Brianna Sas-Pérez Joins WHEDA Board

MADISON – Brianna Sas-Pérez, executive director for VIA CDC (formerly Layton Boulevard West Neighbors), has been appointed to serve as a member of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) board of directors.

A Wisconsin native, Sas-Pérez’s experience includes over a decade of community outreach with a focus on equity and wellbeing. As VIA CDC’s executive director, she is responsible for strategic planning, fundraising, budgeting, community engagement, as well as deployment of the organization’s funding and other programming that support housing and business development in Milwaukee neighborhoods.

“Over the course of the pandemic, it’s become even more critical for us to connect the dots between safe, affordable housing and the health and well-being of our communities,” said Gov. Evers. “Brianna Sas-Pérez understands this well, and her breadth of experience working to close inequities and serve her community will make her an excellent addition to the WHEDA board.”

“Ms. Sas-Pérez’s bilingual, multicultural background coupled with her community building experience will bring vast insights and strength to WHEDA’s board of directors,” said WHEDA CEO Joaquín Altoro. “At VIA CDC she has led the charge to create impactful policies and practices with a lens towards racial equity. Her work will support WHEDA’s efforts to cultivate equity in housing and economic opportunity for the people of Wisconsin.”

Sas-Pérez has a BA from Calvin University with interdisciplinary studies in art, engineering, math, Spanish and pre-architecture. She is a member of the Aurora Health Care Community Board, a member of Milwaukee’s City Plan Commission, board chair for the Sixteenth Street Community Health Center and a volunteer/mentor for Transformation Student Development.

“The places where we live and work have a big impact on our wellbeing, and consistently, not all places have the same access to the resources we all need to thrive,” said Sas-Pérez. “I appreciate WHEDA's work, and I look forward to supporting their efforts to address disparities in housing and economic opportunity in diverse communities all across Wisconsin because everyone benefits when every person can reach their full potential.”

WHEDA board members include the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration (or designee), the CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, and six public members nominated by the governor and appointed by the state senate. In addition, two state senators, one from each party and selected by senate leadership, and two state representatives, one from each party and selected by assembly leadership, also serve on the WHEDA Board. Members serve staggered four-year terms.

For more on WHEDA's efforts to expand affordable housing and economic opportunity, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. 

ABOUT WHEDA
For more than 48 years, WHEDA has worked to provide low-cost financing for housing and small business development in Wisconsin. Since 1972, WHEDA has financed more than 78,000 affordable rental units, helped more than 135,000 families purchase a home, and provided more than 29,000 small business and agricultural loan guarantees. WHEDA is a self-supporting public corporation that receives no tax dollars for its operations. For more information on WHEDA programs call 800-334-6873.