portrait of web brown svp of redi

Mercy Housing Hires Head of Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

 PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release:  Nov. 17, 2020

Contact: Kate Peterson | 303.830.3443 | kpeterson@mercyhousing.org 

Nation’s leading affordable housing nonprofit hires Web Brown to spearhead national racial equity initiatives at critical time in affordable housing history

DENVER—Mercy Housing, the nation’s leading affordable housing nonprofit headquartered in Denver, has named Web Brown as senior vice president of Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI). In this newly created position, Brown will oversee Mercy Housing’s ongoing commitment to address root causes of racial inequities and support communities to be more equitable and inclusive.

Brown brings extensive experience to this position. Before Mercy Housing, he was director for the Colorado Office of Health Equity at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment where he worked across state government to embed equity considerations into decision-making. He participated in drafting an equity, diversity, and inclusion centered Executive Order signed by Governor Jared Polis in 2020.

With nearly 40 years of experience and a presence in 41 states, Mercy Housing provides affordable housing with supportive services to more than 45,000 residents, including families, seniors, veterans, and people with special needs.

One of Mercy Housing’s key initiatives is creating awareness that housing justice is social justice. For too long in the U.S., communities of color experienced housing discrimination from redlining, a practice dating back to the ‘30s where neighborhoods with large African-American and minority populations were “redlined” on maps to restrict mortgage lending and deny wealth building opportunities. Today, the ramifications of that painful legacy, coupled with the pandemic and ensuing economic fallout, are disproportionately hurting communities of color. The creation of this new role is a culmination of the organization’s long-term, in-depth community development work.

“This is a pivotal time for low-income communities, and adding Web Brown to our team, with his more than 20 years of experience, will help us address the profound need for racial equity and social justice for residents and communities,” said Ismael Guerrero, Mercy Housing President & CEO. “He will help us to grow our capacity to foster vital, positive change within our organization and in neighborhoods across this country.”

Brown’s previous experience includes 10 years in St. Louis at the Missouri Foundation for Health as a program director. He founded Higher Vision Consulting, spending 11 years working with nonprofits and government agencies to increase their capacity to address issues concerning racial equity, diversity and inclusion. He served as an adjunct faculty member at Washington University in St. Louis, University of Denver, and Metropolitan State University, teaching courses in, racial equity, social justice, and leadership development.

He will join Mercy Housing in January 2021.

About Mercy Housing, Inc. (MHI):

Mercy Housing, Inc. (MHI) is a leading national affordable housing nonprofit headquartered in Denver. Established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1981, and in operation in 41 states, MHI has more than 39 years’ experience developing, preserving, managing, and financing affordable housing. MHI supplements much of its housing with Resident Services, programs that help residents build stable lives. MHI’s subsidiaries further the organization’s mission: Mercy Housing Management Group (MHMG) offers professional property management and Mercy Community Capital (MCC) finances nonprofit organizations.

MHI serves tens of thousands of people with low incomes, including families, seniors, veterans, people who have experienced homelessness, and people with disabilities. Its mission is to build a more humane world where poverty is alleviated, communities are healthy, and all people can live to their full potential. To learn more about MHI and the services it provides, visit mercyhousing.org.