Panayoti spent his summer interning at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) in their local Boston office. LISC is a non-profit community development financial institution (CDFI) that is a leader in affordable housing lending and community improvement. At LISC, Panayoti worked primarily under the Lending & Investment Program Officer, contributing to underwriting and monitoring loans for affordable housing developers and preservers, aiming to secure more favorable interest rates. One major project involved creating a quarterly impact report for Harvard University's Local Housing Collaborative, summarizing $21M in low-cost debt loans for affordable housing projects in Boston neighborhoods.

Additionally, Panayoti supported LISC's Small Business Strong initiative by organizing an Immigrant Small Business Resource Fair and drafting press releases for their Massachusetts Small Business Growth Fund grants. The efforts of LISC nationwide touch millions as they tackle the issues that have the greatest impact on community, family, and individual stability, and to have played a small part in that for just 10 weeks has given Panayoti a whole new perspective on investing in real estate. When you are investing in real estate, you are not just investing in a building; rather, you are investing in a community as a whole. Panayoti hopes to use this newfound knowledge of affordable housing investment to pursue a career in Commercial Real Estate.

Sami’s main project at HCA was forming a database of potential properties in Arlington for HCA to acquire. Sami used research skills accessing inspectional services and assessors information though the Town of Arlington, even going in person to numerous properties to ensure an accurate portfolio. He has performed outreach to these potential property owners to establish relationships with HCA, planting seeds for the developer’s future in Arlington's fast-changing multi-family housing environment.

Along with this, Sami has engaged in Fundraising, sending letters and making phone calls to HCA donors in preparation for their $40,000 matching challenge with Cambridge Savings Bank. Sami has involved himself with the community. Sami participated in crucial zoning hearings for HCA’s new housing development at 10 Sunnyside Ave, fervent Town meetings regarding the implementation of the MBTA Communities law, as well as HCA’s Annual Summer Bash for tenants and community in July.

Sami hopes to further pursue a career in RE Development with a particular interest in Housing and Retail space and their intersection.

This summer at Massachusetts Housing Partnership, I participated in a rotational program between the Community Assistance, Home Ownership, and Lending Teams. Each rotation came with a new perspective of the Real Estate Industry and of the current state of Affordable Housing in Massachusetts. Whether it is through MHP’s specifically designed mortgage programs, their competitive borrowing rates, or their extensive social network, I had first-hand exposure to endless resources that work in unison to make Affordable Housing possible.

My summer-long research project relied heavily on my experience at MHP to form my critical debate on the future of housing in Boston. I am fascinated by the many opportunities and current projects surrounding Mayor Wu’s plan to increase urban residency, such as record size developments, plans for new and improved infrastructure, and groundbreaking creativity in office-residential transformations. 

My holistic summer experience through the Corcoran Center provided me with a unique introduction to the Real Estate world. In continuing with my BC concentration of Finance and Data Analytics, my goal moving forward is to attain a full-time analyst position where I can continue my work underwriting deals and creating models, and learn more about investing in commercial portfolios.

Molly interned at the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA). She worked with the development review team to advance the agency's mission of fostering a prosperous and resilient city. Working within the development review team on Article 80 projects, she ensured that large-scale developments aligned with Boston's objectives and contributed positively to the community. She collaborated with project managers, evaluating the physical and social impact, design, density, and financial feasibility of development projects in the city.

Molly also worked alongside the finance team, assisting in the review of pro formas for office-to-residential conversion sites. This initiative aimed to support the mayor's housing goals, helping to address the city's need for more housing options. 

She also worked with the data management team, auditing biosafety level records for numerous life sciences and biotech spaces using tools like Excel and Airtable. Additionally, she played a role in streamlining communication between real estate developers and the city by facilitating the transition to a new developer portal using Salesforce.

Throughout her internship, Molly honed her skills in pro forma analysis, Excel, Salesforce, and Airtable. Equally important, she recognized the significance of collaboration between developers and city officials in creating successful projects that ultimately benefited all stakeholders in the city of Boston.

