Affordable housing advocate to kick off REDA Speaker Series

Brenda Takahashi, an experienced leader in public housing administration, will discuss sustainable community and economic development 7 p.m. Jan. 19 in the Wright Gallery, kicking off Texas A&M’s Real Estate Development Association’s Spring 2012 Speaker Series.

Takahashi is an affordable housing advocate, strategic planner and quality-assurance practitioner whose goal is to assist organizations and communities attain higher qualities of well-being, social equity, and environmental integrity.

“Brenda is a public servant whose behavioral watchwords are inspiration, integrity, and innovation,” said Geoffrey Booth, coordinator of Texas A&M’s Master of Science in Land Development program. “She is committed to helping communities find affordable housing solutions that enhance their housing operations, customer-service standards, and earn public trust.”

As special assistant to the executive director at the Houston Housing Authority from 2001-2006, Takahashi was a program developer, grants monitor, citywide resident advisory board coordinator and contributor to the redevelopment of the HHA’s Oxford Place and Lincoln Park.

She initiated the HHA’s Customer Service Program, conducted customer service training workshops and aided in the implementation of the authority’s policies, goals and strategies.

She also provided leadership to Houston Housing Resource Inc., which operates programs that help families move toward self-sufficiency and keep seniors safe.

More speakers in the REDA spring series are to be announced. For more information, contact Geoffrey Booth at gbooth@arch.tamu.edu or 979.845.7883.