Our Leadership
AsaleSol Young
Executive Director
AsaleSol Young
Executive DirectorAs someone dedicated to racial justice, the impact of housing instability on a community’s capacity to thrive is undeniable. When I started working at Urban Homeworks in 2017 as a Grants Manager, I was looking to support organizations doing crucial racial justice work. Folks I knew and trusted were working here, so I leaned in to offer helpful contributions.Anne Ketz
Real Estate Director
Anne Ketz
Real Estate Director I was not familiar with UHW before applying in 2017. At the time I applied, I was seeking a role in non-profit real estate development; I was especially drawn to the emphasis at UHW of a “people first” mentality and the community-centered work of the “People Oriented Developments”; the small-scale block-by-block focus of the real estate development work; the reclaiming of properties long-abandoned or poorly run by absent landlords; an opportunity to work on both homeownership and rental projects providing quality, attainable housing opportunities, and contributing to the effort in reducing the homeownership disparity between black and white households in Minneapolis.Paul Vliem
Development Director
Paul Vliem
Development DirectorSo many reasons!! Its values-based mission; its commitment to centering local community in all we do; its understanding of the power of quality affordable homes in creating healthy, resilient communities; and our ability to use the resources committed to this mission to create outsized impact in our community (307 homes built/redeveloped and counting!)Sophie Dennison
Finance & Operations Director
Sophie Dennison
Finance & Operations DirectorWhile working in public schools in Minneapolis, I found that many of our students that experienced exponentially more challenges were those with housing instability. Urban Homework's mission will go a long way in not only combating the racial wealth gap in MN but also the racial opportunity gap as well. The piece that drew me specifically to the organization was the idea of facilitating community ownership and reinvestment in neighborhoods that have been historically subjected to discriminatory policy and systemic racism.Temi Ogunrinde
Equity & Engagement Director
Temi Ogunrinde
Equity & Engagement DirectorI firmly believe that dignified housing is a right, not a luxury, and that everyone should be afforded the opportunities to own a home. I wanted to be intentional of working in spaces that fight for this right. I chose to work for Urban Homeworks specifically because it's important that the work we do is unapologetically centered on community. We commit to doing this work alongside community, with great humility and care and that is why this is where I want to be.Our Staff
Ellen DeYoung
Institutional Relations Manager
Ellen DeYoung
Institutional Relations ManagerAfter moving to the North Minneapolis area in 2019 and getting to know the neighborhood, I was drawn to organizations that highlighted the vibrancy of the community while also calling out disparities and disadvantages that exist. I love that Urban Homeworks leverages the power of the community’s voices to address both immediate needs and underlying racial justice issues. I’m so excited to be able to support my local community in this crucial work!Emily Lassiter
Senior Development Officer
Emily Lassiter
Senior Development OfficerAfter starting a family, I wanted to move back to my home state of Minnesota and began searching for non-profits doing meaningful work. Urban Homeworks caught my attention because of its bold mission statement proclaiming revolutionary hope. The organizational commitment to address root causes of injustice and honestly confront systemic racism as a root cause is what sold me. I love working for an organization that continually challenges me to be a better human.Katie Herrick
Communications Manager
Katie Herrick
Communications ManagerSafe, dignified housing is necessary for all other facets of life. I firmly believe that housing is a human right every single human being deserves to have. The work Urban Homeworks is doing to address systemic barriers to housing in addition to tackling the racial homeownership gap is absolutely critical. I am honored and grateful to be able to use my skills to benefit my community in any way.Katie Rein
Development Coordinator