Nicholas interned at the Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation (ABCDC). ABCDC is a community development corporation that focuses on increasing the supply of safe, decent, and affordable housing. The CDC is in the middle of several projects, namely the redevelopment of Quint Avenue, Hano Homes, and Carol Avenue; along with others. During his time at ABCDC, Nicholas was able to research different funding programs and opportunities from banks, private investors, and government agencies. Through extensive research of these programs, Nick was able to understand the innovative ways that affordable housing developers must source funds to complete these projects. 

Aside from researching funding opportunities, Nicholas analyzed budgets for impending construction projects and tried to close funding gaps, either by cutting costs or adding funding. Nick’s projects for the summer included creating a pipeline tracker for 75+ Boston development projects that allowed the firm to make informed decisions on future development strategies. Towards the end of the year Nick assisted the development team by providing audited and updated financial statements for each of the portfolio properties.

This summer, Gabe became immersed in the Affordable housing realm with direct exposure to deal operations and considerations. Gabe created a fully functional, interactive property map using GIS mapping software like Felt and Google My Maps for CSNDC to display on their website or use for internal demonstration. 

Gabe became passionate alongside CSNDC’s mission that every person deserves the right to affordable and secure housing and Gabe will continue to pursue careers in Real Estate and Urban Action with an emphasis on providing care through housing for those less fortunate.

Weiland interned at the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) as a Development Review Intern. Located in City Hall, the BPDA’s focus is to plan for Boston’s future in the physical and built realm. The development review team is responsible for making sure all projects are considered properly in all aspects, including their design, effect on the local and broader community, and financials before being presented at the monthly board meeting for approval. As an intern, Weiland’s role was to facilitate these projects in preparation for the board meeting by working with project managers in the development review team. 

Weiland was able to dive deep into office to residential conversions as newly incentivized by the Mayor’s tax abatement program; by being a part of meetings with developers, the Mayor's Office of Housing, within the BPDA, and by reviewing pro formas of potential conversions. Weiland also had the opportunity to become an integral part of a laboratory data project with the Boston Public Health Commission and the BPDA. During this process, Weiland was able to become well-versed in Salesforce, Excel, and Airtable. Looking forward, Weiland is interested in a future in real estate development, financing, or portfolio management.

Carrie Kandall interned at the Sasaki Foundation, an organization that fosters equity and inclusion in design through research and programming. She had the opportunity to deeply engage with the organization’s youth education program (SEED) and design grants program. SEED was created to increase accessibility to careers in design for high school students, and Carrie interviewed past interns and teaching assistants to discover how the program impacted them. The Design Grants program funds community projects that tackle inequity in design, and Carrie met with past grantees to discuss the impact and status of their initiatives.

Carrie analyzed the data she collected through qualitative coding strategies to detect trends. She used her findings to create reports and data-driven recommendations for how both programs could further their missions in promoting equity in design. In addition, Carrie explored the public-private partnership between Sasaki and the Sasaki Foundation. Through this, she developed strategies to improve engagement among Sasaki employees. Her research will be used, internally and externally, to ensure that the Sasaki Foundation can grow these equity- centered programs. Overall, Carrie is grateful for the opportunity to learn more about these community-driven initiatives and will use these skills as she strives to promote equity through business.

During this transformative summer, I was instrumental in orchestrating a diverse community-driven effort through the formation of a 21-person N.I.T.E. Committee. Comprising stakeholders, citizens, and city employees, this committee served as a critical platform for open dialogue and collaboration. My role didn't merely stop at organizing; it extended into the heart of the community where I actively engaged with its members, understanding their needs, and bringing their voices to the decision-making table. This grassroots approach was vital in starting a brand-new office that truly resonates with the community's needs and aspirations.

In addition to this, I undertook the task of creating a list of all events from the past year, providing valuable insights into community trends and dynamics. These efforts were not merely administrative but symbolized the crucial bridge between organizational planning and community welfare.

My summer's work has fortified my belief in the essential role of community engagement in fostering organizational success. In the future, I aspire to continue this path, focusing on initiatives that strengthen community bonds and contribute positively to the lives of those I serve.

