Our Team

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Kristina Brown joins Neighbors Welcome with more than a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, state and local government, and community organizing. She most recently served as Director of Innovation Initiatives for the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation and, before that, as Chief of Staff to the Providence City Council. Throughout her career, Kristina has advocated for housing policy reforms to address Rhode Island's housing crisis in positions such as the Housing and Economic Opportunity Program Officer at United Way of Rhode Island, and Policy Analyst for HousingWorks RI. In addition to her policy and legislative expertise, Kristina brings strong strategic leadership and organizational management skills to this role.

ORGANIZER

John Flaherty is a Rhode Island–based housing advocate and community organizer who believes the state needs more homes—and more neighbors willing to speak up for them. He lives in Slatersville and works part-time as an organizer with Neighbors Welcome! RI, where he helps build grassroots support for pro-housing policies through outreach, events, and legislative engagement.

COMMUNICATIONS

A Rhode Island native, Kia Davis brings an understanding of story-telling and user experience to Neighbors Welcome! RI. Her background in photography, competency in writing, and passion for sensible urban policies have led her to work with organizations such as Indowncity, The Downtown Providence Park Network, The Providence Foundation, Grow Smart RI, Bike Newport, and now Neighbors Welcome! RI.

PRESIDENT

Claudia is an affordable housing attorney and greyhound owner who lives in Providence. She has worked on housing reform issues in Rhode Island since 2018, authored multiple bills that have been signed into state law, and helped to construct more than a hundred and twenty new local homes (to date). When not thinking about abundant housing, she enjoys bicycling, knitting and drinking bubble tea.

TREASURER

Greg Miller is a founding member of Neighbors Welcome! Rhode Island and serves as treasurer for the organization. A Johnson & Wales University graduate and member of the East Providence Planning Board, Greg is a director of business development for the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank where he assists cities and towns with stormwater mitigation.

SECRETARY

Seth Zeren is a recovering city planner turned neighborhood developer and co-founder of Neighbors Welcome! RI. As a principal with Armory Management Company and Stepping Stone Partners, Seth develops mixed-use urban infill and adaptive reuse projects in Providence, RI. Seth has taught real estate development and policy at Boston Architectural College, the Builders of Color Coalition, and Boston University. He lives in Providence with his wife and two young kids. Seth has a BA from Williams College and a Masters in Environmental Management from Yale University.