Seth Leonard of Winooski, managing director of community development at Vermont Housing Finance Agency, has been selected for the Fulcrum Fellowship by the Center for Community Investment at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. The Fulcrum program provides support for the development of the nation’s most promising leaders in the fields of housing, creative placemaking, philanthropy and economic and community development.
Leonard, former mayor for the city of Winooski, is one of 16 fellows who will participate in a 15-month program that aims to help leaders create meaningful systems change through collaboration across silos and sectors. They will join a network of leaders committed to advancing racial equity and supporting disinvested communities to achieve their environmental, social and economic priorities.
“Seth has brought remarkable levels of expertise and energy to VHFA’s community-development programs in the past three years,” said agency Executive Director Maura Collins. “We are thrilled he will discover new ways to unlock capital and use housing and community development investments as a Fulcrum Fellow, helping VHFA support underserved residents and communities.”
In his role at the VHFA, Leonard oversees the agency’s housing development, rental housing management and community relations activities. He came to VHFA from the US Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development, where he served as housing program director for Vermont and New Hampshire.