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Search Success: Michelle Bleau Has Been Named Director of Housing Development With ONE Neighborhood Builders

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ONE Neighborhood Builders (ONE|NB) and Pillar Search and HR Consulting are excited to share that, following an extensive search, Michelle Bleau has been named Director of Housing Development.  In this role, she will lead housing development activities, supervising a team of project managers who advance projects through pre-development, construction, and into leasing. Michelle will represent ONE|NB and its interests externally, collaborating with consultants, project partners, financing entities, and others to successfully build high-quality housing. 

Michelle originally joined ONE|NB in 2022 as Project Manager for Real Estate Development. Michelle’s work in that role focused on deal sourcing, acquisition, design, community and partnership engagement, permitting & approvals, financing, consultant procurement, and construction.

Prior to joining ONE|NB, Michelle worked for a private development firm headquartered in Boston, where she was responsible for managing and overseeing the daily operations and correspondences associated with acquisitions, predevelopment, permitting, design, development, marketing, leasing, and sales of large scale multifamily and condominium projects in the Greater Boston area. Throughout her project work, Michelle collaborated with many nonprofit organizations and community development corporations, helping to source and allocate funding for community benefits, as well as forming partnerships to create affordable and mixed-income housing.

Michelle attended Roger Williams University and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She attended Boston University, Commercial Real Estate Certificate Program, NAIOP of Massachusetts, Continuing Education in Commercial Real Estate Program, and Freedom Trail Realty, MA Salesperson Licensing Program. 

ABOUT ONE NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDERS: ONE Neighborhood Builders (ONE|NB) is a nonprofit community development leader in Rhode Island that is expanding its work to the broader Greater Providence area while maintaining its deep roots in its historic home of Olneyville. ONE|NB’s mission is to develop affordable housing and engage neighbors to cultivate healthy, vibrant, and safe communities. Since its founding in 1988, then as Olneyville Housing Corporation, ONE|NB has developed 466 affordable apartments; 130 for-sale homes for low- to moderate-income homebuyers; and nearly 34,000 square feet of commercial and community space—totaling more than $135 million of investments. ONE|NB is the convening entity of Central Providence Opportunities: A Health Equity Zone, which brings together residents, more than five dozen community-based organizations, health professionals, local businesses, elected officials, and others to address root causes of health disparities and to improve neighborhood conditions. As the convener, ONE|NB is the backbone organization of this collective-impact initiative to increase economic mobility for residents in Central Providence. ONE|NB also created the first free community wireless network in Rhode Island, providing high-speed broadband to nearly 3000 unique users in the Olneyville neighborhood. For more information about ONE|NB, please visit their website.  

ABOUT PILLAR SEARCH & HR CONSULTING: A woman-owned business and Certified Diversity Recruiter based in Boston, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and the boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information about Pillar, please visit our website. 

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Search Success: Anusha Venkataraman Joins ONE Neighborhood Builders as Managing Director of Central Providence Opportunities!

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ONE Neighborhood Builders and Pillar Search and HR Consulting are excited to share that Anusha Venkataram has joined ONE Neighborhood Builders as their new Managing Director of Central Providence Opportunities: A Health Equity Zone. She brings nearly two decades of experience in community development, policy, and organizing, to state’s leading community development corporation.

PROVIDENCE, RI – ONE Neighborhood Builders (ONE|NB) named Anusha Venkataraman, the former executive director of the New York City Racial Justice Commission, as the organization’s first Managing Director of Central Providence Opportunities: A Health Equity Zone (CPO-HEZ), an initiative focused on advancing health equity and economic mobility in the 02908 and 02909 zip codes in Providence.

“Anusha is a seasoned expert in community development, policy, and organizing, and we are thrilled that she has returned to Providence. As ONE|NB looks to further strengthen our foundation as a community-centered impact organization, we knew we needed to find a leader with a track record of building community trust and getting results,” said ONE|NB President and Executive Director Jennifer Hawkins.

With a background in urban planning, Venkataraman’s work has focused on community development, public policy, civic engagement, political organizing, and the arts. Previously, she served as the Executive Director of the NYC Racial Justice Commission, where she steered a public process of reviewing the city’s charter, resulting in three successful ballot initiatives advancing racial equity.

“Across my career in grassroots organizations, nonprofits, and in city government, I have seen what is possible when community members are empowered to drive action,” said Venkataraman. “I am excited to make my return to Providence—a city I am deeply passionate about—and help lead this initiative with ONE|NB in addressing the systemic barriers to health and economic equity in Central Providence and collectively building a stronger future.”

