Mission, Board, & Staff

Mission:

The Kansas City Community Land Trust acquires and develops real estate to provide safe, decent, and affordable housing to low and moderate-income individuals, while working to ensure a culturally, ethnically, and economically diverse and stable community where generations can thrive in place.

Goals:

  • Stabilize low income communities

  • Create quality, well-maintained homes

  • Ensure access to quality homes by low and moderate income homebuyers sale after sale

  • Build generational wealth for moderate and low income populations

  • Ensure moderate and low-income residents are not displaced as home prices rapidly increase

Erin Royals,
President

Erin is a Geography PhD Candidate at Rutgers University. Prior to her doctoral studies, Erin earned a master’s degree in Urban Planning with a concentration in housing and community development from the University of Michigan. Erin focuses on how the racialization of land use continues the deep legacy of Kansas City’s racial contestations.

Turner Pettway,
Vice President

Turner Pettway is Executive Director for Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc., a Kansas City Community Development Corporation focused on affordable housing. Turner has experience in home-ownership training and lending, working with HOME and other HUD funds, first time home buyer requirements, construction and rehabilitation of deed restricted homes. Turner is a long-term resident of Marlborough.

Racquel Adams,
Secretary

Racquel is a decades-long resident of the Marlborough Neighborhood, specifically in the 5th District. Racquel is a life-long KC’er who has served the community in various paid and volunteer positions. Her experience on the Finance as well as the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee for the City Council have given her insight into many local government functions, and her support of University Academy makes education one of her passions. She also serves as a Board member for the Missouri Valley Association of USATF. Her engagement interest is in supporting improvement/development that happens with the community versus to the community. “We can build better together.”

Rigoberto Jurado,
Treasurer

Rigoberto is a Mortgage and Commercial originator, specializing in lending to low-moderate homebuyers. Rigoberto is well-acquainted with the lending and borrowing needs of low-moderate income neighborhoods and is experienced in determining the type and amount of income, savings, work history and credit requirements necessary to become a successful homeowner.

Alexa Green

Alexa is a KCCLT homeowner. She purchased her first home through the program, and currently lives there with her wife and two kids. Shortly after, she joined the board to help support the KCCLT mission. Alexa is passionate about affordable housing and believes everyone deserves a safe, reliable home!

Mikah Thompson

Mikah Thompson is an associate dean and professor at the UMKC School of Law. Her research centers on systemic racism and the law. Mikah was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas. She is passionate about KCCLT's mission of providing safe and affordable housing for the Kansas City community, and she believes that home ownership is the key to closing the racial wealth gap.

Conner Swanton

Conner Swanton is the Legislative Director to the City Council for Kansas City, Missouri. He previously worked as a staff attorney for Legal Aid of Western Missouri. He earned his JD and masters in political science at the University of Kansas. Conner is passionate about increasing the stability and security that affordable housing provides.


Meet KCCLT Board & Staff

Patricia Carter, Executive Administrative Assistant

Patricia grew up living in three different continents and across the country before settling in Pendleton Heights in the historic northeast. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for the last 5 years, supporting the immigrant and refugee youth community and now KCCLT. 

Patricia studied social work in undergrad and criminal justice during her master's program with a research emphasis on human trafficking and related policy. She has a passion for human rights and knows that affordable housing is a big part of that, especially for residents living in Kansas City's east side and historically redlined areas.