Mariah Williams has spent nearly a decade working at the intersection of business and social impact, leading community investment initiatives across both the private and nonprofit sectors. As Strategic Housing Manager at Virginia Housing, she leads a team supporting Virginia Housing’s delivery network through affordable and middle housing development, project planning, capacity building, and equitable community investment initiatives.
Previously, Mariah worked as a strategy consultant, helping nonprofits design inclusive engagement strategies, and has taught as an adjunct professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Richmond. Her thought leadership on Black joy and community has been featured in Next City, For Harriet, and the Third Wave Urbanism Podcast.
In 2022, she received the YWCA Rising Outstanding Woman Award, and in 2024, she was awarded a Fulbright to conduct community development research in Trinidad and Tobago.
Outside of work, Mariah finds balance through travel, art, food, writing, time with friends, and being near the ocean—often grounding herself, quite literally, by putting her feet in the grass. Her colleagues describe her as a focused, compassionate presence who fosters a sense of value and belonging on her team, and approaches her work with vision and purpose.
In our conversation, Mariah reflected on what inspires her work, how she stays grounded in the face of challenges, and what it means to come full circle through her experience with HLI.
Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in affordable housing?
There wasn’t a single moment that inspired me to pursue this work. My decision grew from my own experiences growing up in Harlem in publicly subsidized housing and recognizing early on the importance of having both a place and a community to call home.
Q: What are your main responsibilities in your current role?
As Strategic Housing Manager at Virginia Housing, I manage a team that partners with our delivery network—nonprofits, local governments, public housing authorities, and developers—to support their affordable housing development and community revitalization efforts.
We help partners navigate our organization’s many resources and connect them to other agencies, partners, and educational opportunities.
Q: Can you share a memorable success story or project you’ve been involved with?
One of the projects I’m most proud of is helping to launch the Housing Leadership Institute itself. When I first joined Virginia Housing, one of my first responsibilities was to help guide strategic investments that addressed structural and institutional inequities in community development—and HLI was one of those initiatives. Seeing the program come to fruition with its first cohort in 2024, and now having the opportunity to participate in it, has truly been a full-circle moment.
Q: How have you seen the affordable housing landscape change in recent years?
In recent years, I’ve seen housing justice—and by extension, land justice—become more central in conversations about affordable housing and development. This shift has encouraged practitioners to approach their work more thoughtfully and intentionally, developing restorative and reparative models that address historical harm and hold space for reimagining what’s possible for dispossessed land and the communities connected to it.
Q: What keeps you motivated and passionate in the face of challenges?
My grandparents are my biggest inspiration. With only sixth- and eighth-grade educations, they raised seven children on land they bought themselves, in a house my grandfather built in the 1960s. I spent summers on that land—picking berries, burying relatives, and creating memories that still ground me today. Remembering all they endured and accomplished motivates me to keep going, no matter how challenging the work becomes.
Q: How would you sum up your experience with HLI in one sentence?
I am beyond grateful to have connected with such wonderful humans—relationships I know will last long after the program ends.
About the Housing Leadership Institute
The Housing Leadership Institute (HLI) is a 10-month intensive and targeted program created and implemented by the Virginia Housing Alliance. The Alliance and its partners designed the program to leverage training, coaching, and peer support. Each year, we help 15 mid-career housing professionals foster and grow leadership skills. Through the program, participants create a career development plan to catalyze their leadership trajectory.
The program consists of 7 virtual sessions, 3 in-person retreats across the Commonwealth, 5 one-on-one coaching sessions, readings and reflections to supplement each session, and additional networking and professional development opportunities.
Learn more about HLI or contact Arley Bell at abell@vahousingalliance.org.