Before leading the NYC Racial Justice Commission, Venkataraman held positions in the NYC Office of the Mayor, including Chief Service Officer and Senior Advisor to the Deputy Mayor for Housing & Economic Development, as well as in the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development. She also worked with the community organization El Puente in Brooklyn on a neighborhood-wide health and sustainability initiative. Venkataraman started her career in Rhode Island’s nonprofit sector, including as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at the Steel Yard in Providence.

The Managing Director provides strategic leadership and capacity to Central Providence Opportunities: A Health Equity Zone, which brings together residents, more than five dozen community-based organizations, health professionals, local businesses, elected officials, and others to address root causes of health disparities and to improve neighborhood conditions.

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) established Health Equity Zones (HEZs) in 2015 to improve community health in areas that need it most. HEZs are collaboratives of residents, community organizations, health professionals, and others who come together to address the root causes of health disparities. The HEZs work to ensure every neighborhood has a fair and just opportunity to be healthier. This work requires removing obstacles to health such as poverty, discrimination, racism, and their consequences, including insufficient access to good jobs with fair pay, quality education, affordable housing, safe environments, and healthcar

As Managing Director of CPO-HEZ, Venkataraman will oversee ONE|NB’s work with community partners and residents who have been working for nearly a year to develop a vision for Central Providence. ONE|NB and its partners will culminate this planning work on Monday when they unveil the Central Providence Roadmap, with a vision to ensure that all residents of Central Providence will live healthy, stable lives and be empowered to impact the conditions in their community.

Venkataraman earned a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Pratt Institute and a bachelor’s in international relations from Brown University.

ABOUT ONE NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDERS:

ONE Neighborhood Builders (ONE|NB) is a nonprofit community development leader in Rhode Island that is expanding its work to the broader Greater Providence area while maintaining its deep roots in its historic home of Olneyville. ONE|NB’s mission is to develop affordable housing and engage neighbors to cultivate healthy, vibrant, and safe communities. Since its founding in 1988, then as Olneyville Housing Corporation, ONE|NB has developed 466 affordable apartments; 130 for-sale homes for low- to moderate-income homebuyers; and nearly 34,000 square feet of commercial and community space—totaling more than $135 million of investments. ONE|NB is the convening entity of Central Providence Opportunities: A Health Equity Zone, which brings together residents, more than five dozen community-based organizations, health professionals, local businesses, elected officials, and others to address root causes of health disparities and to improve neighborhood conditions. As the convener, ONE|NB is the backbone organization of this collective-impact initiative to increase economic mobility for residents in Central Providence. ONE|NB also created the first free community wireless network in Rhode Island, providing high-speed broadband to nearly 3000 unique users in the Olneyville neighborhood.

ABOUT PILLAR SEARCH & HR CONSULTING:

A woman-owned business and Certified Diversity Recruiter based in Boston, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and the boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information about Pillar, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

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New Search! Social Services Director With Building Futures

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About the Opportunity

Building Futures has partnered with Cindy Joyce of Pillar Search & HR Consulting on the search for their new Social Services Director.

About Building Futures

Building Futures was founded in 2007 as a construction industry partnership, focused on leveraging the Registered Apprenticeship model of workforce development. For over 100 years, unions and employers have jointly operated quality registered apprenticeships in the construction occupations to train individuals as highly skilled tradespeople. Our work spans three distinct but highly aligned areas.

For the benefit of low-income Rhode Islanders, Building Futures developed and operates a comprehensive pre-apprenticeship program to prepare diverse, low-income men and women for success in employment as registered apprentices in the building trades. In addition, we work in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure construction projects provide employment opportunities for apprentices at the appropriate level to meet future demand for skilled labor through our Apprentice Utilization Program. Our pre-apprenticeship and apprentice utilization program together provide an effective system for workforce development in Rhode Island’s construction sector.

From this foundation, we have established Apprenticeship Rhode Island, an initiative to expand the use of Registered Apprenticeship beyond the construction sector. Now, we are helping develop new registered apprenticeship programs in multiple sectors, which include healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing, and marine trades, among others. Working with employers, industry partnerships, government, and community-based organizations, we are spreading the proven model of Registered Apprenticeship to benefit the state’s workforce and economy.

Building Futures has an annual budget of $2.5 million and a team of 16.5 FTE’s. The organization is poised to grow to 25 employees in the coming years.

The salary range is $80K-$90K.

Learn more about Building Futures here.

Position Details

The Social Services Director will lead, implement, and develop social services at Building Futures for current participants and alumni and establish a robust network of external partnerships to provide services not offered directly. Approximately 100 to 150 individuals per year will be engaged at various stages of the different program interventions. Social services are provided to under-resourced program participants, all of whom are experiencing poverty and other significant employment barriers, to ensure successful completion of Building Futures’ program(s) and gain family-sustaining careers, primarily in union construction occupations. This is a leadership position within the organization and will supervise multiple staff members as part of the senior management team.

