Meet the Speakers
The Faith-Based Housing Event brings together a distinguished group of national leaders, faith innovators, housing developers, investors, policymakers, and community builders who are shaping the future of faith-driven housing solutions across America.
Our speakers represent the full ecosystem required to turn vision into reality—spanning congregational leadership, real estate development, finance, public policy, philanthropy, and community development. Each brings deep expertise, lived experience, and a shared commitment to leveraging faith, land, and partnership to solve one of the most urgent challenges of our time: the housing crisis.
Through keynote conversations, expert panels, and real-world case studies, our speakers will share:
- Proven models of faith-led housing development
- Lessons learned from successful church-based housing projects
- Financing and partnership strategies that unlock scale
- Policy pathways that accelerate responsible development
- Spiritual and mission-centered approaches to community transformation
These are not just thought leaders; they are doers who are actively building homes, restoring neighborhoods, and creating pathways to stability and opportunity.
Explore our speaker lineup and discover the leaders who will guide this national conversation at the intersection of faith, housing, investment, and impact.
Alyia Gaskins
Mayor of Alexandria ( Alexandria, VA)
A tenacious fighter for families, communities, and health equity, is the first African American woman to serve as the Mayor of Alexandria. She was elected in 2024 and is dedicated to building a healthier, more prosperous Alexandria for all.
The same issues that motivate Alyia as an elected official—health, housing, education, public safety, and the economic, social, and physical vitality of cities—have motivated her professional career as a public health strategist and city planner. She has worked on hunger policy at D.C. Hunger Solutions and health issues at the National League of Cities, managed an affordable housing investment program at the Center for Community Investment, and was most recently a Senior Program Officer at the Melville Charitable Trust, a national philanthropic organization devoted to ending homelessness.
Currently, Alyia runs her own consulting business, CitiesRX, which focuses on building physical, social, and economic health through community partnerships. Alyia graduated from Vanderbilt University, where she majored in medicine, health, and society.
She earned a master’s degree in public health at the University of Pittsburgh and further honed her policy chops with a master’s in urban planning at Georgetown and a Professional Certificate in Municipal Finance from the University of Chicago.
John Farden
EVP, Global Network Advancement and Operations
John is the Executive Vice President of Global Network Advancement and Operations at United Way Worldwide (UWW), integrating decades of nonprofit leadership experience to guide U.S. and International Network teams in implementing strategies, tools, and resources to support local United Ways. In collaboration with the senior leadership team, John’s focus is driving outcomes for Network Resilience, Community Impact Solutions, Strategic Insights and Operations, and international work streams.
Before joining UWW, John served as the Chief Operating Officer at Results for Development, where he was instrumental in helping this international nonprofit work across sectors to create strong systems that support healthy, educated people. Before that, John worked at Save the Children U.S., a nonprofit championing children’s rights in 100 countries, and held multiple roles, including Associate Vice President for U.S. Programs, Head of Strategy & Planning, and Senior Director of Global Sponsorship Operations.
John earned his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a master’s degree from Lesley University.
Margot Greenle
O.S.G., Executive Director
Margot has devoted her career to creating communities where people of all ages and abilities are fully included. She has guided OSG’s growth to eight housing communities, built strong partnerships with developers and policymakers, and secured new philanthropic and public funding. Before OSG, she spent more than 15 years as founder and director of BodyWise Dance, where she developed inclusive dance projects with national partners including the U.S. Department of Education, the National Academy of Sciences, the University of Maryland School of Public Health, and Metro DC’s Veterans Administration Hospital. She lives in Washington, DC, and is happiest spending time with family, neighbors, and friends, building the same sense of community she champions through her work at OSG.
Juliana Araujo
International Institute for Business Information & Growth (iiBIG) President
Juliana is a strategic leader with over 25 years of experience in financial services, telecommunications, technology, and the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as President of the International Institute for Business Information and Growth (iiBIG), a national platform that convenes leaders across sectors to address complex challenges.
