Bakari Levy
Government Affairs Associate
Bakari Levy serves as a Government Affairs Associate for NCRC’s Government Affairs and Policy team. Originally from New York, Bakari received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Central State University and went on to pursue a career in the technology sector after graduating. He subsequently transitioned into international development with an emphasis on the Caribbean […]
Jacelyn Matthews
Director of the National Training Academy
Jacelyn Matthews has over 15 years’ experience working in the fields of training and leadership development, mental health, and social justice. Jacelyn is a doctoral candidate in the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University, with a concentration in education and social justice. She is currently writing her dissertation with a focus on how teachers […]
Dave Castillo
NCRC Board
Mr. Castillo serves as CEO of Native Community Capital (NCC) – a 501c3 tax-exempt not-for-profit organization, Department of Treasury certified, Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). NCC maintains offices in New Mexico and Arizona. In addition to overseeing day-to-day operations Mr. Castillo’s primary role is to maintain and develop strategic partnerships with banks, public-sector agencies, […]
Laura Bentley
Director, Grant Administration, Community Impact
Laura Bentley joined NCRC in 2024 as the Director of Grant Administration for the Community Impact team. Prior to NCRC, Laura served as Director of the Direct Community Investments department (DCI) with the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC), a CDFI based in DC. In this role, she oversaw the launch of the department in 2020 […]
Carolina Rodrigues
Lending Program Manager
Carolina Rodrigues is NCRC’s Lending Program Manager. She was born in Washington, DC, and has lived in the DMV area forever. Her family is originally from Brazil, and speak Portuguese. She went to high school in Forestville, Maryland, and completed her bachelor’s degree online while working full time. She started her career as a bank […]
Brian Daskalovitz
CDFI, Senior Director of Finance
Brian Daskalovitz, CPA, MBA, is a distinguished financial professional with a rich background in accounting, finance, risk management, and banking. Over the years, Brian has successfully steered multiple organizations through reengineering and modernization initiatives, driving sustainable growth. Brian’s most recent role was as Director of Risk Management at DreamSpring CDFI from 2021 to 2023, where […]
Diane Crockett
Chief Financial Officer
Diane Crockett is the Chief Financial Officer of NCRC. Prior to joining NCRC, Diane served as Chief Financial Officer at The Summit Charitable Foundation where she provided strategic leadership for all financial, grantmaking and administrative operations of the foundation. Summit is a private foundation which focuses on equality for women and girls, a resilient Mesoamerican […]
Nzinga Kelliebrew
CRA Specialist
Nzinga Kelliebrew joined NCRC in 2023 as a CRA Specialist. Before joining NCRC, she was a research analyst and deputy team lead at Leadership Connect. She specialized in state and local research, where she tracked and developed prominent political profiles of state and municipal leaders. Nzinga graduated from Marymount University with a Bachelor’s of Science from the College of […]
Haley Schneider
Development Coordinator
Haley Schneider serves as the Development Coordinator for NCRC. In this role, Haley works to support NCRC’s mission by strengthening fundraising activities. Haley received her Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University, with a focus on Management and Communications. Her involvement with nonprofits and community development projects inspired her to further her education at the […]
Joseph Dean
Racial Economic Junior Research Specialist
Joseph Dean is NCRC’s Racial Economic Junior Research Specialist. He started off as a research intern here at NCRC in the spring 2023 before being brought on full time. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Howard University. His research interests include environmental economics, international trade, and racial and class inequality. In his free […]
Devin Thompson
Director of Health Equity and Impact
Devin Thompson is the Director of Health Equity and Impact for NCRC. His expertise lies at the intersection of comprehensive community development (economic development, affordable housing, and human capital development) and their impact on the health and well-being of the community. Having served as a senior staff member at national, regional and local community development […]
Patrick Dixon
Community Development Fund Underwriting & Loan Service Specialist
Patrick Dixon has experience serving low-income African American communities through volunteering, interning, and work experience. His passion, mission, and purpose lie in helping those who are overlooked and underserved. His ultimate goal in his career is to expand awareness and access to economic development for groups who are underserved. He believes that closing access and […]
Lara Benson
Program Coordinator, Fair Housing/ Fair Lending
Lara is the Fair Housing & Fair Lending Program Coordinator at NCRC. Prior to working with NCRC, Lara worked in international development with various nonprofits. Lara holds a bachelor’s degree in History & a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Missouri. She received her law degree from the University of Missouri School of […]
Lexine Varughis
Community Development Fund Program Specialist
Lexine Varughis is NCRC Community Development Fund’s CDFI Program Specialist. She was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, IL, and comes from a background in the legal and mortgage industry, and in affordable housing, while working with many housing agencies across the country. Lexine holds a master’s degree in public policy, human rights […]
Vernice Miller-Travis
NCRC Board
WE ACT for Environmental Justice Vernice is one of the nation’s pioneering and most respected thought leaders on environmental justice and the interplay of civil rights and environmental policy. Vernice has vast experience as a civil rights and environmental policy analyst and advocate; consultant for federal and state agencies, foundations and nonprofits; environmental program manager […]