https://www.raquelavazquez.com/press daily 0.75 2020-07-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1588790694657-ND5XIFBPGWID5LZKJG9Y/NLC+Photo.jpg Press & Media - New Leaders Council (NLC) NYC 2020 Raquel was selected as one of the 20 New Leaders Council (NLC) fellows for the New York City Chapter. NLC is a six-month progressive leadership institute that provides fellows with training to enhance their community activism. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1588785267563-3APPGU798FLRWF3QPSUT/NY+Build+-+March+2020.jpg Press & Media - New York Build Expo - March 4, 2020 Javits Center, New York, NY Raquel was a panelist at the NY Build Expo panel entitled, "Combatting the Affordable Housing Crisis - Meeting Government Targets." The New York Build Expo is the largest construction gathering in New York, engaging 17,000 attendees, 200 speakers, and 200 exhibitors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1588793602205-MH5LDQH1KCYRZJ3SZSWA/Next+City+Vanguard+-+Newark+2019 Press & Media - Next City Vanguard Fellows Program - June 2019 Newark, NJ The Next City Vanguard Program in Newark was the first regional conference that assembled local public policy experts to discuss and provide solutions to planning concerns in Newark, NJ. This photo is a snapshot from our presentation regarding housing and homelessness in Newark. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1588793300069-DRND785BUIP3PCFFRX70/Affordable+Housing+for+Whom.jpg Press & Media - “Affordable Housing for Whom” Panel - November 2019 Brooklyn, NY The Brooklyn Historical Society organized a panel to discuss challenges to housing affordability in New York City. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1588793765815-REJ5OKDYOY1U2O9820CV/92Y+WiP.png Press & Media - 92Y Women in Power Fellowship 2019 New York, NY Women in Power (WiP) is a fellowship program powered by the 92Y, designed to help high-potential women advance the top levels of leadership in their industries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1588794338861-VXM62R7X445NWSZJJFX5/REAP+2018+group+photo.jpg Press & Media - Real Estate Associate Program (REAP) 2018 New York, NY REAP is a six-month program that trains and develops professionals of color in commercial real estate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1588794838888-S1P8G2CD7DFHJAQW5MNE/CUP+Fellows.jpg Press & Media - Council of Urban Professionals Fellowship Program 2017 New York, NY The CUP Fellows Program is a transformative, one-year leadership development experience for early-to-mid career professionals of color across sectors who are deeply committed to supporting their communities through impactful contributions to the nonprofit and public sectors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1588795242310-KPBK2WX3E94LKFNR6VHO/Urban+Fellows.jpg Press & Media - NYC Urban Fellows Program 2010-2011 New York, NY The NYC Urban Fellows Program is a 9-month program that introduces recent college graduates to local city government administration. https://www.raquelavazquez.com/contact daily 0.75 2021-12-01 https://www.raquelavazquez.com/aboutme daily 0.75 2022-04-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1603814298331-SAP8SAAF8MAB6PHP8R6M/Additionals-17.jpg About Me - About Me I am an urban planner, community development advocate, and writer with over 13 years of experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors in affordable housing, economic development, finance, organizing, and policy arenas. I am a Brooklyn native of African American and Puerto Rican descent. My perspective is uniquely emboldened and fueled by my identities. I am passionate about serving historically under-served communities through my work and public service. https://www.raquelavazquez.com/home daily 1.0 2023-05-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1603814338137-3DQT79PA7R9Q204XTQW1/Additionals-18.jpg Home Raquel Vazquez is an accomplished community development leader and writer. Raquel is the Founder and CEO of The Empowered Block, a community development platform and consultancy. She is an expert in urban planning, affordable housing, and economic development, with over 15 years of experience in community development. Raquel is also Founder of Nido Poets, an international poetry collective for women of color. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1603814393154-EV4VC947R2JWYU4JZM3U/Additionals-20.jpg Home “I’m passionate about serving historically under-served communities, especially communities of color. I want to see our communities flourish through diligent public-private partnerships and investment.” https://www.raquelavazquez.com/writing daily 0.75 2023-06-03 https://www.raquelavazquez.com/portfolio daily 0.75 2021-11-29 https://www.raquelavazquez.com/portfolio/housing monthly 0.5 2020-05-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1589994072134-RKBF2YE5I8B0ZBZ2JDCK/1164-River-Avenue.jpg Community Development Portfolio - Affordable Housing Projects 1164 River Avenue, Bronx, NY. This is a 500-unit affordable housing development with a community school. All units are provided for extremely-low and low-income households. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1589994102651-HOZ4JKI359866BV0K53J/twin+parks+terrace.jpg Community Development Portfolio - Affordable Housing Projects Twin Parks Terrace is a 182-unit affordable development with 10,000 square feet of commercial and community facility space in the Bronx, NY. This project is developed by Joy Construction and Settlement Housing Fund. