We partnered with the Center for Community Progress on its search for a President & CEO. Based in DC, the Center for Community Progress is the only national organization dedicated to the revitalization of vacant properties. It helps meet the growing need in America’s cities and towns for effective, sustainable solutions to turn vacant, abandoned and problem properties into vibrant places.

The search resulted in the recruitment of Kathleen J. Guillaume-Delemar to the role.

Guillaume-Delemar has over 25 years of experience in community development and philanthropic leadership. Her award-winning work has helped local and national funders drive meaningful, equitable impact in communities nationwide.

In this role, Guillaume-Delemar leads partnership and fundraising development for the Center for Community Progress and the Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference, which connects more than 1,400 grassroots leaders and revitalization professionals nationwide. She previously served as the organization’s Vice President and Director of National Partnerships.

Her experience as a strategic advisor includes shaping the major gifts pipeline at the Washington Post-acknowledged Miriam’s Kitchen and growing the organizational impact of Jubilee Housing by more than 400 percent. Those efforts included leading a three-year $60 million capital campaign that helped revitalize affordable housing for more than 700 individuals, launching neighborhood youth services initiatives, and creating a Returning Citizens Transitional Housing program.

She also serves as Councilmember-At-Large for the City of Glenarden, Maryland; located in Prince George’s County. Guillaume-Delemar made history when she became the first and only Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latina, Haitian American to be elected in the City of Glenarden’s history and has contributed to the equitable legislative measures aimed at serving her community.

A former commissioner on the Prince George’s County Affordable Housing Authority, Guillaume-Delemar has contributed as a strategic advisor and subject matter expert for the Maryland General Assembly, the Office of the Governor of Maryland, and national community development partners.

In addition to her work in the Greater Washington, DC metro area, Guillaume-Delemar has led the development of partnerships with local and federal government, the Federal Home Loan Banks, Enterprise Community Partners, LISC, and dozens of other influential community development stakeholders.

Guillaume-Delemar’s work has been acknowledged by Fanm Potomitan, Bank of America, the National Capital Gift Planning Council, the Tom Joyner Foundation, and others across the United States. She sits on several boards where she continues to leverage her expertise as a facilitator and passion for racial and social justice to help marginalized communities reverse wealth inequities and preserve culture; including a special, personal focus on Haitians and Haitian-Americans.

Guillaume-Delemar is a graduate of Howard University.