Yvonda Bean Wins NAHRO’s 2024 Advocacy Award

Washington, D.C. — On Monday, April 8, 2024  the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) presented Yvonda Bean, CEO of Columbia (S.C.) Housing with its prestigious Advocacy Award. This award, formerly known as the Mary K. Nenno Advocacy Award, pays homage to the recipient whose outstanding achievement and efforts related to legislative advocacy reflect the importance of affordable housing and community development initiatives.

“Yvonda is a skilled and passionate advocate who combines strategic vision with the ability to inspire collective action,” said NAHRO CEO Mark Thiele. “She built and executed an advocacy plan that lifted our 2023 August Advocacy campaign to new heights, educated her legislators, and mounted a social media campaign to educate the public about pressing affordable housing issues. I’m thrilled to present this award to her.”

As the Legislative Committee Chair of the Southeast Regional Council of NAHRO, Ms. Bean inspired more than 1,300 advocates to send nearly 19,000 letters to their elected officials, and contributed to a record-setting advocacy campaign  She worked with diverse groups and stakeholders to build and execute a 90-day advocacy plan that included sending letters, collecting housing data and stories to present to legislators, creating unified messaging and educating the public via social media.

About NAHRO

NAHRO, which was established in 1933, is a membership organization of more than 26,000 housing and community development providers and professionals throughout the United States. NAHRO members create and manage affordable housing for low- and middle-income families, and support vibrant communities that enhance the quality of life for all. They administer more than 3 million homes for more than 8 million people.