Christian interned for Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation (SWBCDC), a non-profit organization that works at the intersection between affordable housing and natural conservation. As one of the youngest CDCs in the greater Boston area, SWBCDC wanted to start their commercial real estate portfolio but never had the time to. So, Christian took this opportunity to propose developing a commercial mixed-use building located in Hyde Park. For the proposed development, he focused on producing affordable housing, supporting local entrepreneurial business owners, and creating a positive impact for the community, which all fall in line with the organization’s values. 

He interviewed countless commercial developers, conducted community surveys, and commissioned architects for his development. This all accumulated in a final presentation he gave to his supervisors and executive director. Mixed-use developments are becoming more popular in the country and especially in Boston, as they’re spatially efficient for a city that has limited open real estate. After his 10 weeks, Christian became more intrigued with real estate, especially on the developer/contractor side. He hopes to pursue this interest in the future, where one day he can create new developments that not only focus on profits, but instead on the social value it has on the community.

As I near the conclusion of my summer internship with Forward Housing, I am thrilled to reflect on the impactful journey I've had. Over the past few months, I've been fortunate to collaborate closely with the dedicated team at Forward Housing, the development arm of R4 Capital, a LIHTC syndicator. As a direct support to the Vice President, I've been deeply involved in the underwriting process, gaining valuable insights into deal analysis and financial structuring. My role extended to vital responsibilities such as streamlining tax credit applications for allocation to various properties and meticulously managing pre-development expenses.

However, what truly excites me is the work we've done in enhancing sustainability and resident well-being. I spearheaded a project to introduce electric vehicle infrastructure within our affordable housing complexes. Through thorough research, strategic planning, and engaging presentations, I advocated for a greener future while simultaneously offering convenient amenities for our residents.

As my internship comes to a close, I am more certain than ever of my passion for housing development and investment. My experience with Forward Housing has solidified my commitment to a career that combines my enthusiasm for real estate with my desire to create lasting social impact. I am dedicated to not only continuing my engagement with affordable housing development but also expanding my horizons to the broader multi-family real estate landscape.

Looking ahead, I am excited to build on the skills I've acquired and contribute to creating sustainable, inclusive, and vibrant communities. The guidance and mentorship I've received from the Forward Housing team, especially the Vice President, have been invaluable in shaping my professional trajectory.

My summer with Forward Housing has given me the knowledge, drive, and determination to succeed in the dynamic world of housing development and investment. I am eager to continue learning, growing, and leveraging these experiences as I embark on a fulfilling career journey ahead.

Norah helped allocate 9 million in funding for The Supporting Pandemic Affected Community Enterprises (SPACE) Grant Program. The 24 grantees were awarded a total of $2,830,000 for rent, build-out, and start-up costs for their business to fill vacancies in order to revitalize downtown Boston.. She collaborated with city officials and learned about the interplay between government and real estate, organizing databases of over 200 applicants and creating a second round grant application set to release in the fall of 2023. Norah also reviewed lease applications for the grant recipients and compiled a detailed list of commercial vacancies in Boston. She drafted the press release for the SPACE Grant on the City of Boston website and created an updated map of where these businesses are located. 

She also created a detailed slide deck of all 24 awardees to be presented to commercial banks and attract potential sources of funding. In addition to her efforts on the SPACE Grant, Norah researched tax reliefs for businesses in Boston, created a 5 year projection proposal for digital platforms, and drafted a plan to implement the first start-up assistance program to be provided by the City. She expanded her outreach to Global Affairs and supported their efforts to attract international businesses to Boston. Norah plans to expand upon her summer experience by pursuing real estate development, specifically in affordable and multifamily housing.

This summer I experiences the hustle of an architectural design firm in downtown Boston. I worked alongside Urban Planners and Architects to design multi-unit housing models that maintain the curb appeal of a single family, classic Vermont home. I also assisted with marketing for the City of Lowell’s comprehensive plan. 

