ARMECA CRAWFORD
Chief Executive Officer
Peoria Housing Authority
Occupation: As chief executive officer of Peoria Housing Authority, Armeca Crawford oversees all functions of the area’s largest agency of public and affordable housing. She is also president of PHA Development Corp., an instrumentality of PHA, which spearheads community development and the expansion of housing. PHA has nearly 700 homes of public housing, about 400 homes of affordable housing, and about 2,100 housing vouchers throughout Peoria County. Besides providing affordable housing, Ms. Crawford is responsible for an array of programs designed to improve residents’ quality of life and increase economic independence, including homeownership opportunities.
Community Involvement: Ms. Crawford serves on the governing board of Peoria’s Home for All Continuum of Care. She is a member of the Illinois Association of Housing Authorities, Northern Illinois Council of Housing Authorities, and the Illinois Re-entry Council. She has previously served on the board of directors of the Detroit Metropolitan Apartment Association. She has also volunteered for tutoring programs, a prison ministry and served meals to the homeless.
Education: Bachelor of arts, accounting, University of Phoenix; Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP) from National Association of Home Builders; Tax-Credit Compliance Specialist. She is also a licensed broker in the state of Michigan.
Three things she’s passionate about: 1) Family, faith and community; 2) Servant leadership and team building; 3) Advocacy for opportunities that strengthen families by expanding communities with equity and social justice in healthcare, education, workforce development, and access to stable and affordable housing. “I often strategize on ways to address displacement and disinvestment in communities, and approaches that encourage preservation as an option for housing and neighborhood stability.”
Three favorite hobbies: Being a grandmother, scenic drives through the Midwest in the fall, attending or listening to Christian sermons and music
Career influence or inspiration: Ms. Crawford credits her mother and grandmother for influencing her commitment to servant leadership. Her late grandmother, Beatrice Foster of Detroit, fed, clothed, housed and prayed for anyone in need. “This spirit of volunteerism and community service continued with my mother, Mavis Weddington.” Three housing professionals jump-started her current career. Melvin Washington and Yulonda Byrd were her first mentors in housing. “However, it was Kim Hagood who helped catapult my career through her mentorship, guidance, and encouragement in all facets of my life.”
Inspirational quote: “In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. That means we have 1,440 daily opportunities to make a positive impact.” Les Brown