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A Message From Our Executive Director:
Jubilee Homes of Syracuse, Inc. takes pride in the Syracuse community and in our role as a catalyst of change. Nearly 30 years ago, we embarked on a journey to reduce crime and blight while providing housing opportunities for low-moderate income families.
The outcome can be seen in the Southwest neighborhood, where we have installed more than 90 owner-occupied homes and attracted private and public investment within the community.
Join us in our mission to take the community to the next level. We can make it happen, but we can't do it without you!
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Sincerely,
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Walt
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Walter Dixie
Executive Director
Jubilee Homes of Syracuse, Inc.
We believe that by educating our youth, providing workforce development opportunities and helping families become homeowners we can change our community for generations to come.
Our Mission
Jubilee Homes of Syracuse, Inc. is committed to revitalizing the Southwest side of Syracuse through affordable housing opportunities, workforce and entrepreneurship programming, economic development and youth development programing.
Our Vision
Our vision is to provide access to homeownership, economic growth and employment opportunities to the community to turn generational poverty into generational wealth in our community.
Meet The Team
Walter Dixie
Executive Director
Walt has served as Executive Director of Jubilee Homes of Syracuse, Inc. for over 35 years. As Executive Director he has overseen the construction and rehab over 100 properties on the City of Syracuse’s Southwest side utilizing the Time of Jubilee Community Land Trust, Jubilee Homes has been integral in rebuilding South Avenue, White Street, Tallman Avenue, Rich Street, Hudson Street and the surrounding area.
In addition to all Mr. Dixie’s work in housing development, he has also been instrumental in implementing other endeavors under the Jubilee Homes mission, which are the Southwest Economic Business Resource Center, Jubilee Homes Southwest Community Learning Farm (a project of Urban Delights/Farmstand program), and Jubilee Homes Supermarket project which created a partnership with Price Rite and open its store on South Ave in April of 2017. In addition to the tremendous work that has already been done, Mr. Dixie along with the Jubilee Homes staff, and agency partners were responsible for bringing the National YouthBuild Program to Syracuse, NY.
Walter is lifelong resident of Syracuse and a graduate of Ithaca College. He has two daughters and four grandchildren, whom he loves to spend his free time with.
Desaree Dixie
Associate Director
Desarée currently serves in the position of Associate Director at Jubilee Homes of Syracuse, Inc. She started with the agency as an Office Assistant and later as the Fiscal Manager. As she transitioned into her next role as Housing Development Coordinator, she became certified through Neighborworks, Inc. in Homebuyer Education. In her role as Program Director, Desarée has been instrumental in achieving great success of all of Jubilee Homes’ many wonderful programs and services from housing to workforce development. In 2015 she created the Build to Work Program (Workforce Development pre-employment training program) which has prepared over 400 individuals for employment and/or educational opportunities.
Desarée is a lifelong resident of Syracuse. She attended Henninger High School with a concentration in Health Careers and graduated from SUNY Albany with her Bachelor’s degree in English/Criminal Justice and Africana Studies. She is the proud mother of two and enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.
Cherylene"Twiggy" Billue
Director of Workforce Initiatives
Twiggy has worked for Jubilee Homes for 7 years and is currently the Director of Workforce Initiatives. Twiggy continues to be a tireless advocate for our community for nearly 30 years. Twiggy also manages the Urban Delights Youth Development Program and the Urban Delights Community Learning Farm where local youth learn to grow and sell fresh produce. Twiggy was elected to the Syracuse City School Board in 2021.
Tanya Froio-Leonard
Director of Housing Services
Tanya Leonard is an experienced housing and community lending professional with more than 20 years of experience in mortgage lending, CRA program development, and equitable housing access. She specializes in helping first-time homebuyers, low-to-moderate-income families, and underserved communities navigate the path to sustainable homeownership.
Before joining Jubilee Homes, Tanya served as a Community Lending Specialist for Community Bank, N.A., where she expanded fair lending opportunities and supported Community Reinvestment Act initiatives across multiple markets. She brings a strong background in financial education, program management, and community partnership building.
Madea Holman
Build to Work Program Manager
Madea is a lifelong resident of Syracuse, NY. She attended Syracuse City Schools as well as Onondaga Community College and received an associate degree in Health Information Technology. A mom to a beautiful daughter and hairstylist by trade. Madea has been with the Jubilee Homes team for the past 6 years starting as Administrative Assistant, transitioning to the role Office Manager and looks forward to serving clients and the community in her new role as the Build to Work Program Manager.
Stacie Holloway
Business Support Specialist
Stacie Holloway has worked for Jubilee Homes of Syracuse for approximately 3 years.  She is currently the Business Support Specialist. In this role, Stacie supports small businesses in the community to ensure their success. Her tasks involve assisting small businesses with advice and opportunities to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, as well as informing them about available workshops and resources. Stacie is a mother and grandmother to three beautiful daughters and 3 gorgeous granddaughters. Stacie has been the owner of Behind the Chair beauty salon for over 15 years.
