This week, on June 11, NHC will celebrate three remarkable individuals at our Annual Housing Visionary Awards Gala. This year’s sold out Gala at The Anthem in Washington, DC will bring together nearly 600 housers from across the country for an evening of celebration, recognition, and networking. We are especially honored to welcome U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner to share insights into HUD’s current efforts to tackle the nation’s most urgent housing challenges, as well as his forward-looking vision for expanding opportunity, improving affordability, and fostering innovation in housing.
The Housing Visionary Award and the Carl A.S. Coan, Sr., Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service are the highest honors in the affordable housing and community development field. This year’s honorees are trailblazers in housing, community development, government, and civil rights—leaders who exemplify what it means to turn vision into action, driving real change through their commitment, collaboration, and lasting impact on communities nationwide.
The 2025 Housing Visionary Award honorees are Renee Lewis Glover, Founder and Managing Member, The Catalyst Group, LLC and former CEO of Atlanta Housing Authority, and Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. The Honorable Mel Martinez, former U.S. Senator and former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), will receive the Carl A.S. Coan, Sr., Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service.
- Renee Lewis Glover is widely recognized as a dynamic and purpose-driven leader who has redefined the conversation around public and subsidized housing, setting a new benchmark for affordable housing and economic development. Her work turning around the Atlanta Housing Authority and implementing the HOPE VI program is a legacy of visionary leadership.
- Marc H. Morial has been a tireless advocate for equity, employment, housing, and voting rights. His visionary leadership moving the National Urban League’s headquarters from New York’s Financial District to the new Urban Empowerment Center in Harlem, which integrates affordable housing with economic opportunity will have a lasting transformational impact on this vitally important and historic community.
- Senator Mel Martinez has exemplified public service through his impactful work on housing issues during his time as a U.S. Senator, HUD Secretary, and Mayor of Orange County, Florida, influencing policies that strengthen and uplift communities. Together, their leadership has created a lasting legacy of stronger, more inclusive neighborhoods. Senator Martinez’s lifetime of public service is a testament to getting things done by working across community, party, and ideological lines that too often divide us.
The Gala kicks off at 5:30 pm with a networking reception, leading into dinner and the much-anticipated awards ceremony. The evening culminates with a Dessert Reception, offering another chance to network with fellow housers. While this year’s gala is sold out, you can still get on the waiting list for any last minute openings. Please visit our website at nhc.org/event/gala and take a moment to explore photos and videos from last year’s event.
We also extend our sincere gratitude to our generous Gala sponsors—this event would not be possible without their support. We proudly recognize our Host Sponsor, JPMorgan Chase; Presenting Sponsors, Bank of America, Rocket Mortgage, and Wells Fargo; and Leader Sponsor, the Council of Federal Home Loan Banks. Special thanks also goes to our Advocate Sponsors, Capital Funding Group and CFG Bank, along with the National Association of Realtors®. We are equally grateful to our Champion Sponsors: ALTA, IEM, and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. Their commitment to our mission makes this celebration of housing leadership and progress truly exceptional.
I hope you will join us in honoring these truly visionary housing leaders on June 11 at The Anthem.