Membership

Diane Sterner, Executive Director - Director of the Housing and Community Development Network, she directs this statewide association of 150 community-based development organizations, created in 1989 to enhance the efforts of these groups to create affordable housing and revitalize their communities, and to improve the climate for community development in New Jersey. Diane has worked in the community development field for more than 25 years. Prior to joining the Network in 1990, she was a community development consultant working primarily with nonprofit housing developers. She also served as Director of Housing and Economic Development for La Casa de Don Pedro, a community-based organization in Newark. Diane has helped found and co-chairs several other statewide organizations working on issues critical to the future of New Jersey communities, including the Coalition for Affordable Housing and the Environment, which promotes the revitalization of cities, the protection of natural resources and the creation of affordable housing. She serves on the boards of trustees of New Jersey Policy Perspective, the National Housing Institute, and New Jersey Citizen Action. Most recently, as a James A Johnson Fellow, she helped found the National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations (NACEDA), a new voice for community development practitioners in Washington, DC, and a vehicle for bringing together state and citywide CDC associations to exchange best practices and support each others’ work.

Staci Berger, Director of Advocacy & Policy - Responsible for leading the community development policy staff team, including working with the Policy Coordinator and field organizers, to broaden and mobilize support for the Network’s public policy agenda. In addition, Ms. Berger is working to further develop, enhance, and strengthen the Network’s “Advocacy-Team” (A-Team) concept. Prior to joining the Network, Ms. Berger worked for nine years with New Jersey Citizen Action where she went from being an organizer to the Political and Legislative Director. As the Political and Legislative Director, she devised and implemented political, legislative, and electoral strategy for the state’s largest non-profit, non-partisan independent watchdog coalition. She received her Masters in Public Affairs and Politics from Rutgers University in 2004. Ms. Berger has served as a associate trainer for the Midwest Academy, a leading national training institute for the progressive movement, and worked as a labor organizer with the AFL-CIO Organizing Institute and the Health Professionals and Allied Employees/AFT/AFL-CIO.

Joan Straussman Brandon, Director of Programs - Responsible for overseeing the planning, development and implementations of the Network's training, technical assistance, and capacity building programs and initiatives. Prior to joining the Network, Joan had been with NeighborWorks® America for twenty-five years before becoming a private consultant in 2006. During her time with NeighborWorks®, she provided technical assistance to organizations as well as training at various institutes and partnership events. She has also worked on developing mutual housing associations, managing organizational assessments of some of the network’s more complex organizations, and was involved in the development of the PROMPT™ review system. Since becoming a consultant, Joan has continued to do organizational assessments, coaching of staff, Board development, course development and training, and proposal reviews. Prior to NeighborWorks® America, Joan was Executive Director of a multi-service organization in Chelsea, Massachusetts. She was instrumental in developing services and programs for Chelsea’s growing Latino community. Joan has a Bachelor’s Degree from Clark University and a Masters Degree in Social Work with a concentration in Planning and Community Organizing from Boston College. She has taken a multitude of courses on every aspect of community development at Harvard Extension School, NYU, and NeighborWorks® Institutes and also has become a licensed real estate agent in the state of New Jersey.

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Michelle Harman McDonald, Director of Operations - Responsible for leading the fiscal, administrative and infrastructure systems of the Network, as well as overseeing membership and resource development activities. Ms. McDonald brings over 15 years experience in the non-profit sector, in various state, regional, and national roles, and specializes in organizational development. Prior to joining the Network, Ms. McDonald worked at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a Vice President and Regional Director in Field Management, and was an Executive Director and Regional Director at the Alzheimer's Association. She was also a Senior Consultant with Janus Solutions and worked with a number of community-based organizations in the Health and Human Services sector, and various State and County agencies in Workforce Development and Welfare-to-Work. Prior to launching her non-profit career, she worked in the developmental disabilities and geriatric psychiatry fields. She possesses Bachelor and Masters Degrees from Rutgers University’s School of Social Work, and concentrated in Administration, Policy and Planning. While at Rutgers, she was the recipient of the Bryan C. Wright “Values and Ethics” Award and co-developed a homework center which linked college volunteers with elementary school students in Camden, NJ.

