You’re invited to a conversation on Leveraging Community Land Trusts as part of our Reframing Philanthropy series.

The series reframes philanthropy through a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive lens to foster new ways of being catalysts for social change in our own communities and around the country.  Each session will be held virtually and will include expert speakers, knowledge sharing, and discussion. The series is open to donors, grantees, professional advisors, and staff and board members of organizations impacted by social justice philanthropy.  We hope you will find the series thought-provoking, challenging, and inspiring. 

Date: Wednesday, December 11                      Time: 12 PM ET / 9 AM PT

CLTs are nonprofit organizations that acquire land and develop affordable housing. Unlike traditional housing models, CLTs separate the ownership of the land from the ownership of the buildings on it. This innovative approach ensures long-term affordability and community control.

CLTs address the root causes of housing inequality by:

• Preserving affordability: CLTs keep housing costs low for generations to come.
• Building community power: CLTs empower residents to shape their neighborhoods.
• Creating sustainable development: CLTs promote equitable and environmentally responsible development.

Hear from Minnie McMahon and Gerrlyn Gacao!

Gerrlyn Gacao’s work in philanthropy applies her lived experience and 12+ yrs of professional experience in public service, organizing, and intersectional policy advocacy across social justice issues. She is passionate about pushing for economic and housing justice solutions that not only shift our systems, but reimagines them altogether: fostering community power building, expanding public services, redistributing capital and wealth, decommodifying land, and creating community control of our systems.

Minnie McMahon is an organizer, gardener, and lover of land and community. She is the Program Director for the Greater Boston Community Land Trust Network, hosted by Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative. She started at DSNI in 2019, first acting as the Project and Operations Manager at Dudley Neighbors, Inc., the community land trust. Before that, she worked for small farms in Massachusetts, California and New York. The intersection of governance, land and power is a constant curiosity and source of inspiration in her work. Minnie holds an M.A. in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University.