By Gabby Ross, NLIHC Manager, IDEAS
A select group of tenant leaders from across the country congregated in Albany, Georgia from October 10 to October 13, 2025, for NLIHC’s third Tenant Leader Retreat. Both Collective alumni from cohort 3 and current members of the Collective cohort participated in the retreat and were able to build deep bonds while learning about leadership strategies.
Meet this year’s participants!
Members from the third Collective Cohort in attendance:
- Jacob Berry, residential services coordinator, Mercy Housing (WA)
- Diana Blackwell, president, Fred Samuel Resident Association, NYCHA (NY)
- Destiny Brown, founding organizer, Dayon Tenant Union (OH)
- Diana Brown, community advocate; founder, Ossie’s Fair Housing and Homecare (GA)
- Adalky F. Capellán, campaign organizer, Right to Counsel NYC (NY)
- Kay Carroll, co-chair, North Carolina Balance of State Continuum of Care Lived Expertise Advisory Council; at-large member of the North Carolina Balance of State CoC Steering Committee (NC)
- Kia Dupclay, executive director, Free 2 Dream Big (CA)
- Tiffany Haynes, CEO, Aiden Anthony LLC (VA)
- Sucely Murillo, community activist, advocate, and spokesperson (RI)
- B Malaika Rumala, consultant; founding director, People with Lived Experience Institute (CA)
- Suzette Shaw, activist, Standing 4 Black Girls and Women / Women's and Girls Leadership Project (WLP); advocate, California Black Women's Health Project (CBWHP); peer advocate, Mental Health of America (MHA) (CA)
- Terria Ware, VP of supportive services, Anchorage Affordable Housing and Land Trust (AK)
- Ashia Wilson, advocate, (LA)
Members from the fourth Collective Cohort:
- Mary Hunter, executive director, Affordable Housing for the Carolinas (NC/SC)
- Rue Mansour, strategic initiatives project manager, Santa Barbara Foundation (CA)
- Jernell McLane, president at The House of Homage LLC, asst. property manager for South Haven Apts. (MN)
- Kimrah Minuty, ascension and intuitive guidance coach (MA)
- Mrs. Kennetha “The Homeless CEO” Patterson (TN)
- Latricia Powell, consultant (MI)
- Rose Torcel, Rising Ground (NY)
- Kristal Thompson, peer advocate, Supportive Housing Providers Association (IL)
- Avigail Van Praagh, housing manager, Partnership to End Homelessness (NY)
NLIHC staff welcomed Collective members to the Resora, a farm community in Albany, Georgia, that was reclaimed by civil rights leaders Charles and Shirley Sherrod. The space has become a place of racial healing and community building, a perfect setting for the Tenant Leader Retreat.
The retreat started on the beautiful Friday morning of October 9, 2025. Participants were welcomed by NLIHC staff, including Sid Betancourt, inclusive community engagement manager, who introduced the retreat’s primary facilitator, Rebeccah Bennett of Emerging Wisdom LLC & InPower Institute. Ms. Bennett guided the group through community agreements and provided a space for Collective members to introduce themselves.
Continuing the pattern of community building, Ms. Bennett’s colleague, eNiKoL Asé Wolf, led some structured activities on liberated movement where participants were encouraged to express their joy freely. Wolf also led a session titled “Play to Purpose: Shaping the Year Ahead as a Collective.” The session invited Collective members to reflect on the future work they would like to do together and the importance of base building during difficult times. The day wrapped up with a drum circle led by local historian and musician Michael Harper. Participants connected through music before heading back to their hotels for the evening.
Mrs. Bennett opened the second day of the retreat with reflections on the first day and a review of the activities awaiting the group. Following welcoming remarks, the group set off for a farm tour led by local advocate, Mrs. Geraldine Hudley.
Participants learned about the history of Resora from Mrs. Hudley. After the farm tour, the Collective cohorts met with Albany local, Dr. Tracy Knighton (also known as “Dr. T”)
with NOVA Counseling and Consulting Services. Dr. T facilitated two sessions centered around healing one’s racial trauma and how to foster community leadership. Following these two insightful sessions, participants met civil rights giant and co-founder of the Resora, Mrs. Shirley Sherrod. Mrs. Sherrod shared the history of the legacy she built alongside her late husband, Mr. Charles Sherrod. The group was also joined by another civil rights giant, original Freedom Singer, Rutha Mae Harris. She taught the group famous movement songs such as “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around,” “Your Dog Loves My Dog,” and “Oh Pritchett, Oh Kelly,” all of which highlight the importance of perseverance, unity, and the fight for freedom of oppressed peoples in times of uncertainty. Collective members left the day’s events inspired for the work ahead.