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1589994522686-THO1T0EFAGWBPZGYLHB7/CVW.jpg Community Development Portfolio - Affordable Housing Projects Concourse Village West is a 265-unit mixed-income three-building development in Bronx, NY. $112MM total development cost, which was financed by 4% LIHTC, $21MM in city capital and $26MM in city bonds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1589995907085-B39THD0HHRW6PSM6XXTR/La+Central.jpg Community Development Portfolio - Affordable Housing Projects La Central is a mixed-use, multi-phase development in the Bronx, NY to include approximately 1,000 units of affordable housing, a YMCA, and additional community facility space. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1589995984014-RYTU3ZFDR72VG34FKNIV/sandy+recover.jpg Community Development Portfolio - Affordable Housing Projects For two years, I closed on financing for over 50 Hurricane Sandy-damaged homes. These houses were substantially damaged, demolished, and then rebuilt to resiliency standards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1589996379774-PMFHMND8NORY0ULNO36V/MEC+125th.jpg Community Development Portfolio - Affordable Housing Projects MEC 125th Street is a multi-phase development project which will consist of approximately 1,000 units of housing, along with commercial and entertainment space. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1589996707140-1UV2NZUQNT6NUX99SFWF/Sunset-Park-Library-Rendering.jpg Community Development Portfolio - Affordable Housing Projects Sunset Park Library was the first development in NYC to include a rebuilt public library with affordable housing on the upper levels of the building. The entire residential portion of the development is reserved for extremely-low and low-income households. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1589996823266-E4AYG92VRP6A538VR3MA/Morris+II.jpg Community Development Portfolio - Affordable Housing Projects Morris II is a LEED-Gold and Passive House 154-unit building with 4,600 square feet of community facility space in the Bronx, NY. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1590000526202-7O20NNPUCE30NWTBNWY4/Jobs+Plus.png Community Development Portfolio - Affordable Housing Projects For my capstone project at NYU, my client was Jobs Plus, an employment-focused program in developments operated by the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA). My team provided an enhanced performance measurement and management system to track the program's success. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1590001061419-4NH42TEC6JEHCMKLNU63/infonavit.jpg Community Development Portfolio - Affordable Housing Projects During graduate school, I had a graduate fellowship in Mexico City at INFONAVIT, Mexico's federal housing institute. My project consisted of developing a sustainable model of social housing. https://www.raquelavazquez.com/portfolio/communitywork monthly 0.5 2020-05-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1589999597342-P3BMYAPDCNO1SEMAASJX/image-asset.jpeg Community Development Portfolio - Community Work Since 2019, I've served on the Real Estate Board of New York State, which oversees rules and regulations for real estate brokers and salespersons in the state of New York. This Board saw the passage of New York State's 2019 rental law reform. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1589999740029-PX9AS86A6SFLRJ2CS4KO/20151107_Habitat+for+Humanity+Recovery+%281%29.jpg Community Development Portfolio - Community Work I began volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in 2014 for Hurricane Sandy recovery response. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1590093485102-L6NQTWZ1O2QIIUTHR691/central+harlem+historic+district.jpg Community Development Portfolio - Community Work In 2018, under my leadership with Manhattan Community Board 10, we were able to get successful Landmarks Preservation Commission designation of the Central Harlem Historic District from 130th to 132nd Streets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1590093561888-K338WOIENNQXGZSNTOIQ/dorrance+brooks+historic+district.jpg Community Development Portfolio - Community Work In 2019, under my committee's leadership, we were able to successfully establish the Dorrance Brooks Historic District in the United States Register of Historic Places and the New York State Historic Preservation Office. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1590093658037-5VY086J1GPYLNBITZDZU/Ruby+Dee+%26+Ossie+Davis+Street+Sign.jpg Community Development Portfolio - Community Work Over my tenure overseeing transportation for Manhattan Community Board 10, we were able to oversee the passage over over 25 street co-namings, which ensure the legacy of Harlem's residents remains permanent in the cultural as well as physical presence in the community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1590094004038-AIJTHVI3TDSFLCDYYAMY/20180124_105054.jpg Community Development Portfolio - Community Work In 2018, I organized the first ever faith-based development and preservation conference in Harlem, which fostered dialogue and transparency about topics of concern and interest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1590094151494-FILUL7N4OA7LG4FG1HUQ/IMG_0023.JPG Community Development Portfolio - Community Work I've held dozens of community planning sessions to foster an exchange between public agencies and local residents on policies and initiatives. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb1e101151b1a30158e128c/1590155791752-RWY1FSLK5SEOIO5BN1NP/change+capital+fund.png Community Development Portfolio - Community Work I served on the grant selection committee of the Change Capital Fund, which provides $3.2MM in funding to local community development organizations focused on poverty alleviation work.