Meet The Team
Marisa Calderon
Marisa Calderon is an experienced executive who has been recognized, awarded, and cited nationwide for her expertise in the housing and financial services industries. She has nearly two decades of experience dedicated to the issues of economic mobility and bridging America’s racial wealth gap.
Marisa is the executive director of NCRC Community Development Fund, Inc., a U.S. Treasury-certified community development financial institution that provides loan capital to expand access to affordable homeownership and helps Black-, Brown-, and woman-owned businesses thrive. She is also chief of community finance and mobility for the Community Development Fund’s parent company, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), where she focuses on advancing economic mobility for communities impacted by systemic inequality and disinvestment.
Marisa is ranked on the Swanepoel Power 200 as one of the most powerful leaders in the residential real estate industry, and was named a HousingWire Woman of Influence in 2018 and 2021 for her work in increasing real estate and mortgage professionals’ understanding and appreciation of the Hispanic home-buying market. In 2021, she was also named one of Diversity Journal’s Women Worth Watching in Leadership and is featured in this year’s volume of Hispanic Stars Rising: The New Face of Power. Frequently sought out as an issue-area expert on affordable housing, banking, and immigration, Marisa has been interviewed by numerous publications and media outlets including NPR’s Marketplace and has regularly spoken at events for the Mortgage Bankers Association, Consumer Federation of America, FDIC, and the National Fair Housing Alliance, among others.
Prior to joining NCRC, Marisa served as executive director of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), one of the largest minority and real estate trade associations in the nation. During her decade at the helm of NAHREP, she authored the annual State of Hispanic Homeownership Report and played an instrumental role as executive producer of L’ATTITUDE, an annual broadcast and event attended by thousands that engages entrepreneurs, business leaders, professional athletes, politicians, and other industry influencers.
In addition to this work, Marisa is a board member of Latinas Lead California. Previously, she served as board secretary for the Hispanic Wealth Project, which has a stated goal of tripling the median household wealth of Hispanics by 2024, and on the advisory board for the Banc of California and the Fannie Mae Affordable Housing Advisory Council.
Marisa lives in San Diego with her husband and two children.

Marisa is a recognized leader in the residential real estate industry and increasing real estate and mortgage professionals’ understanding and appreciation of the Hispanic home-buying market.
Marisa Calderon
Chief of Community Finance and Mobility
Christa Murillo
Position: Special Assistant, Community Finance & Mobility
Phone: 202-768-8315
Email: cmurillo@ncrc.org
Christa Murillo serves as Special Assistant to the Chief of Community Finance and Mobility. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and a proud native of Kansas City, Missouri. Christa received her bachelor’s degree in modern languages and marketing from the University of Central Missouri. Prior to joining NCRC, Christa worked at the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals in multiple departments including marketing, policy, and chapter support. She has contributed to several annual publications focused on Hispanic homeownership and wealth in the United States. Her expertise includes extensive experience in member engagement, research and project management. Christa is a military spouse, mother, and Poshmark ambassador. Her passions include: ice cream, barbecue, and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Christa Murillo serves as Special Assistant to the Chief of Community Finance and Mobility. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and a proud native of Kansas City, Missouri. Christa received her bachelor’s degree in modern languages and marketing from the University of Central Missouri. Prior to joining NCRC, Christa worked at the National Association...
Christa Murillo
Special Assistant, Community Finance & Mobility
Estee Smith
Estee Smith joined NCRC in April 2022 as Healthy Communities Director where she is responsible for leading the organization’s efforts on workforce development, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) and their intersection with social determinants of health. Prior to NCRC, Estee was responsible for community engagement efforts at Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), specifically within PBS KIDS and PBS Station Services. At PBS, Estee supported PBS member stations in connecting high-need communities with PBS content and resources. Estee worked with stations to develop, test, and evaluate parent and educator-focused initiatives adapted in local communities nationwide. She also led community engagement efforts to provide training and support to member stations identifying and enhancing ways of utilizing data for impact based storytelling, meeting station business goals and providing insight into audience engagement.
Prior to PBS, Estee led the state of Missouri’s SNAP E&T efforts across 32 counties through her work at University of Missouri Extension which was contracted to provide workforce development services to unemployed and underemployed Missourians receiving SNAP employment and training services. Estee additionally worked with Central Missouri Community Action delivering family and workforce development services, particularly families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) employment and training services. She developed community relationships in Central Missouri while facilitating community-based workshops and being a part of human services coalition groups. Additionally, she served as an advisor and facilitator for front line staff earning the Family Development Credential through University of Connecticut and Missouri Community Action Network.
Estee is a graduate of the University of Missouri – Columbia. She is a Chicago native, now currently residing in Arlington, VA and is most passionate about social equity issues. Estee enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, art, music, and exploring the DC food scene.

