I’m excited to support my Urban Institute colleagues in our work to better define the continually evolving range of evidence-based solutions that are required to achieve more equitable and inclusive outcomes. The central imperative of securing the future well-being of diverse communities across the nation compels us all to explore and expand our collective knowledge while clearly identifying effective new policy approaches and models for replication at scale.
Tony Pickett is a nonresident fellow in the Housing Finance Policy Center at the Urban Institute. His work focuses on addressing the racial homeownership gap, emphasizing the role of financing and related policies.
His previously published works include coauthorship in 2019 of “Community Land Trusts: Combining Scale and Community Control to Advance Mixed-Income Neighborhoods” and a 2021 contribution to On Common Ground: International Perspectives on the Community Land Trust, the collected perspectives of scholars and practitioners from a dozen countries. His commentaries have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and other outlets.
Pickett serves on the board of directors for the Up for Growth coalition, Trust Neighborhoods, and Vermont Energy Investment Corporation. He is also a founding member of the national community development sector CEO Circle Leaders of Color.
Before joining Urban, Pickett was CEO of the Grounded Solutions Network. His 10-year expansion vision for Lasting Affordability in Housing Now seeks to achieve 1 million new homes. His leadership has resulted in multiple national program, policy, and financing initiatives for lasting affordability, with rapidly growing significant support from the Colorado Health Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, MacKenzie Scott, the Melville Charitable Trust, Meyer Memorial Trust, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Wells Fargo Foundation.
Pickett is a graduate of the Cornell University School of Architecture, Art, and Planning and is a LEED accredited professional.
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