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V O L . X X X I N O. X X I I I O C T O B E R 6 , 2 0 2 5 30 4 0 U N D E R 4 0 AWA R D A housing advocate motivated by 'big and small wins' Peace Mutesi, 29 Director of economic opportunity, Quality Housing Coalition Greatest achievement: Leading and co-designing Project Home Trust and working with the participants. It's the most meaningful work I have done. Passion project: Working on individualized goals for my clients and seeing all the big and small wins within the journey. Lightbulb moment: It was in 2021 when I experienced personal strug- gles that were out of my control, which made me so determined to help others navigate similar situa- tions with more ease. Influential book: "Another Way," by Dave Whorton with Bo Burlingham Favorite TV shows: "Game of Thrones" and "Madam Secretary" Personal hero: My grandfather. He loved bringing people together. He walked to check on all of his neighbors in the morning before going to work every day. Favorite quote: "It always seems impossible until it is done." — Nelson Mandela Best way to recharge: Hanging out with family and friends and listen to music. Maine's biggest chal- lenge: Maine faces several inter twined challenges. The housing crisis is severe. Not only is new production far below what's needed, but much of the exist- ing housing stock isn't utilized effectively, with high vacancy rates largely due to seasonal properties, and a lot of the existing housing stock that is uninhabitable is not being repurposed. Public transportation is limited, especially in rural regions, mak- ing it hard for people to access jobs and ser- vices. Childcare is scarce and costly, with barriers to starting and maintaining programs that don't meet the needs of local families. Rural isolation further compounds these issues, leaving many communities with limited resources and opportunities for connection. Dinner party guests: The artist Let Babylon Burn, the actress Melissa McCarthy and my grandfather. Furthering humanitarian aid, but doing it the right way Laura Nilsson, 34 Director of global programs, Partners for World Health Greatest achievement: I think it's still yet to come! Passion project: For over a decade, I ran a social enter- prise with a team of women, which we started out of our dorms at Bentley University; we grew it into a fully functioning sustain- able jewelry business. We sponsored 15 vulnerable young people in Ghana through secondary and tertiary education — not just school fees but housing, utilities, food, books and technology, so that they could focus on their studies. These students went on to get certificates, degrees and find work in a difficult economy. We built relationships with these individuals with whom we still keep in touch, and have fond memories of multiple visits to Ghana. We didn't just wire the revenues, we built a lasting people-to-people connection. Influential book: "Dead Aid," by Dr. Dambisa Moyo. During graduate school, this book exposed me to the critical side of foreign aid which I now constantly recall as a lens for the work I'm doing, because I believe there is a right way to do foreign aid, as much as there is a wrong way. Favorite TV show: "Fargo" Personal hero: My late grand- mother, who suffered the worst of war and survived, never ask- ing for anything in return — not special treatment, not sympathy and definitely not pity. She didn't turn against the world and all the hurt it caused her, but instead chan- neled compassion and never stopped giving to others, no matter who they were. » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E Presented By

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