Brenda Clement, Executive Director
bclement@housingnetworkri.org
(401) 521-1461 ext.15
Ms. Clement has served as the Executive Director of the Housing Action Coalition of RI since July 2007. The mission of the Housing Action coalition, comprised of over 70 member organizations and individuals, is to promote, preserve and increase affordable housing opportunities in Rhode Island.
Previously, Ms. Clement served as the Executive Director of the Housing Network of Rhode Island from June 1994 to June 2007. The Network is the state association of over 20 nonprofit community development corporations in Rhode Island. She began her work in housing and community development as a volunteer co-founding Sayles Avenue Holding Company, a faith-based development corporation in Pawtucket in 1988. She currently serves as Secretary. She also co-founded Pawtucket Citizens Development Corporation and served as Board President for four years prior to starting at the Network. She also serves on the board of the New England Housing Ministries.
In her role as Executive Director, Ms. Clement represents coalition members on numerous Boards, Commissions and Advisory Councils including the State Housing Resources Commission, Grow Smart-RI, the Fund for Community Progress, Sovereign Bank Community Advisory Board, Mayor Cicilline’s Providence Housing Council. Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Awards committee, Roger Williams Law School Pro bono Collaborative, and Attorney General Lynch’s Lead Task Force
She also represents the coalition on the New England Housing Network and was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the National Low-Income Housing Coalition in Washington, DC.
A graduate of the Washington College of Law at American University (JD, 1987) and Providence College (BA 1984), Ms. Clement also volunteers and serves on the Boards of several non-profits and faith-based institutions including the YWCA of Greater RI, the Preservation Society of Pawtucket, the FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter Board and the American Baptist Churches of RI. She is active in her local church where she serves as a Sunday School teacher and Youth Group leader.
Ms Clement has also participated in Leadership RI (Rho Class-1997) and was a RI Foundation Fellow in 2002. In July 2005, she was awarded a Fannie Mae Fellowship to attend the Senior Executives in Local and State Government Program at the Kennedy School at Harvard University.
Donna “DeeDee” Williams, Director of Outreach and Engagement
dwilliams@housingnetworkri.org
(401) 521-1461 ext. 168
DeeDee Williams has more than twenty-five years experience working in the field of HIV/AIDS; her other work experience includes more than seven years with high risk women and children affected by substance abuse, early childcare development, program implementation, women’s issues and community activism. She has more than fifteen years of management level experience and her dedication to direct services has earned her a notable reputation in the community. She is devoted to her community and works tirelessly for women’s issues. As a Licensed Minister she reaches out to the homeless population and those who are underserved. DeeDee was awarded the John Hope Settlement House Outstanding Women’s Award for community service in March 2007. She has held the position of co-chair for the Community Planning Group for HIV Prevention for 4 years and has been selected as a Commissioner for the Human Relations Commission of Providence RI.
