Meet Our 2025 Cohort

Alexander Miles

Senior Florida Program Director of State and Local Policy at Enterprise Community Partners 

Alexander Miles is the Senior Florida Program Director of State and Local Policy at Enterprise Community Partners, where he leads initiatives to expand access to affordable housing through strategic collaboration with local communities, government officials, and business leaders. A Miami native, Alex focuses on housing solutions in Miami-Dade County and statewide efforts in Tallahassee, contributing to Enterprise’s mission of building sustainable communities. With nearly 15 years of experience in government and nonprofits, he brings expertise in public affairs, crisis communication, and policy strategy. Before joining Enterprise, he served as the Head of Press, Politics & Public Affairs at the British Consulate-General in Miami, fostering US-UK relations and leading emergency response efforts.  

Alex earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a major in International Relations, from Clemson University, where he graduated cum laude. His professional affiliations include memberships in Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. 

Lynda Harris

President of Sunshine State Development of South Fla., Inc.

Lynda V. Harris is the President of Sunshine State Development of South Fla., Inc., where she leads efforts to identify, acquire, and develop multi-family housing projects, with a focus on addressing the "Missing Middle" of developments under 50 units. A seasoned real estate professional and certified grant writer, Lynda is currently developing and renovating multiple affordable housing projects in North Miami. With over 25 years of experience as a landlord and property owner, she is dedicated to expanding housing opportunities throughout South Florida. She serves as Chairwoman of the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and co-hosts Understanding Money, a long-running financial literacy show. Recognized for her leadership, Lynda has received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and numerous accolades for her impact on business and community development.  

She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University and certifications in real estate development and grant writing. 

Shantell Haynes

Integrative Mental Health Psychopathologist, Clinician, and Advocate

Dr. Shantell Haynes, DHSc., R-MFT is an integrative mental health psychopathologist, clinician, and advocate dedicated to holistic wellness and community connectivity. With a focus on trauma-informed care, she utilizes person-centered and holistic modalities to support individuals and families in healing from complex experiences. Dr. Haynes is passionate about exploring how culture, community, and wellness intersect to promote emotional resilience and sustainable change. Through her work, she fosters conscious conversations on health promotion, disease prevention, and personal transformation. Her commitment to holistic approaches empowers individuals to reconnect with themselves and the world around them. 

Christian Kamrath

Resilience Program Manager at Miami-Dade County's Office of Resilience

Christian Kamrath is the Resilience Program Manager for the Adaptation Team at Miami-Dade County’s Office of Resilience, where he leads interdisciplinary efforts on sea level rise, flooding policy, risk assessments, and community-based adaptation planning. He oversees the implementation of the County’s first Sea Level Rise Strategy (2021) and key initiatives, including the Little River and Biscayne Canal Adaptation Action Area planning efforts and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ‘Back Bay’ Coastal Storm Risk Management Study. With over a decade of experience spanning broadcast meteorology, emergency management, and climate adaptation, Christian has worked at local, state, and national levels to strengthen long-term disaster recovery and resilience planning. A Certified Floodplain Manager, he holds a B.S. in Geography from the University of Florida and a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Outside of work, he is a dedicated weather enthusiast, open-water swimmer, and passionate home cook. 

Vanessa Joseph

Immigration Attorney

Vanessa Joseph is an immigration attorney and the Supervising Attorney and Director of Stakeholder Relations and Strategic Communications at Catholic Legal Services, Inc., Archdiocese of Miami (CLS). Dedicated to advocating for low-income and vulnerable populations, she began her career as a detention-center attorney, educating detainees on their rights and later expanding these efforts through community workshops and outreach initiatives. Vanessa leads regional collaborations to provide immigration services to at-risk communities and played a key role in organizing the Miami Opportunity Summit to reshape perceptions of new migrants during the 2022-2023 migration surge. 

