People

Margaret is a skilled philanthropy professional with over a decade of experience across the fundraising spectrum: from grants to capital campaigns, political campaigns to planned giving, annual gifts to major gifts. She has also been responsible for the administration of advocacy boards and state and local lobbying efforts. She has employed these skills in service of a diverse array of nonprofits including the Texas Civil Rights Project, Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, Thinkery, and ZACH Theater. Since 2016, Margaret has raised over $11,000,000 to fund vital services that support our community. She received her B.A. in History and Political Science from Tufts University and her M.A. in Oral History from Columbia University. Margaret served as the Chair of the Development Committee for the Board of the Oral History Association from 2020 to 2023. She is an active and enrolled citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and has spoken at the Dynamic Women conference on story collection and archiving best practice.

A lifelong urban planning enthusiast, Zachary Pitts threw himself into YIMBY advocacy in Los Angeles while his professional path led him into California’s emerging cannabis industry. Over the next decade, he built and scaled a successful multi-state business spanning California and Washington. Recognizing the need for better regulation and representation in the industry, Zach went on to found and lead local and statewide trade associations, where his organizing, advocacy, and lobbying efforts were instrumental in shaping major reforms and licensing improvements in Los Angeles and across California. As the cannabis industry matured, Zach turned his focus back to his roots in civic engagement—championing housing policy, serving on his neighborhood council, and promoting urban sustainability initiatives. In 2025, he joined YIMBY Action as the Los Angeles Director, continuing his commitment to building fairer, more livable cities for all.

Sebastien's involvement with the pro-housing movement began when he centered his capstone project on the causes of gentrification in the Bay Area, a project inspired by outrageous rents and limited housing choices. As part of YIMBY Action, he contributes to all things related to fundraising, with a specialty in institutional fundraising. Prior to YIMBY Action, Sebastien worked as a grants coordinator for a nonprofit dedicated to the cultural preservation of the Oglala Lakota Sioux, and as an assistant researcher for O@BSE, an online education lab affiliated with UC Berkeley. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from UC Berkeley.

Daira Fernández became passionate about housing justice in her childhood. Her background in nonprofit strategy, event coordination, and international programming informs her work at YIMBY Action, where she brings sharp logistics knowledge, deep empathy, and a commitment to mission-aligned storytelling. She has worked with organizations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, ESD Global, and Matriculate. She holds a degree in economics. Daira also brings experience in student organizing, having led campus efforts that connected working-class students with policymakers and economic experts through public forums and events. Her work has consistently focused on creating spaces where young people and decision-makers can engage meaningfully across socioeconomic divides.

After spending countless hours watching their neighbors stand up in public meetings to oppose new homes, Joh helped to co-found RVA YIMBY in 2023. Prior to joining YIMBY Action, Joh worked as a lobbyist at the Richmond Association of REALTORS® (RAR) for over a decade, ultimately becoming the organization’s chief lobbyist in 2022. During Joh’s time at RAR, they developed an expertise in housing policy, land use, and legislative advocacy. They graduated from the University of Richmond in 2012 and are currently pursuing a Masters of Urban & Regional Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Pranay first got involved in the pro-housing movement while living in Chicago, and believes that our cities can and should be available to people from all walks of life. As a Chapter Lead for Abundant Housing Illinois, Pranay projects a housing-and-climate-first message across Chicago and stays at the forefront of removing barriers to housing abundance and sustainable urban living. Pranay takes a data-backed approach to decision-making and is always looking for ways to optimize processes that further the movement. Pranay has degrees in Marketing and Business Analytics from Indiana University.

Courtney has worked in the housing and real estate development space for five years. Before joining YIMBY Action, Courtney led the growth team at coUrbanize, a community engagement platform that empowers more people to have a say in what gets built in their neighborhood. She is also a frequent contributor writer, covering real estate development, green buildings, and of course, housing solutions. She is growing our membership of developers, architects, land use attorneys, and other key stakeholders in the building industry.

Jaclynn brings a diverse background to her position at YIMBY Action. In her role as an Operations Manager, she draws on her extensive experience in teacher leadership and operations across various sectors including construction, logistics, and non-profits. In her capacity at YIMBY, she focuses on operations and project management to create a healthy and efficient organization that can better serve the pro-housing movement. She has a Bachelor of Science. from Wittenberg University and a Masters of Education Degree in Policy and Administration from Loyola Marymount University.