Estee Smith joined NCRC in April 2022 as Healthy Communities Director where she is responsible for leading the organization’s efforts on workforce development, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) and their intersection with social determinants of health. Prior to NCRC, Estee was responsible for community engagement efforts at Public Broadcasting Service...
Estee Smith
Healthy Communities Director
Grigs Crawford
Grigs Crawford is NCRC’s CDFI Development Director. He is a seasoned public affairs and business development strategist with experience navigating issues for Fortune 500, nonprofit and trade association clients, with expertise in engaging lawmakers, regulators and the public in complex policy challenges. In 2018, after nearly a decade in Washington, D.C., Grigs transitioned to campaign politics — serving in critical roles at the congressional level, in a Pennsylvania district that flipped from red to blue and statewide, helping Nevada elect its first Democratic governor in 20 years. He went on to manage federal races in some of the country’s most competitive markets, and he’s coached numerous candidates and C-suite executives on media, communications and business development. Grigs graduated with honors from George Washington University, is bilingual in Spanish and lived in the Amazon for two years serving his country in the U.S. Peace Corps. He began his career as a journalist, including reporting on the 2008 primaries for CQ-Politics, and is a published author.

Grigs Crawford is NCRC’s CDFI Development Director. He is a seasoned public affairs and business development strategist with experience navigating issues for Fortune 500, nonprofit and trade association clients, with expertise in engaging lawmakers, regulators and the public in complex policy challenges. In 2018, after nearly a decade in Washington, D.C., Grigs transitioned to campaign politics...
Grigs Crawford
CDFI Development Director
Natasha Sim
Natasha Sim is an attorney and program manager at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC). Since joining NCRC in late 2020, Natasha has managed the implementation of a multi-million-dollar lending program and the development of an affordable housing initiative aiming to produce 20 million homes by 2030. Natasha has been featured by the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia and the American Bar Association. Natasha is currently serving as Chair of the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section’s Community Economic Development Committee.
Natasha is regularly called to speak at industry events and is a proud supporter of several organizations focused on the empowerment of women and undeserved communities, including the D.C. Volunteer Lawyer’s Project (Junior Board Member), the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia (Co-Chair of Career Development and Mentorship Committee), and Women in Housing and Finance. Natasha was honored to be listed on the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll in 2020 with High Honors—an award for those who have completed over 100 hours of pro-bono service in a given year.
Natasha received a J.D. from the George Washington University Law School in 2017 and an LL.M. in Securities and Financial Regulation from Georgetown University Law Center in 2019.

Natasha is an attorney who obtained her J.D. from George Washington University Law School and her LL.M. with a concentration in Securities and Financial Regulation from Georgetown University Law Center.
Natasha Sim
CDFI Program Manager
Nayeli Pelayo
Position: Operations Director, Community Development Fund
Phone: 202-464-2703
Email: npelayo@ncrc.org
Nayeli Pelayo is Operations Director at NCRC’s Community Development Fund where she oversees the management of the organization’s programs and internal operations. Nayeli has over 10 years of experience working in advocacy for social justice nonprofits with an emphasis in DEI, communications, fundraising and people management at organizations including National Immigration Law Center, American Immigration Council and GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic. Most recently, she served as co-executive director at ProgressPop, a nonprofit focused on producing pop culture content to increase civic participation with the goal of making the US a more equitable society.
She holds a master’s degree in Public Administration with a certification in Nonprofit Sector Management from California State University, Northridge, and a bachelor’s in Journalism. Originally from California, Nayeli is bilingual in Spanish with native fluency and currently lives in the DMV on a small suburban homestead with her husband and son.

Nayeli Pelayo is Operations Director at NCRC’s Community Development Fund where she oversees the management of the organization’s programs and internal operations. Nayeli has over 10 years of experience working in advocacy for social justice nonprofits with an emphasis in DEI, communications, fundraising and people management at organizations including National Immigration Law Center, American Immigration...
Nayeli Pelayo
Operations Director, Community Development Fund
Zaba Rashan
Zaba Rashan joined the NCRC Community Development Fund as a program manager in 2021 with a primary focus on the organization’s small business technical assistance and portfolio management. Her professional experience spans the non-profit, federal, and government contracting sectors where she has worked on issues in foreign affairs, security, humanitarian aid, climate change, small business education and sustainable housing.
Prior to joining NCRC, Zaba worked as a researcher in support of government and NGO clients and managed a portfolio including the CDC, State Department, World Bank, USAID, and the US military. She regularly provided briefings and situation reports as a subject matter expert on the security and humanitarian situations in Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Pakistan. Prior to that, she oversaw the day-to-day operations of the marketing and communications departments at the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals where she worked closely with the executive team to produce the organization’s annual publications and entrepreneur programming.
Zaba received her master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in International Affairs and bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine in Political Science. A polyglot with fluency in English, Spanish, Arabic and Farsi, Zaba is a humanitarian at heart who believes in thinking globally and acting locally.

Zaba Rashan joined the NCRC Community Development Fund as a program manager in 2021 with a primary focus on the organization’s small business technical assistance and portfolio management. Her professional experience spans the non-profit, federal, and government contracting sectors where she has worked on issues in foreign affairs, security, humanitarian aid, climate change, small business...