MILWAUKEE — (January 29, 2026) — The Community Development Alliance (CDA) announced the addition of Michelle Long to its staff and a new chair and vice chair to its board of directors.
Long joined CDA as its Director of Philanthropy after working with the organization as a consultant for the past several months. She joins CDA from Community First MKE, where she spent the past three years as Director of Real Estate Development for the affordable housing agency.
“Michelle brings a sophisticated understanding of how private capital, public funding, and philanthropic investment work together to unlock transformative real estate projects,” said Teig Whaley-Smith, CDA’s chief alliance officer. “Michelle will develop and implement
CDA’s philanthropic strategy, working with a range of potential investors to prospect, qualify, and negotiate philanthropic investment opportunities.”
A 2019 graduate of Marquette’s Associates in Commercial Real Estate (ACRE) Program, Long also earned an Associate’s degree in business management from Waukesha County Technical College. She also is founder of KAI Real Estate, a woman-owned, full-service brokerage and development firm operating at the intersection of luxury real estate, neighborhood revitalization, and equitable development.
New Board Chair and Vice Chair Named
Amelia Mitcham has moved from the Vice Chair of CDA’s Board of Directors to its Chair for 2026. Drea Rodriguez moves to Vice Chair from Board Secretary. CDA’s board includes two representatives from the Resident Advisory Council on Housing (RACH), neighborhood groups, policy organizations, implementers, operational funders, and housing funders.
Mitcham is a banking and financial professional who is part of the Developers Roundtable and represents homeownership implementers on the CDA board. She has deep expertise in evaluating financial data, identifying risk, and supporting sound lending decisions. Throughout her career, she has contributed to more than $160 million in loans at Landmark Credit Union and JPMorgan Chase. She has overseen more than $550,000 in real estate projects for Mitcham Enterprises and its affiliates. She has served on CDA’s board since 2024.
Rodriguez is the owner and lead trainer of Thrive Service Learning MKE, where she trains community organizers from nearly two dozen organizations in Milwaukee, supporting clearer processes, stronger reporting, and resident-centered outcomes. She previously served as Executive Director of the Peace Learning Center of Milwaukee, where she led restorative education and conflict-resolution initiatives.
On the CDA board, she is a resident representative for the Historic Mitchell neighborhood through Southside Organizing Center. She focuses on elevating resident priorities, strengthening transparency and feedback loops, and advancing equitable housing strategies that support both homeowners and renters.Rodriguez was first appointed to CDA’s board in 2024.
“Both Amelia and Drea bring lived experiences to guide our board. Both witnessed housing instability and how strong neighborhoods are built through collective stewardship,” said Whaley-Smith. “These experiences shape their commitment to advancing affordable, accessible, and quality housing as a pathway to dignity, stability, and long-term wealth building in Milwaukee’s Black and Brown communities.”
