Opportunity through Inclusivity

We center on the perspectives of people with disabilities to speed up development of affordable, inclusive community housing—opening new doors to more opportunities for everyone.

“The Kelsey’s leadership includes entrepreneurs of the caliber of those I have backed in the venture world. This drives their impressive progress and lasting impact. As a donor, I appreciate that my dollars are multiplied through The Kelsey’s unique leveraging of public, private, and philanthropic support to create even more good in our communities.”

John O'Farrell, Donor

Our Co-founder

What started with Kelsey, an advocate for access and community, has become a movement towards an inclusive housing future led together by people with and without disabilities.

Kelsey, Koos, Sunshine Girl – she is the reason our organization exists. Her story and life inspired countless others to share their own stories as part of a movement to build more affordable homes and more inclusive communities for all people.

Kelsey lived her life boldly and bravely.  She enjoyed the simple things in life – good food, loud music, sunshine, and quiet time with a book. When feeling adventurous, she loved riding roller coasters, fast boats, and skiing. She always tried to make people laugh with fake burps, headlock hugs, and a sarcastic sense of humor. Kelsey communicated through modified American Sign Language (ASL) and her favorite sign was “more”. She never hesitated to ask for more or remind people more was possible.

Kelsey taught so many about the importance of inclusion and access, from schools to hospitals to communities to housers. These are lessons we are grateful to carry forward in the mission we advance in her name at The Kelsey.

More About Kelsey

Our Team

We are a committed team of people with and without disabilities that combine our expertise and lived experiences to advance impact in communities.

Together with our growing community of partners, we focus on establishing a scalable model for disability-inclusive, affordable housing across the U.S. and leading advocacy that makes those communities possible.

Staff

Allie Cannington

Senior Manager of Advocacy and Organizing
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Anna Kizito

Communications Manager
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Annie Lascoe

Director, Development
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Ari Katz

Associate, Operations and Development
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Brittney Harris

Housing Development Manager
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Caroline Bas

COO
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Fatimah Aure

Director of Field and Capacity Building
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Hunter Herrera-McFarland

Policy Associate
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Irina Meza

Chief People Officer
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Isaac Haney-Owens

Communications Analyst
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Katie McAuley

Housing Development Manager
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Kristina Cardenas

Senior Inclusion Concierge
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Kyle Gaughan

Resident Services Director
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Lia Byrd

Housing Development Analyst Intern
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Louisa Bukiet

Housing Development Manager
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Micaela Connery

Co-founder and CEO
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Molly Wiesman

Associate, Communications and Outreach
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Thomas (Tom) Hospod

Housing Development Manager
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Organizational Values

Disability-Forward

We bring our lived experiences as disabled people and allies to everything we do. We seek to create spaces where disability is a valued part of human identity and communities. We center access, practice interdependence, and value diversity.

Intentional

We are thoughtful, curious, and deliberate. We deeply understand the systems impacting our work and willingly learn new strategies needed to advance our mission.

Joyful

We value joy even as we undertake serious work and challenges. We create space for ourselves and our partners to experience community, fun, purpose, and happiness.

Radically Inclusive

We are welcoming, care-centered, and accepting. We practice hospitality and foster belonging for all people in our community and networks, across their many identities and ideas.

Groundbreaking

We pave new ways to understand and approach the work we do, unconstrained by status quo and stigma. We transparently and willingly share our knowledge with others to make more impact possible and open new opportunities.

Board of Directors

Arpitha Shetty

Walmart International
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Capri Roth

Associate Director of Portfolio
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Dom Kelly

New Disabled South

Erik Doyle

Co-Chair / CBRE

Jennifer Angarita

Funders for Housing and Opportunity
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Lindsay Johnson

J.D. Candidate, Georgetown University

Shaina Li

Sidewalk Labs

Steve Wade

Treasurer / CPA, Retired

Swathi Bonda

Brookfield Properties

Will Goodman

Strada Investment Group

Advisors

White woman smiling at camera with light long brown hair

Caitlyn Fox

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

Chan U Lee

Devine & Gong

Chris Beda

Wabash Partners

Erick Mikiten

Mikiten Architecture
Jessica is a white lady with reddish brown, long curly hair, staring at the camera with a black t-shirt.

Jessica Carosello

Salesforce

John O’Farrell

Andreessen Horowitz

Rob Wagner

Sares Regis Group

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