Her career spans executive roles in Brazil, Argentina, and the United States, including senior leadership positions at Santander Brasil, IBM, Providian Bank, and Vivo. With deep expertise in strategic marketing, communications, organizational growth, and international development, Juliana has led multi-million-dollar campaigns, large-scale events, and high-impact initiatives that elevate brand visibility and stakeholder engagement.
Fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, she is a passionate advocate for social equity, innovation, and autism awareness. Juliana holds a BA in Economics, an MBA, a Master’s in Education, and a Master’s in Science and Technology Policy. She also serves her community as a Commissioner on the Alexandria Commission on Employment in Virginia.
A. Wayne Johnson
Founder and CEO, Presidential Cottage Homes
Dr. Arthur Wayne Johnson is a public servant, accomplished entrepreneur, U.S. Army veteran, and lifelong Georgia native with extensive experience as a senior executive, CEO, and business founder across consumer finance, customer service, and community-focused enterprises. From 2017 to 2019, he served in senior leadership at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid, helping lead the nation’s largest student aid organization and expand access to affordable higher education for millions of Americans.
Inspired by the lifelong service and housing advocacy of Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter, Dr. Johnson founded Presidential Cottage Homes to address the growing need for quality, affordable housing grounded in dignity, stewardship, and community. The initiative reflects his belief that housing is foundational to economic mobility and community well-being.
Today, Dr. Johnson advances a national vision for housing innovation through partnerships with public agencies, impact investors, municipalities, and faith-based organizations, which he views as essential anchors for neighborhood revitalization and long-term opportunity. He holds a PhD from Mercer University, an MBA from Emory University, and a BA from Mercer University.
Stacie Whisonant
Founder, Pay Your Tuition Foundation
Is a nextgen entrepreneur advancing innovation in education, healthcare, and housing. She is the Founder of the Pay Your Tuition Foundation, a DC-based 501(c)3, and a first-of-its-kind FinTech platform helping students crowdfund tuition, access philanthropic aid, and reduce debt through alternative data.
A Halcyon Fellow and New York City FinTech Innovation Lab winner, her work disrupts traditional finance models with tech-driven, community-powered solutions. Stacie's career spans over two decades in finance, including roles at HSBC, U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, and Freddie Mac, where she led equitable housing and innovation strategy. She also served as an Innovation Lead at the U.S. Department of Education, driving public-sector solutions for deserving students and families.
An Army veteran, TEDx speaker, and recipient of honors from President G.W. Bush Points of Light, Bertelsmann Foundation, and M.L.K. Drum Major Award, Stacie holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Longwood University and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., continuing her legacy of service and leadership. Her current interests include projects in health tech, community infrastructure, and sports and entertainment technology. Stacie enjoys spending time with family, sleeping when she can, and beating her friends and family at the card game, UNO.
Eugene H. Dibble IV (Gene)
Founder, Faith-Based Opportunity Zone Initiative (FOZI)
Eugene H. Dibble IV (Gene) is the driving force behind the Faith-Based Opportunity Zone Initiative (FOZI), which aims to mobilize catalytic capital to empower faith-based organizations to become community developers. His leadership in this initiative reflects his commitment to unlocking new models for economic mobility, community revitalization, and social impact through strategic partnerships and innovative solutions.
Gene is also an accomplished entrepreneur and strategic advisor with extensive experience in impact investing and digital transformation. As Founder and Chief Impact Officer of Uncommon Impact Studio, he leads a strategy and investment firm that leverages innovation for societal impact across financial services, housing, education, agriculture, and clean energy sectors. His expertise in digital transformation and sustainable growth has made him a valued partner to entrepreneurs and organizations driving transformative change. As a partner at View Park Capital, Gene specializes in investment opportunities in sports and entertainment, while his board position at Thread Bank, a fast-growing, technology-enabled community bank, demonstrates his commitment to innovative financial solutions.
His career encompasses both entrepreneurial initiatives and executive leadership roles in public and private organizations, with a particular focus on empowering entrepreneurs of color and women-led businesses.
A Duke University graduate, Gene’s strategic approach to finding the intersection of community and commerce has established him as a leading voice in impact investing and sustainable business development.