Andrew Gothard is a former labor organizer, union leader, and higher education faculty member who joined the pro-housing movement after experiencing unsustainable housing costs in South Florida. He earned his Ph.D. in English in 2017 from the University of Miami and taught for six years at Florida Atlantic University. During that time, he also served as an organizer and elected union official with the United Faculty of Florida, the Florida Education Association, and the Florida AFL-CIO. Andrew comes to YIMBY Action with substantial experience in grassroots organizing, political advocacy, legislative campaigns, state and federal court litigation, and press relations.

Connor became involved in advocacy as a teenage student with a disability. He required additional help and resources to thrive and this imbued in him a sense of service. After studying political science in college, Connor set his sights on electoral politics in 2018. Over several years, he worked at the local, state, and national level for campaigns and democracy-focused organizations. Connor became the youngest member ever elected onto one of his hometown’s political committees and joined the activists who helped pass a criminal justice reform act in 2020. Connor joined the pro-housing movement and YIMBY Action in order to make a difference in Denver, the city that he has fallen in love with. Everyone needs a home, so Connor is motivated to ensure Denver can accommodate all current and future residents! Connor received his Bachelor’s of Arts in Political Science and Government from Hartwick College.

Amy has over a decade of experience in fundraising, event planning, and marketing for nonprofit organizations. She has led development strategies for organizations focused on the livability of our cities including working on local food accessibility, small business development, and urban forestry. Most recently, she served as the Director of Development at Transportation Alternatives in New York City, advocating for better walking, biking, and public transit options for all. She holds a Bachelors in Communications from Edgewood College in Madison, WI, a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Indiana University, and an MBA from Northeastern University in Boston, MA.

Leora Tanjuatco Ross has been organizing for housing since 2015. Before YIMBY Action, she worked at the Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo, where she focused on organizing people in support of affordable housing. Leora has also served as the president of the Peninsula Democratic Coalition, the oldest and largest Democratic club in Silicon Valley. When she’s near surface-level parking lots, she’ll point out that they could be homes to anyone within hearing distance. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Media Studies from the University of Virginia.

Nikki Yang joined the YIMBY Action Marketing and Communications team in 2022. Previously, she worked in the sustainability sector in California advocating for environmentalism on college campuses as a Zero Waste Coordinator at UC Davis Sustainability. Nikki also worked at affordable housing non-profit Community Land Trust Bruxelles in Brussels, Belgium. As the Marketing Design Coordinator for YIMBY Action, Nikki supports graphic design and marketing work that increases awareness of our movement and attracts new members. Nikki earned her Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Environmental Design from the University of California, Davis. She is currently pursuing her Master of Landscape Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley.

Mariah started working in advocacy in 2017 at a nonprofit geared toward youth social justice initiatives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Later, she supported digital marketing efforts for a White House Initiative and worked on projects for agencies such as USAID, the State Department, and several U.S. Embassies overseas. In 2022, Mariah joined YIMBY Action’s Marketing and Communications Department. Mariah leverages social media and email marketing to spread awareness about the pro-housing movement and help grow our people power! Mariah earned her Bachelor of Arts from American University in Public Relations and Strategic Communication.

Julia Teitelbaum has worked in design and technology for more than ten years. Julia designed digital products for companies including General Electric and Cisco. After volunteering with YIMBY Action for a few years, she joined staff in 2020, working to advance the YIMBY movement through her technology and digital design skills. Her work includes brand stewardship, service design, website management, data management, and automation. She holds a degree from Carnegie Mellon University in Information Systems & Human-Computer Interaction, with a minor in Communication Design.

Laura Foote became a housing activist in 2014, when she became one of the key founders of the YIMBY movement. As a Founder and the Executive Director of YIMBY Action, Laura has grown the organization into a thriving grassroots political organization with tens of thousands of activists. As of 2022, YIMBY Action has nearly 40 chapters in cities across the country. Laura is widely recognized as an authority on effective housing activism in the US. Her work building the YIMBY movement has been covered in Forbes, The San Francisco Chronicle, The New York Times, the book Golden Gates, and more.