Beyond her legal work, Vanessa has a strong background in public relations and marketing, working with Haitian artists, musicians, and businesses to support brand management and cultural initiatives. She has been recognized with honors such as Legacy Magazine South Florida’s 40 Under 40 and 20 Young Professionals Under 40 by the Haitian American Chamber of Commerce. In 2019, she made history as North Miami’s youngest and first Black female Elected City Clerk, enhancing civic engagement through various initiatives.  

The daughter of Haitian immigrants, Vanessa holds a Juris Doctor and a Master in Public Administration from the University of Miami and remains committed to advocacy, cultural appreciation, and community empowerment. 

Anjuli Castaño

Youth Programs Manager at Miami Homes for All

Anjuli Castaño is a housing justice activist and youth organizer dedicated to advocating for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness in Miami-Dade. Her work began in 2020 as a student when she founded a mutual aid organization serving houseless residents in Downtown Miami and Overtown. This grassroots experience continues to shape her approach to systems change and advocacy in her role as Youth Programs Manager at Miami Homes For All. In this position, she has managed federal grants, written policy memos, co-led coalitions, and helped build a strong network of youth leaders advocating for a more equitable Miami-Dade.  

Anjuli is guided by Mariame Kaba’s principle that “hope is a discipline”, believing in the power of solidarity and community-driven justice. 

Daniel Rodriguez

Graduate Student in Real Estate Development

Daniel Rodriguez is a graduate student in the Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) program at the University of Miami, where he focuses on the intersection of real estate and social impact. Passionate about disability advocacy, he is dedicated to expanding affordable and inclusive housing options for special needs populations. With a background in private equity and investment banking, Daniel brings expertise in capital markets, investment strategies, and deal structuring, which he leverages to bridge financial feasibility with social responsibility. He believes that real estate development should generate strong returns while serving underrepresented communities. As he continues his studies, Daniel remains committed to advancing policies and projects that create accessible and affordable housing solutions. 

Raymond Sancristobal

Graduate Student in Real Estatement Development and Urbanism

Raymond Sancristobal is a seasoned professional with nine years of experience in audio-visual engineering and information technology. For the past eight years, he has been a key member of the University of Miami School of Architecture, specializing in designing innovative classroom spaces and integrating technology to enhance learning environments. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Real Estate Development and Urbanism, Raymond is combining his technical expertise with a passion for sustainable development and community impact. His work focuses on creating smart, accessible, and future-ready spaces that bridge technology and urban growth to drive meaningful change. 

George Ruizcalderon

Director of Mergers and Acquisitions at Odevo

George Ruizcalderon is currently the Director of mergers and acquisitions for Odevo - a private equity backed global community management company. Prior to joining Odevo, he built and sold a venture capital backed property management company in the short-term rental sector. Before that, he worked in commercial real estate as both an investor and developer, where he had the opportunity to help acquire or develop over $900 million in real estate and asset managed over $1.5 billion in real estate.

George received an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.Sc. from Cornell University with a minor in real estate. Throughout his professional career, George has been fortunate enough to receive experience across the real estate cycle– occupying roles as the lender, developer, equity investor, commercial asset manager, and property manager. After over a dozen years away, he recently returned to Miami and would like to get acquainted with the local community. 

Jason Belisario

Partner at At Mine Hospitality 

Jason Belisario is a partner at At Mine Hospitality, a Miami Beach-based hotel operator managing 28 hotels across the U.S. He is also the co-founder of Upgrades for Affordability, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing at scale, starting in Miami-Dade County. Jason holds a degree in Computer Science from Florida International University. 

Alexander Pegues

Financial Analyst at Integral Florida

Alexander Pegues is a community development professional with over a decade of experience managing diverse technical teams, including business consultants, military personnel, engineers, and community advocates. As a Financial Analyst at Integral Florida, he oversees operations by developing and analyzing real estate proformas for more than $250 million in mixed-income multifamily assets across various uses and public-private partnerships. A dedicated board member of The Allapattah Collaborative, Alexander supports community asset preservation by advising small-scale developers on securing public and private financing for real estate development.