This placement challenged me to consider different types of housing and how the solution to building more units looks different around the U.S. I also pushed my technical abilities and developed knowledge for new design software applications, as well as my interpersonal skills through virtual communication.

Sophia interned at Codman Square Community Development Corporation (CSNDC). CSNDC is focused on fostering community engagement and creating economic opportunity for low to moderate-income residents by developing housing and commercial spaces. Sophia worked closely with their Asset Manager where she explored the legal and financial sides of affordable housing focusing on both residential and commercial real estate. In her time at CSNDC, Sophia rehabilitated their Property Master Database which compiled financial data, property information, utilities, and energy statistics. She was able to enhance and utilize her strong Excel skills while organizing and revamping many of the files that she used to produce a statement of Real Estate Owned (REO) for the Fiscal Year and prepare a Request for Proposal (RFP). 

She also worked tediously on NeighborWorks which compares year-to-date performance indicators with internal year-end financial data (Debt Service Ratio, Cash Flow, Vacancy Loss, Average Days Vacant, and Collections Rates). This work led her to brainstorm new financial modeling techniques for multifamily properties and begin the implementation of a new financial platform for CSNDC’s management. Furthermore, the wide variety of tasks broadened Sophia’s knowledge of asset and finance management for which she will be forever grateful as she embarks on her future corporate pursuits.

Bella had the opportunity to intern at Rebuilding Together Boston, a non-profit with the mission of “repairing homes, revitalizing communities and rebuilding lives”. There, she was responsible for grant research, inputting and organizing data into Excel and Salesforce, social media management, newsletter production, project management, website editing, and other tasks as assigned. 

Bella also had the privilege of participating in rebuilding projects with Rebuilding Together Boston, where she got to see the mission in practice while getting to know the volunteers, community center directors, homeowners, and community members. As Bella looks forward to her senior year, she is grateful to apply her newly acquired skills as she enters the workforce in a career in the real estate industry.

Arun interned at the Mayor’s Office of Housing within the iLab, a group that focuses on innovative housing models with the goal of accelerating the pace of innovation within the housing sector. During his time at MOH, Arun worked on two projects.

The first project was focused on investigating offsite development processes as it applied to the City of Boston. The project was understood as two parts: potential benefits and potential hinderances to implementation. Research into the benefits centered on offsite’s ability to cut back on time and its ability to cut back on cost. Research into implementation focused on establishing a manufacturing center within the City as well as permit streamlining for offsite processes.

The second project focused on city funded housing analysis. The project looked to understand how to best model housing transactions in order to understand financial requirements in the city when it comes to buying residential properties. Arun aggregated information from different older financial documents as well as collaborated with the acquisitions department of MOH and Home Center to create a financial model that breaks down home buying transactions as well as an algorithm that calculates the highest home price affordable for a buyer. Arun also organized housing price data within Boston. Ultimately, the models and findings were presented to directors in the Home Center which then got the go-ahead to present to the Chief of MOH, Sheila Dillon.

Thomas interned at the Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion to research implementation strategies for the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), a pending bill that could allow thousands of low and moderate-income Boston families to build generational wealth through cooperative homeownership. He was tasked to find solutions to the bill’s biggest drawbacks—namely, how it requires tenants to pool their finances and build credit over a very short period before buying out their developments. Thomas’ research began with a thorough analysis of relevant behavioral finance literature, but he soon connected with relevant subject experts in the fields of homeownership assistance, special loan financing, financial coaching, and tenant organizing. 

By the end, his final report—a guidebook on how tenants can assemble to facilitate a home acquisition through TOPA—was the culmination of dozens of interviews and investigations into Boston’s programming across the community development realm. He found that TOPA can be successful if existing first-generation homeownership program benefits are extended to cooperative buyouts, and he simulated a TOPA purchase that could provide over $20 million in wealth creation for a typical apartment complex in Roxbury.

