The Board of the Southeastern Connecticut Community Land Trust has hired staff to further its mission of holding land for the development of permanently affordable housing, food production, green space, and facilities for community organizations.

Mirna Martinez has been hired as the Community Land Trust’s executive director and Regina Mosley as the New London Chapter’s community organizer.

“With Mirna and Regina on staff, we will now be ready to launch into closing the homeownership gap in our region, New London particularly, and building community support for permanently affordable housing options,” said Board President Joanne Sheehan.

The Southeastern CT Community Land Trust has a portfolio of ground leases and partnerships throughout the region, and is looking to increase it through purchase, bequest and collaboration. Our ground leases, partnerships, and grassroots approach allow the community to hold land permanently. We are a grassroots organization by the people for the people, promoting social justice through the community holding land in trust.

Mirna Martinez is a community leader, energizer and bilingual educator. She served three terms on the New London Board of Education, including a term as President. Tapped by Mayor Passero to chair the Education Committee of the Long Term Recovery Taskforce, Mirna helped to establish BP Learned as a school for Early Education. Earlier she co-founded the nonprofit Re-Public Ed and helped to catalyze New London Parent Advocates. She is a longtime resident of New London.

“The community land trust is a truly holistic approach to being in community; greater access to homeownership, stewardship of our surroundings, and community spaces, all upheld and dictated by community voice,” she said.

Regina Mosley is a community builder, organizer and connector. She also served on New London’s Board of Education for two terms, and was Board President for one term. Regina is a lifelong resident of New London and a member of the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation. Regina will bring that rootedness and land connection to the CLT’s work helping area families find home ownership opportunities.

“As an Afro-indigenous woman,” Mosley said , “it is imperative that we highlight the importance of land stewardship by creating partnerships, listening circles, and building a stronger community while treating our most impacted residents with dignity and respect. Housing is a basic human right and everyone should have affordable access.”

“Mirna and Regina know each other, they know New London County and Southeastern Connecticut and they care deeply about people and community. They are passionate about addressing inequity and racism and building lasting community benefit for those historically and currently marginalized. We are so grateful that they chose to do that work with the Southeastern Connecticut Community Land Trust,” said Frida Berrigan, convener of the New London Chapter.