225 W Wacker Drive

Join us in Honoring Alderman Pat Dowell at the IL WAHN 3rd Annual Women of the Year Event! Event Details 📅 Date: Thursday, January 22, 2026 Time: 5:30–8:00 PM Location: 225 W. Wacker, 4th Floor, Chicago, IL Event Registration Link: https://lnkd.in/gXXZ854J Food and beverages will be served. Alderman Pat Dowell has been selected as the Illinois WAHN Woman of the Year for her longstanding commitment to advancing affordable housing with both vision and accountability. From transformative developments in the 3rd Ward, including 43 Green and Rosenwald Courts, to her thoughtful advocacy at City Hall, Alderman Dowell has continuously demonstrated leadership, expertise, and impact. Throughout her career, Alderman Dowell has balanced community needs with practical policy solutions, drawing on her background in community development and urban planning to champion mixed-income, transit-oriented initiatives that revitalize neighborhoods without displacing residents. As Chair of the City Council’s Budget Committee, she played a pivotal role in shaping major financing strategies for housing and economic development, helping to ensure that public investments are deployed responsibly and equitably. Her leadership has also influenced citywide conversations around how affordable housing should be distributed - advocating for deeper affordability and strategic placement across all communities. Alderman Dowell holds a bachelor’s […]

Kristin Faust, Executive Director Illinois Housing Development Authority Kristin Faust was appointed Executive Director of the Illinois Housing Development Authority in 2019. In this role, she leads the Authority’s wide-ranging efforts to finance the creation and preservation of affordable housing throughout Illinois. Prior to joining IHDA, she held senior leadership positions in the public, private and nonprofit sectors for 30+ years, previously serving as President of Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, Chief Credit Officer at Partners for the Common Good, and President of the Enterprise Community Loan Fund. She earned a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from Brown University.