Additionally, the Social Services Director will plan, implement, and manage a new partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC), called Bridge to Opportunity (BTO), which will create a formalized reentry pathway to careers in construction for currently incarcerated individuals. With a dual focus on programmatic and participant supports, this position will develop new organizational partnerships, provide pre- and post-release case management services, and oversee the development and implementation of the pre-release training program.

This is a full-time reporting to the Executive Director of Building Futures. The role is primarily onsite with some work-from-home flexibility.

Responsibilities will occur in partnership with the Director of Training and Social Services Coordinator, along with other internal staff and external partners, and under the direction of the Executive Director. The role requires a highly resourceful individual with strong emotional intelligence, motivation, and analytical skills. This position is anticipated to spend significant time working in RIDOC facilities and will require security clearance from RIDOC as a condition of hire.

Responsibilities

The Social Services Director has the following areas of responsibility:

Program Services and Supports:

  • Operate and enhance a comprehensive social service department that maximizes supports and success for participants, trainees and alumni of Building Futures’ programs, including:
    • Develop appropriate policies, procedures and provide staff supervision
    • Develop new and manage existing community-based partnerships to enhance supports for participants, including service provision and referral strategies
  • Provide strategic guidance and management of Building Futures’ programing within RIDOC facilities, high schools and community-based organizations
  • Ensure that all participants have the supports needed to persist and graduate from Building Futures’ training programs and successfully gain careers via registered apprenticeship
  • Manage participant issues/crisis that may arise
  • Develop and/or maintain partnerships with community-based agencies to address the needs of program participants, including – but not limited to – housing assistance, mental health and substance use counseling, and transportation services

Project Management

  • Lead the development and implementation of a programmatic Action Plan for the BTO program, which will guide the project’s three-year lifecycle, including:
    • An integrated career/readiness correctional assessment
    • The pre-release curriculum, adapting existing materials for the BTO program
    • A seamless supportive service strategy from pre-release through to re-entry, pre-apprenticeship training, and placement of participants as Registered Apprentices
  • Manage staff (currently a team of 2) to ensure achievement of project deliverables and outcomes with a focus on participant success, create and maintain team meeting schedules, develop and organize agendas, ensure appropriate documentation and follow-through
  • Develop a strong knowledge of North America’s Building Trades Unions’ Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) to support its implementation as part of BTO pre-release program, including development of new curriculum modules, oversight and scheduling of the MC3 Instructor and other guest trainers/speakers as appropriate
  • Ensure that BTO program participants will have supports needed for successful reentry and stability to enter Building Futures’ training programs in partnership with RIDOC Transitional Services/Discharge Planning Unit
  • Develop strong relationships with the RIDOC Rehabilitative Services Unit, Institutions and Operations, and Probation and Parole Unit to ensure integration of programming pre- and post-release
  • Staff the RI Reentry Construction Workforce Partnership, the advisory group for the BTO program, to identify potential policy and/or procedural barriers for participant success for review and actions, including organizing and documenting meetings
  • Provide support to the 3rd party program evaluation, including ensuring accuracy of all program data and ensure accurate and timely documentation

Administration and Operations

  • As member of the senior management team, provide strategic input and oversight of activities overall, while representing specific areas of responsibility
  • Support the development of needed contracts, sub-recipient monitoring, grant reporting and other required tasks as related to areas of responsibility
  • Participate in information gathering and writing of monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
  • Participate in agency-wide initiatives, providing expertise and support, as needed

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

  • A minimum of 5 years of work experience with under-resourced communities and/or people experiencing poverty required
  • Experience with, or desire to gain experience with, the correctional environment and with incarcerated individuals
  • A minimum of three years of project management and supervisory experience required
  • Training/instructional experience preferred
  • Ability to motivate, inspire, and encourage individuals to achieve their full potential
  • Ability to interact with a broad intersection of community-based individuals and organizations
  • Strong critical thinking, organizational, and communication (oral and written) skills
  • Ability to prioritize multiple competing tasks and activities
  • Self-motivated and committed to personal and organizational excellence
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate in a team environment, as well as work independently
  • Competency with computer programs, including databases, excel, word and outlook

Additional Information

Building Futures is centrally located in Providence, RI.

This role requires local and state-wide travel. A valid driver’s license is required.

Please note that successful completion of a background check is required for the candidate who is hired.

Building Futures is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Apply Today!

Building Futures has partnered with Cindy Joyce of Pillar Search & HR Consulting on the search for their Social Services Director. Please submit your cover letter and resume to Cindy at cindy@pillarsearch.com.