Supporting Spanish Speaking Neighbors: Discussing how SNAP Could Benefit Their Household

Ebony is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in the field of helping to improve the lives of vulnerable families and communities rooted in equity. In her most recent role as the Senior Director of Programs with Prosperity Now, Ebony led a team that provided tailored technical assistance and capacity building to nonprofits and other key stakeholders to increase their leadership, ability to access resources, influence policy, expand their partners and networks, and find promising solutions in providing human-centered services grounded in data to advance economic stability and mobility. Prior to her work at Prosperity Now, Ebony spent nine (9) years at W.K. Kellogg Foundation where she worked across many initiatives, programs, and sectors to provide resources and agency to partners nationally. During that time, Ebony supported the design and implementation of the W. K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) enterprise. In this initiative, Ebony managed the collaboration and networking with over 130 organizations and thought experts to identify best practices and guiding principles for communities to consider when implementing the TRHT framework of narrative change, racial healing, separation, law, and economy. Ebony earned her MPA in Nonprofit Leadership Management from Western Michigan University and her BSBA from Colorado Technical University.

Shaneece Gaines is a Subject Matter Expert in housing and other areas tied to economic security, such as debt counseling and financial coaching at NCOA. Shaneece brings with her extensive non-profit experience. As a Grants Manager at an international non-profit, she managed grant projects and economic security initiatives from application to approval and utilization, overseeing a $50M portfolio. In progressive positions at a national non-profit housing counseling intermediary, she served as the Housing Counseling Network and Direct Services Director, in which she oversaw over 160 organizations nationwide, a cross- functional team of 10 FTEs, and a budget of over $2.2M. Her portfolio of work included both housing and financial counseling to thousands of consumers annually through direct client services and through their intermediary services that addressed needs, including but not limited to: HECM/reverse mortgage counseling, foreclosure counseling, homebuyer counseling, debt counseling, financial coaching, and assistance accessing federal, state, and local benefits programs (e.g., SNAP, LIHEAP, Medicare and Medicaid, etc.).

Shaneece was a Mortgage Loan Officer for a major Banking institution where she increased their mortgage loan portfolio; worked with individuals and families with all aspects of mortgages/loans, refinancing, housing affordability and related Affordable Lending Products; and ensured consumers’ preparation for homeownership through homebuyer education and community-level and professional events.

She possesses her Masters in Public Administration from Strayer University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Kent State University.