and opportunities presented by the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act to expand financing options and reduce construction costs.

In this week's episode, we're joined by Bryan Greene, Vice President of Policy Advocacy at the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and a longtime housing leader whose career has spanned government, advocacy, and the real estate industry. Greene reflects on his career journey, how he became involved in fair housing, and the experiences from his years at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that continue to shape his approach to housing policy today.   Greene joins NHC President and CEO David Dworkin to discuss the housing policy issues shaping today's market, including implementation of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, housing supply and affordability, assumable mortgages, and the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. They also explore Greene's work outside of housing, including how his research into the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival ultimately led to his involvement in the Academy Award-winning documentary Summer of Soul.

In this week's episode, we continue our special two-part conversation with Roy Swan, head of the Ford Foundation's Mission Investments team, where he oversees approximately $1.35 billion in impact investments dedicated to advancing social justice and addressing inequality. If you missed Part 1, we encourage you to go back and hear Swan reflect on the personal and professional journey that shaped his approach to leadership, purpose, investing, and positive-sum capitalism. In Part 2, Swan joins NHC President and CEO David Dworkin to look ahead at the future of capitalism and philanthropy, and the role financial institutions, investors, and philanthropic organizations can play in building a more inclusive economy. They discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence, what it takes to achieve meaningful systems change, and how racial equity can be more deeply embedded in investment and economic decision-making. Drawing on Swan's decades of experience across finance, community development, and impact investing, the conversation also returns to themes from his new book, "Positive Sum: How Zero-Sum Thinking Broke Capitalism—and How We Can Fix It." Swan explores what a positive-sum approach to capitalism can look like in practice and how rethinking the way we deploy capital and design financial systems can expand opportunity, strengthen communities, and create greater shared prosperity.

In this week's episode, we're joined by Roy Swan, head of the Ford Foundation's Mission Investments team, where he oversees approximately $1.35 billion in impact investments dedicated to advancing social justice and addressing inequality. With decades of experience spanning housing, community development, finance, investing, and law, Swan has built a career around deploying capital to strengthen communities and expand economic opportunity. In Part 1 of this special two-part conversation, Swan joins NHC President and CEO David Dworkin to discuss the personal and professional experiences that shaped his approach to leadership, purpose, and investing. From serving as the founding Chief Investment Officer of New York City's Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and helping drive the economic revitalization of Harlem, to overseeing more than $13 billion in community development investments as Co-Head of Global Sustainable Finance at Morgan Stanley, Swan reflects on the lessons that have guided his career and his work at the Ford Foundation. They also explore the ideas behind Swan's new book, Positive Sum: How Zero-Sum Thinking Broke Capitalism—and How We Can Fix It, including how moving beyond zero-sum thinking can create greater economic opportunity and shared prosperity, and what it means to effectively measure social impact.