PRESIDENT

Maria Urias is a Collective Impact and Systems Change consultant who has been working in the Nashville area over the last five years. She has experience in evaluating new and budding nonprofits, as well as facilitating conversations that support nonprofit growth. She received her M.Ed and M.T.S from Vanderbilt University, as well as her B.A. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is currently supporting the Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Network in her role as Impact and Evaluation Manager.

SECRETARY

Gabrielle Chevalier is a former journalist turned nonprofit communications and partnerships strategist. Born and raised in a bygone version of East Nashville, she uses her experiences to advocate for communities across Davidson and Hamilton counties.

When she’s not working, you can find her on a hike with her pups or curled up in a corner with a good book (and probably a cat).

TREASURER

Jesse Gonzalez owns and operates Liberty House Realty, LLC, a full-service flat fee real estate brokerage based in Nashville, Tennessee, and REOProNetwork.com. He is also a student at Nashville School of Law, where he co-founded LUCHA, Latines United for Change, Hope, and Advocacy, a student organization dedicated to community, leadership, education, and service.

Jesse’s commitment to housing justice is both professional and personal. Having experienced homelessness as a youth, he understands firsthand the instability and vulnerability that come with insecure housing. That experience continues to shape his work, including his commitment to expanding affordable access to real estate services and supporting efforts that protect housing stability for vulnerable communities. His work is guided by a commitment to justice, service, and expanding meaningful access to housing stability.

BOARD MEMBER

Alexa began her career providing technical assistance and research support to youth and family education organizing initiatives in New England. She moved back to the South in 2017 to work at a local non-profit in Hamilton County, Tennessee with the goal of organizing for education reform at the grassroots level. After leading a campaign that engaged over 3,000 residents to build a policy platform for the county education system, she transitioned to housing policy work. Over the next 4 years she worked on affordable housing policy, served at the frontline of rent relief efforts during the pandemic, supported the launch of an eviction prevention initiative, and facilitated the implementation of grant efforts and strategic planning for local non-profits. She joined Hamilton County government in a leadership role in 2023 where she leads grant efforts, data transparency work, youth empowerment programs, and tax incentive policies and projects. She is also currently providing technical assistance and data support to a new program at the local bar association that provides no cost mediation services for litigants in the local court system.

BOARD MEMBER

Luis is a community organizer and political leader based in Nashville, currently serving as Communications & Deputy Executive Director for the Tennessee Democratic Party. In this role, he leads statewide strategy and organizing efforts across the state. Prior to this, he was the Government Relations Manager at the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC), where he specialized in policy advocacy and grassroots organizing—leading campaigns, shaping policy, and building political power across the state.

In 2024, Luis was the Democratic nominee for the Tennessee State House, running one of the state's most competitive campaigns. During this time, he worked with Forward TN, strengthening digital organizing and coordination across the state’s progressive ecosystem. Luis holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he graduated cum laude and co-founded Students for Migrant Justice, reflecting his longstanding commitment to grassroots organizing and leadership.

BOARD MEMBER

An accomplished actor, Greg was trained in New York and is currently based in Nashville. He played Mitch in ‘A Streetcar Name Desire’ and Vladimir in ‘Waiting for Godot’. Gregory has graced both the small and big screen as well, having worked in “Still the King” with Billy Ray Cyrus, “Chasing Ghosts” with Tim Meadows, “Little Chenier” with Clifton Collins, Jr. and Jonathan Schaech, “The Work and the Glory” with Brenda Strong and Sam Hemmings and “Clarissa’s War” with Allee-Sutton Heathcoat.

Gregory’s artistry and skill continue to entertain audiences, taking them on a journey with each performance to another world, back in time, through the lens of iconic characters, illuminating what it is to be human.