Danielle Lewinski
Vice President, Technical Assistance
Danielle Lewinski is the Vice President of Technical Assistance at Community Progress and has been with the organization since 2013. As Vice President of Technical Assistance, she oversees an unparalleled team of national experts with decades of legal and strategic experience specific to vacant property challenges, delivering services through the National Technical Assistance, Michigan Initiatives, and Georgia Initiatives programs.
Collectively these programs spark local and state policy change aimed at ending entrenched property vacancy and deterioration. Since 2010, the technical assistance programs have partnered with over 250 communities in 35 states, to assess the causes of vacant properties, directly craft policy and practice changes, and build long-term capacity in communities so implementation succeeds.
Lewinski has bolstered and sustained a diverse portfolio of financial support from philanthropic, nonprofit, and governmental entities and a team of deeply experienced, dynamic, and mission-driven staff, fellows, and advisors, which have cemented Community Progress’ legacy as the preeminent expert, innovator, and national leader on vacant properties and equitable, sustainable revitalization.
Before joining Community Progress, Lewinski built a technical assistance team that delivered planning, analysis, and strategy development services in Detroit through the Detroit Vacant Property Campaign and Michigan Community Resources. This work included serving nonprofit and government clients across the city, initiating an unprecedented city-wide parcel survey, and acting as the primary liaison between the civic engagement and technical teams for the Detroit Future City strategic framework process. Prior to her work at MCR, Lewinski also supported community development work in Detroit through Focus: HOPE and Pontiac, MI through Lighthouse Community Development.
Lewinski earned her Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning and Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Development from the University of Michigan, Bachelor of Arts degree in African and African-American Studies from Mount Holyoke College, Economic Development Finance Professional Certification through the National Development Council, and Executive Scholar Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She is currently working towards her Not-for-Profit Certificate I from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.