Marie Nahikian

Marie Nahikian has a distinguished career as a community organizer and developer who has financed, built and developed more than 5,000 affordable homes and apartments in Washington, DC, New York and Philadelphia. Marie has worked in the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development under President Barack Obama. She served under the Mayors of Washington, DC (Hon. Walter Washington and Hon. Marion Barry), New York (Hon. David Dinkins) and, Philadelphia (Hon. Wilson Goode and Hon. Michael Nutter). Marie has provided leadership for such non-profit community development organizations as Habitat for Humanity, Queens Economic Development Corporation, Enterprise Foundation, Housing Works, DC Coalition for the Homeless and Adams Morgan Organization. Marie led organizing efforts in the District of Columbia’s Home Rule movement as well as housing for the homeless, anti-gentrification, the American Federation of Government Employees and the Building Trades Council. She was on the Board of Directors of the Pacifica Foundation and the Homeless Assistance Fund; She worked with National Public Radio and Harper’s Magazine as well as several community-based newspapers. Marie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina in Greensboro and attended the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.