Luis Toledo-Garcia
Executive Assistant/Housing Intake Coordinator
Luis currently serves as the Administrative Assistant at Jubilee Homes of Syracuse, Inc. Born in Puerto Rico but raised in Syracuse at the age of three, Luis graduated from Syracuse Academy of Science High School and attended Syracuse University for Business Management. He has a wide background in clinical and administrative duties. He enjoys cooking, spending time with his family and fur babies.
Quatese Funderburg
Workforce Coordinator
Quatese is currently the Transportation Coordinator at Jubilee Homes of Syracuse, Inc. As a Syracuse native she has served in the community for over 25 years as a Certified Nursing Assistant. As a mother of one daughter, Quatese’s passion and goal in life is to raise her daughter with the ability to navigate through this ever changing world boldly and fearlessly.
Collyn Edwards
Farm Manager
Collyn Edwards currently serves as Farm Manager at Jubilee Homes’ Urban Delights Community Learning Farm. Collyn oversees daily farm operations, crop production, and educational programming while helping advance the farm's mission of improving food access and community wellness through urban agriculture. He works closely with staff, interns, volunteers, and youth participants to cultivate a productive, sustainable learning environment that connects people with fresh, locally grown food.
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Collyn holds an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Horticulture from SUNY Niagara. He is passionate about regenerative agriculture, integrated pest management (IPM), soil health, and sustainable food production. Drawing on his horticultural training and hands-on farming experience, he is committed to developing resilient growing systems, expanding educational opportunities, and strengthening community partnerships that support long-term food security and environmental stewardship.
Darrius Marson
Assistant Farm Manager
Darrius Marson serves as the Assistant Farm Manager at Jubilee Homes’ Urban Delights Community Learning Farm in Syracuse, New York, where he supports daily farm operations, volunteer coordination, and community engagement initiatives. Passionate about urban agriculture and food justice, he is dedicated to expanding access to fresh, locally grown food and hands-on learning opportunities.
Darrius brings a detail-oriented approach to farm management, with interests in sustainable growing practices, pollinator-friendly landscapes, and scalable urban farming models. His background in legal operations as a patent paralegal also strengthens his ability to manage systems, workflows, and organizational growth.
Se’Vaughn Harris
Van Driver
Se’Vaughn is one of the Van Drivers for the Transportation program at Jubilee Homes of Syracuse, Inc. He is a Syracuse native, raised in Liverpool, NY and graduated from Liverpool High School. He attended Onondaga Community College, and in his free time he enjoys the arts and is a fierce advocate for equality.
Charles Brown
House Project Manager
Charles Brown is a Project Manager with Jubilee Homes Housing Development, where he has worked for more than six years. An Orlando, Florida native raised in Syracuse, he attended Syracuse public schools and remains committed to giving back to the local community. Charles holds an Associate Degree in Human Services from Onondaga Community College and is a proud father and grandfather.
Consultants
Rita Paniagua
Small Business Consultant
Rita Paniagua was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and has been a resident in Syracuse since June of 2003. Her 40 years background in Business Administration, Fundraising and Public Relations has been instrumental to her success in Syracuse. Paniagua also brings with her experience in the field of performing arts, radio, and special events production. Since her arrival, she has been committed to serving the Syracuse community at all levels.
Aarick Knighton
Social Media/Marketing Consultant
Aarick Knighton is the Social Media and Marketing Consultant for Jubilee Homes. Born and raised in Syracuse, he is a proud graduate of Corcoran High School and Syracuse University, where he earned his degree in Information Management and Technology. Outside of work, Aarick enjoys spending time with his wife and their two dogs, and can often be found watching his favorite sports teams.
Carolyn Evans-Dean
Economic Development/Business Consultant
Carolyn retired as Onondaga County's Director of Workforce Development, and before that, she was the Deputy Director of Economic Development. As a former Jubilee Homes' employee and educator, she has a broad range of expertise, including economic development, community development, workforce development, grant writing, grant management, human resource management, employee training, safety compliance, and emergency management. With 25 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, she has dedicated her career to attracting, developing, and promoting education & STEM investment in underserved urban and rural communities.
Douglas Reicher
Housing Consultant
Doug retired as President of Christopher Community Inc, a not-for-profit housing development, construction and management firm. Prior to that, he was in managing positions at Home Headquarters Inc including finance, construction and IT. Doug also served as a comptroller at a private company and was a principal housing planner for the City of Syracuse. He has expertise in commercial and residential real estate and construction. Doug has over 25 years of experience dedicated to building, renovating, and financing affordable housing in the Central New York area.
Dominic Robinson
Workforce Development Consultant
Dominic Robinson is Co-Founder and Principal of Community Prosperity Consultants, bringing over twenty years of expertise in workforce, economic, and community development. As a consultant, Dominic has supported non-profit, philanthropic, and private sector partners in strategic planning, program design, business development, impact evaluation, and communications. Previously, Dominic spent nearly two decades , leading teams and initiatives in workforce development, neighborhood revitalization, innovation, small business development, and economic development across Central Upstate New York. Originally from Los Angeles, California, Dominic has called Syracuse home for over 20 years. He lives in the city with his family.
