Name: Ms. Jael Jones

Company/Organization: Neighborhood Allies

Current position (and what do you do) and for how long: I joined Neighborhood Allies in November 2020 as the Senior Program Manager for Real Estate Services. I currently assist with managing the recently launched Centralized Real Estate Accelerator Program. I work with an amazingly dedicated team that focuses on helping early-stage developers and community organizations revitalize underserved communities through investment in commercial, residential, and mixed-use projects. Through my 20+ years of experience in economic and community development, I understand how hard it is to navigate the long precarious road to success when it comes to redevelopment and reuse projects. I provide the necessary resources, business connections, technical assistance, and risk mitigation consultation to help ensure the project and or investment decision is a success.

Place of birth/hometown: Pittsburgh (Community of Homewood)

The most satisfying part of my job: Being surrounded by so many people who want to see real valuable change within their communities, and who are dedicated to putting in the work to make it happen.

Your strongest leadership quality: I recognize the value that every perspective brings to the table.

Career/Leadership advice: Listen more, talk less, and remain teachable!

Who do you most admire and why: My father. The amount of adversity he faced as a young man and what he was able to accomplish will always remain admirable to me. He has such a genuine spirit and has a way with people that still amazes me to this day. He once told me, “It’s not about who you know, it’s about who knows YOU”! I’ll never forget that.

Goal yet to be achieved: Homeownership and a cross-country road trip!

What is the coolest real estate project/land use challenge you have participated in? The Bakery Square Google project. I was working with the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance at the time. The amount of work the research team had to dedicate to showcasing the Pittsburgh market/economy to win that investment was impeccable. Also, the many hours of community outreach and engagement that were dedicated to building community awareness and making sure voices were heard so that the building plans and designs were inclusive. It was years of work, but it was worth it!

Favorite quote: “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” ― Winston S. Churchill

Last book read or movie watched: Recessional: The Death of Free Speech and the Cost of a Free Lunch by David Mamet

Favorite vacation spot: Miami, FL (It’s the simple things)

Favorite restaurant: Udipi Café (South Indian Cuisine) in Monroeville, PA

Why I belong to ULI: I believe I have been a ULI member for almost ten years now. Since joining, I have been able to forge relationships and make invaluable connections. The access to such a vast array of industry leaders and educational opportunities across so many sectors on a national level is incomparable.  However, very early on I realized that I could play an integral role in ULI’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts to diversify membership, create new pathways to leadership for people (specifically women) of color within ULI’s councils and committees, and be the example of how being inclusive can help shape best practices and how it showcases the true value of equitable real estate development.

Why ULI is important to me and my career/company: As mentioned, my father always told me that it’s about “who knows YOU”. Joining the team at Neighborhood Allies allowed me to continue my mission of knowledge sharing, mentorship, and inspiring best practices for transformative, place-based, equitable, and sustainable real estate development within communities of need. ULI offers a platform for me to continuously grow my professional network and offers an opportunity for me to be a part of vital forward-thinking discussions around strategy and development planning in the City of Pittsburgh.