This summer, Justine gained much exposure to the real estate industry from the affordable housing perspective, having begun the internship with relatively little knowledge. During her time as a development intern at POAH, a non-profit affordable housing developer, Justine conducted outreach to a variety of business partners and vendors involved in the standard development process. By sending out Requests for Qualifications to 300+ firms, she helped increase efficiency by streamlining POAH’s overall acquisitions and development processes. She also assisted multiple project managers and asset management colleagues with their other work, including underwriting, requisition budgets, funding applications, legal closing binders, and other due diligence tasks.

Justine’s time at POAH this summer has helped her refine her career interests. With interests in both politics and finance, affordable housing sits at the intersection of these fields, therefore providing her with valuable experience in both. As a hopeful future lawyer and policymaker currently exploring different disciplines within the law, Justine has become more interested in pursuing a career in real estate and/or property law. She also hopes to someday create policy reform to simplify the overly complicated affordable housing capital stack process.

This summer, I worked at Newmarket BID. I was able to forge connections with business owners in the area as well as hone my collaboration skills. I am most proud of my work on our office’s plan to combat the opioid addiction crisis in Boston. I was instrumental in the research, design, and planning processes for this project and once finalized it will transform hundreds of lives and serve as a model for other cities to fight opioid addiction. 

I was also able to participate in our office’s work with the Boston Planning and Development Agency on PLAN: Newmarket. This plan outlines the future of the neighborhood and prioritizes opportunity for growth and community development while maintaining the identity of the industrial area. Looking forward, I plan to earn my legal degree to use towards helping Boston’s community leaders as they strive to change the city for the better. I will never forget my experience working with people on Mass and Cass this summer and hope to continue work to combat the opioid epidemic.

Jared interned at WinnCompanies, the largest operator of affordable housing in the United States and a leader in developing and managing mixed-income, market rate, and military housing. During his time at Winn, Jared worked on the Connected Communities team, which works with resident leaders, community organizations, and service providers to support WinnResidential and WinnDevelopment in driving positive outcomes for 65,000 households living in affordable and mixed-income housing in 17 states and the District of Columbia. Jared’s focus was on impact communication, which entailed various marketing projects that demonstrated the impressive extent to which the department has promoted community engagement, education, employment, economic mobility, and health among residents. Another responsibility of Jared’s was community coordinator support, which he achieved through using a property management and outcome-tracking software to produce outcome reports for dozens of properties across the country.

Jared found great value in the connections he made during his internship, particularly in the discussions he had with both the corporate team and community coordinators. Throughout his time at Winn, Jared acquired new technical and interpersonal skills and gained a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted nature of the real estate industry. Overall, Jared was able to gain experience in the real estate field while making a meaningful impact, which will serve him well as he looks forward to a career in this area.

This summer, Emma worked as an intern at Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition, specifically with the Food Access Team, to organize the annual Mattapan Farmers Market. Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition (MFFC) is an organization dedicated to the promotion of healthy living in the community of Mattapan. Part of this initiative is the Mattapan Farmers Market, which partners with the City of Boston’s Farmers Market Coupon Program and local farmers to provide local and affordable produce to the neighborhood each summer. In this role, she has worked with Boston’s Coupon Program, promoted activities, communicated with vendors and customers as well as physically helped run the Farmers Market each Saturday. 

This summer has given her experience in event planning, communication, collaboration, community development, and taught her about food insecurity in Boston. Emma is extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with such a special team this summer and cannot emphasize how much she learned at MFFC. The skills she has acquired and honed this summer have been extremely enriching and she looks forward to applying them to furthering her career. Emma is interested in sustainable development and believes that this summer combined with her coursework has provided a strong foundation for a future in the sustainability sector.

Working at the Mayor's Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion within the small business division, Nick was able to help assist small businesses navigate the world of business throughout greater Boston. Nick was exposed to the inner workings of operating a small business in Boston and the many challenges of being a business owner. He worked closely with Neighborhood Business Managers to help assess enterprises on where they could improve or use technical assistance. During his time, he did much work with the US census to map and track different demographics of the 20 Main Streets programs around Boston and create Micro-business and Technical Assistance surveys and assessment forms. During his time, these demographics and assessment documents required close use of Salesforce and Excel.

