WAHNcast

Note: This episode includes discussion of survivor recovery and support in the context of domestic violence and human trafficking.

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October, we’re honored to bring you this inspiring conversation on WAHNcast. Hosts Angie Truitt and New England WAHN President Susanna Medoff sit down with Vanessa Volz, President and CEO of Sojourner House, a Rhode Island nonprofit redefining what survivor support and housing can look like.

Vanessa shares how Sojourner House evolved from a small crisis hotline into a multifaceted agency offering trauma-informed housing, legal aid, and wrap-around support for hundreds of survivors and families each year. She reflects on her leadership journey — from attorney to nonprofit change-agent — and how building safe, stable homes is a key part of helping survivors rebuild their lives.

This conversation highlights:

the critical role of safe, affordable housing in healing and stability

how partnerships and systems change make a difference

what it means to stand with survivors, always

If you or someone you know is in need of help, reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) or visit thehotline.org — confidential support and local resources are available 24/7.

Listen now and join us in honoring survivors and advancing hope, healing and community.

Visit: https://sojournerri.org

In this episode of the WAHNcast, host Ashley Northcutt sits down with Donna Bullock, President and CEO of Project HOME and former Pennsylvania State Representative, to explore how housing can heal and empower entire communities.

From growing up with housing insecurity to now leading one of Philadelphia’s most transformative nonprofits, Donna shares her journey of resilience, purpose, and partnership. Under her leadership, Project HOME continues to thrive — backed by a powerful community that includes the Philadelphia Eagles and Jon Bon Jovi, both champions for housing and hope in the city they love.

Donna talks about the importance of collaboration, meeting people where they are, and building a future where every Philadelphian has a place to call home.

Valerie White’s career spans over three decades in finance, housing, and community development—from shaping bond ratings and housing authority strategies at S&P to leading statewide MWBE initiatives and now serving as Head of National Housing Strategic Initiatives at LISC. In this WAHNcast conversation with Ashley Northcutt, Valerie shares her journey, the bold three-pronged strategy LISC is deploying to expand affordable housing, and the critical role of thought leadership, capital access, and community partnerships. From working with emerging developers and faith-based institutions to advocating for transformative policies, Valerie’s vision is rooted in equity, innovation, and collaboration. Listeners will gain insights into how national systems can better support local communities, and how women leaders can sustain momentum in the face of the industry’s toughest challenges.

In this episode of WAHNcast, host Angie Truitt takes the field with some of our WAHN Allies to talk about what allyship looks like in affordable housing today. Joined by Ally Committee co-chairs Abe Kruger and Ben Goates, Mike Duffy (WAHN’s 2025 Ally of the Year), and Brian Philps of Indiana WAHN, the conversation explores how allies are helping women’s voices lead the industry.

From the origins of the Ally Committee to the new Ally Community initiative, the group shares stories of mentorship, practical support, and showing up on the front lines, from running the mic at Summit sessions to reshaping who sits on industry panels. Along the way, they highlight the Ally Pledge, the importance of visibility, and the teamwork it takes to move the ball down the field.

Whether you’re new to the concept of allyship or already signed the pledge, this episode will give you a clear playbook for building an affordable housing industry that works for everyone.

In this episode of WAHNcast, Angie Truitt teams up with co-hosts Megan Goyer and Britney Watson, Co-Chairs of the UNC Chapel Hill WAHN U Chapter, for a powerful conversation with Kate Rodgers, Co-Chair of the Student HOMES Coalition and recent UCLA graduate.

Kate shares how she helped launch a statewide student coalition after realizing that conversations around college affordability were leaving out one of the biggest costs students face: housing. She talks about leading advocacy campaigns as a student, building bridges across 16+ campuses, and why she believes student housing is not just a policy issue but a basic need and a human right.

Listeners will hear:

Why housing costs are often the biggest barrier to higher education in California

How students are driving real legislative change at the state level

What it takes to build trust and collaboration across diverse groups—from student leaders to labor unions to universities

Kate’s advice for emerging leaders: “If something feels a little scary or makes you feel out of your depth, that’s probably a sign you should go that direction—because that’s where you’ll learn the most.”

This is an energizing conversation about advocacy, leadership, and the next generation of housing changemakers.

In this inspiring episode, Ashley Northcutt, President & CEO of WAHN, sits down with Beth Baar, Vice President of Asset Management, Construction & Stabilized Assets at Cinnaire and our 2025 WAHNderful Woman of the Year.

Beth shares her journey from volunteering at a small community nonprofit in rural Wisconsin to leading asset management across multiple states. She reflects on how a single moment helping a senior apply for affordable housing showed her the life-changing impact of this work, and why she’s committed to creating what she calls “a world of good.”

In this inspiring episode of WAHNcast, WAHN President & CEO Ashley Northcutt sits down with Kathleen Guillaume-Delemar, President and CEO of the Center for Community Progress. Kat shares her remarkable journey from growing up in Brooklyn in the shadow of entrenched poverty and systemic inequities, to becoming a nationally recognized leader in community revitalization.

With candor and passion, Kat discusses how her lived experience informs her leadership, why she believes in “daring to dream,” and how vacant and abandoned properties can be transformed into community assets. She also unpacks the role of policy, philanthropy, and unlikely allies in creating dignified, affordable housing—and makes a powerful case against the criminalization of poverty.

This is a conversation about resilience, justice, and the possibility of building communities where everyone belongs.  

In this WAHNcast replay from their hit session at the 2025 National Summit, four incredible women from Indiana WAHN, Danielle Smith, Scarlett Andrews, Jennifer Green, and Janine Betsey, share how building a “Personal Board of Directors” can shape not only your career, but your life.

What started as professional networking evolved into a trusted circle of mentors, cheerleaders, and truth-tellers who challenge, support, and advocate for one another—on the job and beyond. Along the way, these women became close friends, navigating leadership roles, career pivots, and life’s big moments together.

Tune in for stories, laughter, and practical tips for creating your own personal board, finding the right mix of voices at your table, and building relationships that last. Whether you’re early in your career or a seasoned leader, you’ll leave inspired to find your people and keep them close.

In this episode of WAHNcast, Lakeysha Sowunmi, founding president of the San Diego Women's Affordable Housing Network, chats with Simmone Ruff, Director at CSH Housing Solutions in San Diego. Discover the vital role of supportive housing, from its deep affordability to its essential wraparound services, and how it differs from traditional affordable housing models. Learn how policies like Cal AIM and collaborations with healthcare systems are transforming the landscape, providing sustainable funding, and fostering community health through housing. Tune in for an insightful discussion on overcoming barriers, building partnerships, and driving impactful change in the affordable housing sector.