Natasha Holmes- A Conversation

For most of Natasha’s life, perseverance has been a great strength.

As a kid, peer leadership programs were important in her community. Without guidance or resources, many young people in her neighborhood struggled. Today, she has become a familiar face in her community—someone neighbors turn to for help. 

Her involvement with Union Capital began through an unexpected route: her gym community and encouragement from her sister. What she found surprised her.

Workshops pushed her to think about complex issues affecting her community—especially housing. She started exploring why rents keep rising, and she realized just how many factors influence housing affordability. The programs weren’t always easy, but she kept showing up.

One lesson stuck with her more than any other: slow down. For someone used to tackling problems head-on, learning to focus on one goal at a time was transformative.

She points to Union Capital’s approach as part of the reason. Programs focus on human-centered design, looking closely at what communities actually need and building solutions around those realities.

Recently, she was accepted into an incubator program focused on housing justice, where participants work to develop community-driven solutions to housing challenges. She’s also begun exploring environmental justice and hopes to learn more about how environmental issues intersect with housing and neighborhood health.

But for her, real change still happens face to face. At one point, she helped address a mailing crisis affecting residents who weren’t receiving important mail. 

Looking ahead, her goals are clear. Among the many issues she cares about, one group stands out: seniors. She sees the need for senior care and wants to work towards getting them the help they should be getting.