“I always had a nontraditional idea of what I wanted to achieve by studying the law,” says Christina Autin. “My highest use wasn’t going to be in a courtroom. I stood on the shoulders of the resilient immigrant women who came before me, and I needed to use that privilege to amplify the voice of the community.”
Today, Autin is the chief external affairs officer for Archer Greenwood Companies, a mission-driven real estate developer and advisory services firm that creates high-quality, mixed-income and affordable housing developments. In her role, she cultivates and manages relationships with community leaders, nonprofits, agencies and elected officials to ensure responsive stewardship of resources and assets. “Our goal is to leave neighborhoods better than we found them,” she says.
Autin’s work is not without challenges. Harmful mental models about subsidized housing and a lack of trust in private developers persist. Still, she is motivated by the potential in doing this work, exemplified by a growing relationship with a school in Baltimore.
“We’re working on plans for rental housing and homeownership near that school,” she says. “The investment could benefit residents who live near the school already along with students and families traveling from all over the city to attend this school.”
The Fellowship will help Autin build bridges between housing and intersecting issues. She explains, “My experience underscores that housing is more than shelter; it’s a platform to access and achieve everything else in your life.”