NEW YORK, NY – July 29, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has named Tina Brooks, undersecretary for housing and community development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as its new executive vice president for programs.
Brooks has been one of the longest serving members of Gov. Deval Patrick’s Administration, leading the state’s housing agenda since 2007. In her new position, she will oversee the ongoing implementation of LISC’s Building Sustainable Communities strategy through the organization’s 30 urban sites, its national rural program, and its 10 national programs that provide specialized resources in such areas as education, community safety and youth recreation. That includes oversight of LISC’s research and assessment function as well as the Institute for Comprehensive Community Development, which LISC founded last year to help disseminate best practices information related to high-impact community development.
Brooks is not new to LISC. She previously served as senior program director for the local LISC program in Philadelphia and subsequently helped organize the transition of Boston LISC to new leadership and priorities in 2006. In between she worked at GMAC, financing affordable housing around the country, and as a development consultant. She began her career with The Community Builders and managing development efforts for Greater Germantown Community Development Corporation.
“I can not imagine a better fit for this position than Tina Brooks,” commented Michael Rubinger, LISC president and CEO. “She has extensive on-the-ground community development experience and has led program initiatives both within LISC and beyond. She is a policy leader who has worked collaboratively to craft solutions to pressing community challenges, and has been deeply involved in finance efforts that have capitalized community development work around the country. Tina understands the complex, interconnected facets of LISC’s programs, and her experience and drive will add a new level of creativity and support to our operations nationwide,” he said.
LISC invests some $1 billion annually in comprehensive community development. Through its national Building Sustainable Communities initiative, LISC is integrating plans and projects connected to physical redevelopment in low-income communities with funding and programs for better schools, jobs and economic development, safe streets, access to health care, community green space and athletics, and family financial stability.
“This is an exciting time for me to come home to LISC,” noted Brooks, who will be based in the organization’s New York City headquarters. “The challenges we face today are as significant as ever, but the expertise and the tools we’ve developed to help residents build a more robust future are also significant.
“Building Sustainable Communities is the framework for a lasting drive toward prosperity for struggling communities across the country,” she continued. “At a time when resources are increasingly scarce and low-income families could so easily lose their economic toehold, we have the capacity to help fuel sustainable change. I am so glad for the opportunity to help lead that effort in this new position working with old friends.”
About LISC
LISC combines corporate, government and philanthropic resources to help nonprofit community development corporations revitalize distressed neighborhoods. Since 1980, LISC has raised $11.1 billion to build or rehab 277,000 affordable homes and develop 44 million square feet of retail, community and educational space nationwide. LISC support has leveraged nearly $33.9 billion in total development activity. For more information, visit www.lisc.org.
Contact:
Colleen Mulcahy, LISC Communications
312-342-8244 or 
