NACEDA is delighted to announce that Sam Yoon has accepted the position of executive director of NACEDA.  Sam has substantial experience in community organizing, affordable housing development, and politics, which will serve him well in this new role. He recently served on the Boston City Council for four years as an at-large member, focusing on housing, youth development, and open government.

Prior to serving on the Boston City Council, Sam spent ten years working with community-based non-profits in the Boston area as a housing development director, finance project manager, and community organizer.  He graduated from Princeton University with a degree in philosophy and earned his master’s degree from the Harvard Kennedy School, concentrating on urban development and policy.

Sam believes that NACEDA has enormous potential to grow into a powerful vehicle – and voice – for community economic development.  He is convinced that the optimism in Washington, combined with the unprecedented challenges facing our communities, underscore the need for a strong alliance of CED leaders and advocates.  Once his transition to DC is complete he is eager to begin moving forward with a vision for NACEDA and a strategic plan for growth.

Sam will be relocating his family from Boston to the DC area over the summer.  His wife is a fundraising consultant to non-profits.  They have two children, 8 and 5 years old. Please join me in welcoming Sam.

Diane Sterner
Chair, Board of Directors
National Alliance of Community
Economic Development Associations