Katie Rein
Development Coordinator"After the pandemic, I was seeking nonprofit work that felt purposeful and a work environment that was unapologetically human-centered. Urban Homeworks was an immediate draw because of the work they are doing to provide dignified homes that strengthen communities and push policies forward that build those opportunities, but also because of the internal work the organization has done to dismantle white supremacy in a substantial, and not just symbolic way. Working alongside folks who truly challenge themselves to thoughtfully engage in antiracist practices as a professional and personal foundation is life-changing for me. There's no performative nonsense here, they are doing the real thing and I'm proud to be a part of it."Lydia Detweiler
Executive Assistant
Lydia Detweiler
Executive AssistantI was initially drawn to Urban Homeworks as an organization because it addresses both immediate needs and systemic injustices. Since joining the team, I have been amazed with how thoughtfully this mission is lived out. I fully support Urban Homeworks' model for community development and look forward to working alongside its passionate employees, partners, and residents to actualize our dream of a more equitable housing market for all people!Tiara Jones
NAZ Family Achievement Coach
Tiara Jones
NAZ Family Achievement CoachBeing a North Minneapolis native, my passion and purpose lies within my community! I joined NAZ after reading their mission, vision and values statements, realizing they aligned with my own. My goal working with Urban Homeworks is to support as many families as possible to find stability, empowerment, and a purpose of their own within the same community.Yuri Harper
Resident Organizer
Yuri Harper
Resident OrganizerThe Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ) introduced me to Urban Homeworks (UHW). I started as the NAZ Housing Specialist in 2017 and then transitioned into a Family Achievement Coach. I love being part of the UHW team because the mission helped me understand Christ in a different way that I appreciate. Housing is so foundational and an absolute right for everyone. I am proud to work on housing justice and anti-racism with this amazing team.Our Board of Directors
Danyika Leonard
Board Co-Chair | Policy Director, Education Evolving

Danyika Leonard
Board Co-Chair | Policy Director, Education Evolving"I've been a part of Urban Homeworks since 2013, where I worked in partnership with UHW to support the fundamental right to equitable, safe, stable, affordable, dignified, accessible rental housing and homeownership for Northside families. I joined the board after shifting to education policy. It takes courage, commitment, resolve, and humility to ask of ourselves, "How do we honor and be 'in right relationship' with community?" UHW takes this charge to heart and strives to embody what it means to 'neighbor,' and I've seen this reflected in the community." --- Danyika Leonard (Dan-yee-kah) is the policy director at Education Evolving, where she advocates for policies that clear barriers and create opportunities for educators to design equitable student-centered learning experiences. She is co-founder of the Ujima Collective, which exists to create solutions and empower those seeking to address issues and policies impacting the Black community. Their work encompasses collaborative efforts of educators, organizers, artists, youth workers, and teachers committed to doing community safety, equity, and racial justice. As a restorative practitioner by calling and social worker by trade, her work has focused on building collaboratives of state, county, and local organizations for systems and policy innovation for educational and family success. She has experience in community organizing, coalition building, group/circle facilitations, housing & workforce development, policy design and implementation, design thinking, and youth and family empowerment. Danyika holds a MPA degree from the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs. She lives in North Minneapolis with her husband, Alex, and two children.Lindsey Hunter
Board Member | Senior Organization Development Consultant, Hennepin County HR

Lindsey Hunter
Board Member | Senior Organization Development Consultant, Hennepin County HR"I want to live in a world where everyone has the stability that allows them to dream—beyond their circumstances, wildly spectacular dreams. And one crucial aspect of that stability is having a home—which I believe is a right and not a privilege."Ravie Singh
Board Member | Assistant Vice President & Branch Manager, U.S. Bank

Ravie Singh
Board Member | Assistant Vice President & Branch Manager, U.S. Bank"Homeownership plays a vital role in helping to build strong and stable communities. Urban Homeworks is an organization that is committed to that work, turning dreams into reality by providing a place to call home for many. I am thrilled to be apart of this mission that is dedicated to continuously making a difference for families."Sadaqah Jones
Board Member | Realtor

Sadaqah Jones
Board Member | RealtorSadaqah is originally from North Minneapolis; the Oak Park neighborhood. She joined Urban Homeworks out of a desire to make a difference in her neighborhood and the community where she lives and is growing her family. Sadaqah is a well known Real Estate Agent in North Minneapolis, and currently helps sell Urban Homeworks' properties.Tiffany Dykes
Board Member | Major & Planned Giving Officer, Catholic Charities

Tiffany Dykes
Board Member | Major & Planned Giving Officer, Catholic CharitiesTiffany's belief that housing is a human right brought her to Urban Homeworks. Tiffany also serves on the Urban Homeworks Equity & Engagement Committee.Want to join the team? Learn more about current opportunities, here.