Nick heavily assisted Business Managers to help assess and survey around 12 micro businesses. Throughout his time at the Small Business Division, Nick worked mainly with the Director of Small Business to help modernize and audit the agency records, focusing on signage development, the legacy business program, the Boston main streets program, technical assistance, and storefront improvements. Nick found great value in the connections he made along the way. He mainly found interest in his discussions and conversations with business owners about their journey inspiration and learning the behind-the-scenes steps to running a business. Nick grew existing skills and gained a strengthened understanding of the sensitive exchange of running a business and navigating the ever-changing modern world trends, designs, and tastes. 

Nick interned at the Innovation Lab within the Mayor’s Office of Housing. He researched the efficiency and affordability of alternative construction methods, focusing on modular construction. In his research, he conducted over 30 interviews with professionals across development, construction, architecture, and affordable housing. Alongside his fellow interns, he drafted a report of his findings and presented it to the Mayor’s Office of Housing. His report included recommendations on siting a 3D volumetric modular manufacturer within the city. In siting the factory, Nick worked as a developer of sorts, analyzing current vacant city owned land for a suitable lot to site a modular factory. 

Additionally, Nick worked on forming partnerships for the application of a HUD grant focused on “Increasing the Supply of Affordable Housing through Off-Site Construction and Pro-Housing”. He met with the CEO of Greater Boston’s Habitat for Humanity who later partnered with modular construction company MODx in application for the grant. Nick is very thankful for the support and guidance of the Corcoran Center throughout his summer and is appreciative of them for affording him the opportunity to develop his future career in real estate and entrepreneurship. Nick hopes to continue to develop his leadership abilities and find his niche in real estate.

Erin worked as a summer intern placed at Metro Housing Boston (MHB). She worked on the SNO (Supporting Neighborhood Opportunities) Mass team within the Leased Housing division. The SNO Mass team works to support and facilitate the moves of very low-income families with school-aged children that hold housing vouchers into EOHLC designated areas of High and Very High opportunity. These areas of High and Very High opportunity are characterized by their strong public school systems and nurturing environments which provide a strong foundation for newcomers to succeed in these areas.

During her time at Metro Housing Boston, Erin worked directly with participating SNO Mass families on all sides of the housing process, as Metro Housing Boston continues to support families years after they are placed in their new areas of residence. 

Furthermore, Erin managed outreach programs through various marketing channels in which she reached over 500 landlords with properties in EOHLC designated areas of opportunity to promote awareness regarding the SNO division of Metro Housing Boston. She also reached out to and created the opportunity to meet with and shadow many members from other divisions at MHB, such as Fair Housing, Financial Assistance, Gateway, and Inspections.

Throughout her work this summer at MHB, Erin was able to learn about the fundamental role the Federal and State governments play in the policy behind housing. She was especially shocked to learn that the wait for a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher in Massachusetts is currently about 10-14 years long. For families with school-aged children, this is far too long a time to have to wait to move. There is still a monumental amount of process and policy-based work left to be done within this field, and Erin hopes to eventually be able to help enact some of this necessary change. 

This summer, Kelly worked closely with The American City Coalition to develop a comprehensive research plan on the importance of connected economies within a municipal setting. The American City Coalition is a place-based organization focused on uplifting and connecting the Roxbury community (a historically under-invested-in area) to the prosperity of Greater Boston. Her research on connected economies sets a foundational policy-based framework for TACC to bring shared spaces and Roxbury businesses into other Boston communities, creating both a physical and economic linkage. 

Kelly also worked alongside Proverb, Boston influencers, and her team to create expansive marketing materials and strategies to expand TACC’s work in reviving Nubian Square (a main street in Roxbury) as well as increasing resident access to the Boston Waterfront. These efforts ultimately brought more awareness to the hidden inequities of Boston’s waterfront as well as the cultural diversity and richness in the Roxbury community. Her experience this summer has allowed her to dive deeper into her interest in the application of research and analysis in a broader landscape, and she hopes to incorporate to combine social impact work with strategy-growth-based work within the business industry in the future.