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Lynn Peterson has spent her life dedicated to community development, a passion that was sparked in her formative years growing up in Hartford, Connecticut. She was active working on urban planning and affordable housing initiatives throughout her career, marked by a deep commitment to creating vibrant, inclusive communities.  

Lynn's interest in community development was born out of her experiences growing up in Hartford in the 1960s and 1970s. She recalls how racial tensions and segregation influenced her young perspective and shaped her desire to make a difference. Attending a diverse Catholic elementary school there that was where she developed her love for the Spanish language and first experienced the benefits of cultural exchange which eventually led to participation in an exchange student program in Costa Rica in high school and returned for a semester there in college. 

Her commitment to the community was further solidified when her mother wrote a letter to the local newspaper advocating for the city to address a vacant lot. "My mother's letter got published in the paper, and then they sent the city out to clean up the lot. My sister and I felt responsible for keeping this clean, and we would organize neighborhood cleanups,” Lynn shared.   

She pursued this passion of community organizing, affordable housing and inclusive neighborhoods by studying human services and urban affairs at Northeastern University.  Then later she attended Tufts University for graduate school, where she focused on urban environmental policy and planning. 

Her career took off when she secured an internship in the planning department of the city of Boston. This opportunity came at an exciting time, as the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative was actively working to revitalize the area. Peterson played a key role in inventorying vacant land and researching ownership for DSNI’s eventual redevelopment. She was also tasked with conducting interviews with merchants and residents to gather their vision for the neighborhood's future.  

After her internship, Peterson spent 23 years with the Women's Institute for Housing and Economic Development, where she played a pivotal role in developing and promoting affordable housing with services attached. She held various positions throughout her tenure, including project manager, assistant director, director of strategic initiatives, and real estate director. Her work helped organizations like homeless service providers, domestic violence organizations, YWCAs, housing authorities, and veterans' groups create affordable housing. She also coordinated education and leadership development programs with several partner agencies for women of low-income, many of whom experienced homelessness. It was rewarding when the participants went on to attend college and work in the community development field. 

Lynn's current role at NeighborWorks America has allowed her to expand her impact at a broader level. "Working for NeighborWorks America has been fun stimulating and rewarding because I get to work with NeighborWorks’ network members in the Northeast regional and across the country, and with partners like MACDC, Mel King Institute (MKI), and CHAPA," she spoke. In her role as Relationship Manager, she enjoys helping to develop the capacity of community development organizations through grants, technical assistance, training, and peer convenings. She is currently offering a peer cohort experience for new affordable housing project managers based at CDCs. 

Lynn has been a part of the MKI's steering committee since 2020. "I've enjoyed the past several years being on the steering committee for Mel King Institute," Lynn shared. 

Looking ahead, Lynn is excited about working with Shirronda Almeida, the MKI Director, to deliver the two-part Introduction to Community Economic Development training on June 4th and June 18th. "I'm really looking forward to it. It's going to be a great opportunity for people to get a broad overview of community development," Lynn said. This comprehensive course will offer a deep dive into the world of community development, exploring its history, key players, core values, goals, challenges, strategies, and emerging innovations.”