Christian Abney

Affordable Housing Development | Harvard ’23, Schwarzman ’24

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

About

Driven Schwarzman Scholar and Harvard grad pursuing inclusive and equitable community development. Dynamic and charismatic leader with a proactive attitude. Effective communicator and teammate across spacial and cultural contexts. Proven experience in delivering meaningful interpersonal relationships and researched product in virtual and in-person spaces. Ability to multi-task, learn, and triage workload. Looking forward to connecting and talking more!

Experience

  • Project Manager II at Cambridge Housing Authority
    Oct 2024 - Present · 1 yr 9 mos

    ● Manage development for affordable housing projects in Cambridge and other Massachusetts communities ● Coordinate planning of between CHA staff, tenants, housing authority clients, local officials, architects, and contractors ● Provide consulting services to municipal clients to preserve and increase quality affordable housing stock

  • Staff, Volunteer, and Fundraising Director at Y2Y Harvard Square Shelter
    Jun 2019 - May 2023 · 4 yrs

    • Led a team of 39 staff, 90 volunteers, and dozens of guests to implement dignifying transformative justice policies at the nation's first student-run shelter for young people • Evaluated program performance by using data to assess progress toward KPIs • Managed hiring of 21 new staff members to rebuild the organization's human capacity diminished by the COVID-19 pandemic • Organized 36 hours of trainings to onboard staff in partnership with 10 external facilitators • Ensured compliance with relevant regulations as a publicly-supported organization and program of the Philips Brooks House Association (PBHA) • Executed fundraising initiatives by mobilizing staff and alumni community and wrote grant applications to support the shelter’s $1.2 million budget • Recruited more than 180 volunteer applicants from Greater Boston by leveraging private and nonprofit partnerships • Developed and executed training materials and events for diverse volunteers on their responsibilities, shelter policies, and technical operations • Directed volunteers, shelter operations, and positive guest relations to realize transformative housing justice • Served as a liaison between Y2Y Network, student staff, First Parish Cambridge, and PBHA through regular meetings and multifaceted communication

  • Peer Advising Fellow at Harvard University
    Aug 2019 - Apr 2023 · 3 yrs 9 mos

    • Advised first-year students in academic, social, and community contexts in group and individual meetings • Facilitated an inclusive and diverse entryway community between the 30 resident students • Collaborated with other two fellows and resident proctor to improve advising programs and foster deeper relationships within the community • Organized creative and fun study breaks to engage with students and promote sustained interaction between peers

  • Lead Mentor at Alpha Partners Education
    Dec 2020 - Jan 2023 · 2 yrs 2 mos

    • Tailored curricula and program guidance for students in flagship research program and Model United Nations camps • Collaborated with the administrative team to recruit mentors, refine operations, and expand the research program from 5 to 30 participants • Led more than 50 students in lessons, workshops, and seminars to bolster research and communication skills • Trained and led 6 other Harvard undergraduate mentors to ensure they provided and received quality support in their role • Mentored students in weekly individual meetings to facilitate academic and personal growth

  • Political/Economic Intern at the U.S. Embassy Nicosia at U.S. Department of State
    Jun 2022 - Aug 2022 · 3 mos

    • Represented the United States and its embassy in meetings with prominent Cypriot politicians, activists, businesspeople, and NGO officials • Investigated timely matters related to internal security, hydrocarbons, and demographics to inform US foreign policy in the eastern Mediterranean • Crafted 10 weekly reports and analyses for senior Embassy Nicosia and Washington officials • Developed my abilities with humility and curiosity alongside an excellent embassy team