Micaela Connery

Pronouns: She/Her

Micaela Connery is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Kelsey, a national nonprofit pioneering disability-forward housing that is affordable, accessible, and inclusive. Since founding the organization in 2018 with her cousin and co-founder Kelsey, she has led efforts to develop over 200 homes, unlock nearly $205 million for inclusive housing, and scale The Kelsey’s impact to thousands of advocates and housing partners nationwide. Micaela published leading national research on housing and disability as a Fellow at Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies and previously founded Unified Theater, a national nonprofit she launched at age 15 to advance inclusion in schools. She is an Ashoka Fellow, Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation Entrepreneur, and Harvard Social Innovation and Change Initiative Fellow, and holds degrees from the Harvard Kennedy School and University of Virginia.

Growing up with Kelsey, my family was defined by inclusivity and access. When we centered family vacations on Kelsey’s access needs or let Kelsey influence our lives with her on the example of inclusivity, we not only made Kelsey’s life richer but we all benefited. This is what disability-forward means to me. Disability-forward reminds us that centering on access and inclusion of people with disabilities isn’t something you do out of charity or obligation, it simply makes all spaces better, all experiences richer, and ultimately a better world that includes opportunities for all people.

I love cities and have lived my whole adult life in small spaces in big cities. So I love how all our projects are well-located in diverse, vibrant cities and neighborhoods. Yet, while I’m an urbanist, I also value nature and being outside. So, I love how our very urban projects also include outdoor amenities, green spaces, and accessible ways for our residents to enjoy nature.