Press Release
PPL HIRES NEW SENIOR V.P. OF HOUSING STABILITY
Karla Henderson begins in March
CONTACT: Rick Fuentes, rick.fuentes@ppl-inc.org, 612-505-8109
(Minneapolis) –January 22, 2024 – Project for Pride in Living is proud to announce that Karla Henderson will join the PPL team as its new Senior Vice President of Housing Stability. Henderson brings more than 20 years of experience in community development, urban planning, and capital improvement.
“Karla’s dedication to community development and broad leadership skills are a wonderful combination to further augment the executive team at PPL,” said Paul Williams, President and CEO. “We are excited to also have found an executive with dedication to equity and social justice who will lead our next level initiatives in equitable development.”
Henderson will oversee PPL’s Housing Operations, Real Estate Development, and Asset Management departments as well as the implementation and delivery of new and current affordable housing initiatives. She will lead PPL’s multidisciplinary approach to financing and services for new and existing community development projects.
“I have primarily led initiatives that transformed communities and adapted to complex challenges,” Henderson said. “Throughout my career I have been committed to advancing the field of community development and building a better future for all.”
Henderson comes to PPL most recently as the Director of Community Development for the City of Bloomington, Minnesota. She’s also spearheaded community development in the Detroit area as Group Executive for the City of Detroit (under Mayor Dave Bing) and the Director of Capital Investment and Buildings Administration for Wayne County, Michigan. Raised in Detroit, she’s also served on the board of a social capital nonprofit enabling entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and contribute to Detroit’s economic sustainability. She moved to Minnesota in 2021 to be closer to family.
“I’m eager to use this position to address equity-building and reduce disparities that we continue to see in our business areas and neighborhoods that have been forgotten and underserved,” Henderson said.
Henderson has been credited with an innovative and bold approach to community development and led the restructure of Bloomington’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) and Port Authority that resulted in city-wide redevelopment that promotes equitable economic development. She officially begins on March 18th.
###
About Project for Pride in Living
PPL builds the hope, assets, and self-reliance of individuals and families who have lower incomes by providing transformative affordable housing and career readiness services. PPL provides high-quality affordable housing, on-site resident services, and life-changing career readiness programs to over 8,000 people annually throughout the seven-county metro area. https://www.ppl-inc.org/