Family Housing Fund Welcomes Four New Board Members

We are pleased to introduce you to the four newest members of Family Housing Fund’s Board of Directors.

Aarica Coleman, Housing and Redevelopment Authority Administrator, City of Bloomington

Aarica has served as Housing and Redevelopment Authority Administrator for the City of Bloomington since 2020. Prior to joining Bloomington’s HRA, Aarica served as a senior project coordinator at the City of Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development department, where she managed home buyer programs, coordinated community engagement, facilitated public-private development initiatives, and managed city-owned rental property. She also served as a property management specialist for Hennepin County, working with municipalities and community organizations in tax forfeit land development projects. Additionally, Aarica was a housing consultant with It Takes a Village Housing, where she supported education for Black women on topics such as homeownership, investment properties, cooperative housing, and responsible renting. To each new role, Aarica brings over 20 years of experience as a real estate broker, property manager, and compliance technician in the private sector.

Kizzy Downie, CEO, Model Cities of St. Paul, Inc.

Kizzy has served as CEO of Model Cities since 2018 and has over 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector. Prior to appointment as CEO, Kizzy held four other positions at Model Cities since 2006: Youth Enrichment Services program coordinator, manager of housing services, director of operations management, and director of community services. In these roles, Kizzy oversaw homebuyer education and counseling services, children’s mental health, and supportive housing services. Kizzy is a member of the Housing Opportunities Made Equitable (HOMECo) collaborative and serves on the Land Bank Twin Cities and Heading Home Ramsey Governing Boards. Before joining Model Cities in 2006, Kizzy served as a program coordinator of Girls Incorporated of Central Alabama.

Danielle Grant, President and CEO, AchieveMpls

Danielle has served as AchieveMpls President and CEO since 2016. Under her leadership, AchieveMpls has expanded its Career & College Centers from Minneapolis into Saint Paul Public Schools, launched a new Career Readiness Initiative that increased career exposure and postsecondary enrollment by Minneapolis high school students, and created a new college internship program for young leaders of color. Prior to joining AchieveMpls, Danielle held several positions with Minneapolis Public Schools including as Executive Director of Educational and Cultural Services overseeing social-emotional learning, extended learning, American Indian education, homeless and highly mobile services, positive schoolwide engagement/behavior and family resource centers. An enrolled citizen of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe and a Turtle Mountain Ojibwe descendant, Danielle was named Minnesota’s Outstanding American Indian Administrator by the Minnesota Indian Education Association in 2012. Danielle was a Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal Women in Business honoree in 2020. In addition to board membership with the Family Housing Fund, she currently chairs the board of American Indian OIC, and serves on the boards of the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, Advancing Equity Coalition, and the Community Advisory for the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank. 

Christopher Ferguson, Metropolitan Council Member, District 3

Chris is the CEO of Bywater Business Solutions and the Vice President of Business Development and Delivery for the Summit Group, bringing a strong business background to the Family Housing Fund Board. Since 2019, he has represented District 3 on the Metropolitan Council, which includes the cities of Chanhassen, Deephaven, Eden Prairie, Excelsior, Greenwood, Long Lake, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, Minnetrista, Mound, Orono, Shorewood, Spring Park, St. Bonifacius, Tonka Bay, Wayzata, and Woodland. Among his accomplishments as Chair of the Central Corridor Business Resources Collaborative, Chris led a marketing and forgivable loan program to support small businesses along METRO Green Line construction. He has also served on the Midway Chamber of Commerce, Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, Minneapolis Workforce Council, and the Corridors of Opportunity Policy Board.