Nina Arce, Media Coordinator - Responsible for coordinating the Network's overall media and outreach communication efforts with members, supporters and media representatives. Prior to joining the Network, Ms. Arce worked five years as a Public Relations Coordinator for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. She holds a bachelor's of science degree in public policy from Penn State University. During her time at Penn State, Ms. Arce interned with the Harristown Development Corporation in Harrisburg, PA, helping to market their downtown redevelopment plan and providing research analysis.

Arnold Cohen, Policy Coordinator - Responsible for coordinating the Network’s public policy advocacy and education activities. Mr. Cohen joined the Network in 1994, prior to which he worked in organizing grassroots and statewide public policy campaigns in the areas of affordable housing, early childhood education, health care, and environmental justice. In addition to his work at the Network, Mr. Cohen sits on the boards of the Coalition for Affordable Housing and the Environment and the Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness and is a member of the Anti-Poverty Network Steering Committee.

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Chastity Davis,Executive Assistant - Responsible for providing administrative support to the executive director and the managing director. Before joining the Network in 2007, Ms. Davis was employed by Fannie Mae New Jersey in its New Brunswick office and brings to her position knowledge of housing issues and a familiarity with many Network members.

Janet Hines, Grants Coordinator - Responsible for coordinating and writing grant proposals to foundation and corporate sources. Prior to joining the Network, Ms. Hines worked for four years as a senior grant writer/manager and urban planner at a planning firm in Central Jersey. In that position, she wrote successful grants that resulted in more than $5 million in funding from federal, state and private funding sources. She was also responsible for grant management that included review and approval of grant budgets, working with vendors to ensure compliance with grant requirements, as well as submitted financial reports and project status to funding sources. The highlight of her career was the successful submission of several New Jersey Small Cities grants that resulted in more than $1 million in funding for three municipalities in one grant cycle. In addition, Ms. Hines has also worked for NJ Transit as a Senior Press Officer, where she was responsible for the communication planning for several major transportation projects that included the successful implementation of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and Newark City Subway extensions. The highlight of her career there was the successful media campaign that centered around the launch of the River Line, south New Jersey’s first light rail system.
In her personal time, Ms. Hines volunteers time to work with local business owners and residents of various New York City communities to create alternative economic development plans for blighted neighborhoods, and advocates for more input by City residents in New York City planning initiatives. Ms. Hines received her Master in Urban Planning degree from Hunter College, New York; and her Bachelor’s degree from Temple University, Philadelphia.

Juanita Howard, North Jersey Field Organizer - Responsible for organizing Network members, allies and supporters in the northern part of the state to implement issue campaigns at the neighborhood, community, regional and state levels and recruiting and training Network leaders, volunteers and activists through the Network’s Advocacy Team program (A-Teams). Prior to joining the Network, Ms. Howard worked as an Organizer and Community Educator with New Jersey Citizen Action in Camden and Newark.

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Pat Mumola, Director of Administration - Responsible for office administration, human resources, vendor procurement, property management, accounts payables/receivables and administering employee benefits. Prior to joining the Network in 2002, Ms. Mumola was employed by the Camden Empowerment Zone and the NJ Economic Development Authority’s Urban Programs Division where she worked with non-profits throughout New Jersey.

Leonard Robbins, Director of Housing Development - Responsible for the development and delivery of housing related training and technical assistance programs for the Network. Prior to joining the Network in 1998, Mr. Robbins served as the Director of the Vailsburg Improvement Program at Unified Vailsburg Services Organization, a nonprofit multi-service organization serving the West Ward of Newark. He also has worked as a private developer, in New Jersey, as well as a construction specialist and neighborhood director of nonprofit housing agencies in and Syracuse and New York City. Mr. Robbins is an NDC Housing Development Finance Professional, graduate of the Network’s Housing Development Training Program and active member of the Newark Community Development Network.