Panel Discussion on Stewarding the Future: Youth Power and Leadership in Community Land Trust Practice

Webinar Resources

Slide Decks

• Ashley Allen, PhD, Houston CLT, Executive Director
• Carlos Sanchez-Gonzales, South Baltimore CLT, Youth Outreach Specialist
• Jason Webb, Grounded Solutions Network, Community and Technical Assistance Principal

Webinar Description

On 4 December 2024, we held a panel discussion with a short Q&A on youth engagement and leadership within community land trusts. Core to the CLT mission is the stewardship of community assets for both present and future generations. Responding to today’s pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges—particularly those posed by climate change—requires listening to, and raising up, the voices of those who will be most affected: our youth. Engaging young people in community-owned land and housing will be crucial for building sustainable communities and advancing the stewardship mission of CLTs. This webinar was an engaging conversation with CLT practitioners and two youth leaders. Together, we explored questions such as:

• How are CLTs involving youth representatives in decision-making?
• How are the concerns of youth members of CLTs shaping CLT practice?
• How can we better engage youth and highlight their role in shaping the future of communities?

Panelists

• Ashley Allen serves as the Executive Director of the Houston Community Land Trust. She brings to the role non-profit leadership and program development experience in the areas of education, S.T.E. M.,workforce development and affordable housing. As a community organizer for over 10 years, she helped develop and drive campaigns for improved homeless services, affordable housing policy, and education in Chicago, IL.Ashley served as a consultant with the Barack Obama Foundation where she was responsible for the planning and implementation of the foundation’s initiative to develop the next generation of community organizers and advocates.Ashley’s experience as a homeless youth is what ignited her passion to help increase housing accessibility and affordability for those that need it most. She serves on the Board of The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County and is a member of the Houston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc. Ashley holds a B.S. in Food Science from Florida A&M University, an M.P.A from Governors State University and a Ph.D. in Cultural and Educational Policy with a concentration in Sociology from Loyola University Chicago.
• Carlos Sanchez-Gonzales is a youth leader and South Baltimore resident who works with South Baltimore Community Land Trust. In his work, he focuses on citywide outreach and education to connect more residents with the movement to create community-owned developmentAs a student at Benjamin Franklin HS in Curtis Bay, Carlos started learning from environmental justice leaders who founded Free Your Voice. Carlos acted on these lessons by helping to develop Baltimore’s first citywide Zero Waste Plan and advocating for new funding for permanently affordable community owned development. Now, Carlos continues to advance environmental justice through research and action while expanding our outreach to the next generation of youth leaders. 
• Jason Webb is a Community and Technical Assistance Principal at Grounded Solutions Network. He has close to 40 years of experience in community organizing and revitalization. He was instrumental in the revitalization of a community in Roxbury, Massachusetts, called “Dudley Street,” as highlighted in the award-winning documentaries Holding Ground and Gaining Ground and in the book Streets of Hope. As the 9ason oversees training and technical assistance for cities, nonprofit organizations, and community groups. He assists with exploring, adopting, and implementing housing policies and programs with lasting affordability that advance racial equity and inclusion. Jason has developed essential tools that have helped hundreds of groups learn about the community land trust model, such as the “Community Land Trust Start-up Hub”. Jason served as Co-Chair of the staff committee for racial equity and inclusion from 2020 to 2023. Before coming to Grounded Solutions, Jason worked for 15 years for Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) and Network Member Dudley Neighbors Inc. (DNI). He served in several capacities, including Director of Real Estate and Technology, Director of DNI “The Community Land Trust,” and Director of Administration and Finance. Jason oversaw the development of several community land trust developments and created a youth development/youth jobs program called CommunityScapes.A Massachusetts native, Jason attended Boston University School of Management. Jason currently resides in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he and his family enjoy the harbor city that is known for its fishing and whaling industry.