Rickey Brown
Small Business Development Consultant
Rickey T. Brown is the founder and principal of Diversify-NY, LLC, a New York State–certified Minority Business Enterprise that provides consulting, certification assistance and technical support to minority- and women-owned businesses. Through his work, Brown helps identify, develop and expand opportunities for MWBE firms, particularly in state contracting and business development. He is a longtime advocate for economic inclusion and has led initiatives focused on increasing capital investment and strengthening minority-owned businesses across the region. Brown also serves on several local boards, including Onondaga Community College, the Syracuse Industrial Development Agency and Housing Visions. He is a graduate of Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management.
Board Members
Vernon Williams Jr.
Board President
Rev. Vernon Williams Jr born in Syracuse, New York. Vernon is a General Manager at Ulta in Destiny USA. Vernon is also an ordained minister in the gospel. He serves as the pastor of college campuses at his church, Bellegrove MBC. Vernon loves to help youth and adults find their purpose in life. He enjoys spending time with his nieces and nephews. Vernon is a former County Legislator for the 16 District. Vernon also serves on the IMOBILE board of directors.
Barbara Devoise
Board Vice President
Kendra Johnson
Board Secretary
Kendra Johnson grew up on the Southside of Syracuse, N.Y. where she attended Syracuse City Schools and graduated from Corcoran High School. She then continued her education at Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y. earning a Bachelor's degree in Marketing. In 2006 she made her return to Syracuse to work for Verizon Corp. where she is also a CWA 1123 Union Steward. She later continued her education at Columbia College Hancock Field Campus for a Masters of Business Administration. Kendra desired to follow in her sister Kristina Kirby’s footsteps to help serve the Syracuse Southwest community, so she joined the Jubilee Homes Board of Directors in 2022.
Tom Johnson
Board Treasurer
Tom Johnson is a lifelong resident of Syracuse who grew up in the old 15th Ward. He attended Syracuse schools and graduated from Syracuse University with a B.S., while also completing graduate coursework in Finance, Personnel, and Public Policy. His career began in mortgage lending in both local and secondary markets before joining the City of Syracuse as Deputy Commissioner of Assessment.
After leaving city government, he continued his work in the public sector with the Syracuse City School District as Human Resources/Management Systems Coordinator. He later accepted a position with the Syracuse Community Health Center as Vice President of Administration, where he oversaw Personnel, Facilities, Purchasing, Capital Projects, Medical Records, and grant writing.
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Johnson also served as Director of Single Family Housing Programs for the U.S.D.A., managing lending programs, special grants, and administrative operations. He later returned to city government as a Neighborhood Planner in Community Development, working with grant-funded housing programs and overseeing compliance for HUD-funded agencies.
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He eventually returned to the Assessment Department as Senior Real Property Appraiser, responsible for the valuation of a wide range of properties throughout the City of Syracuse. As a New York State Certified Appraiser, Johnson has completed extensive continuing education in property valuation, including complex properties, shopping centers, solar energy, apartments, banks, fast food restaurants, cell towers, single and multi-family properties, professional practice, and fair housing lending.
Hollis Mathis
Board Member
Hollis Matthis retired from working for the City of Syracuse for 39 years. He has been performing for 57 years. Hollis has been a Jubilee homeowner for 32 years. He has been on the board of Jubilee homes for 20 years. Hollis has been helping the community for 30 years. He is currently working part-time as security and crossing guard and is a member of JAMS.
Zina Adjei
Board Member
Tasha Fain
Board Member
Timothy Kirkland
Board Member
Formerly incarcerated, Criminal Justice Reform advocate turned entrepreneur. Business owner of Express Yourself, a moving company located in the Syracuse community. Timothy is also founder of Reinvent Magazine; a magazine designed to show broken individuals to believe in themselves. "If he can do it, you can do it". Committed to Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse Youth at Risk Task Force as a motivational speaker.
Christina Sauve
Board Member
Christina Sauve is the CEO of Cooperative Federal, a low-income designated Community Development Credit Union and Minority Depository Institution founded in Syracuse in 1982. She is a dynamic leader and a driven professional who has spent more than 20 years on Coop Fed’s management team, serving as Chief Operating Officer before being promoted to CEO in 2019.
Christina was instrumental to Coop Fed earning the Juntos Avanzamos designation from the Inclusiv Credit Union Network, recognizing the credit union’s comprehensive programs that reach and serve the Latinx community. She has served on the board of Home HeadQuarters, Inclusive Economy CNY, Syracuse Model Neighborhood Facility, New York Credit Union Foundation, and the Credit Union National Association - Hispanic Outreach Committee.
She was born and raised in Syracuse and was a first-generation college student, graduating with a BA in Psychology from Stanford University. She is driven by the desire to build a more just world for her son, and a brighter future for our community.
Stephanie Pasquale
Board Member
Stephanie Pasquale is the Director of Neighborhood Development with the Allyn Family
Foundation. The Foundation, founded in 1954, strives to create and sustain a vibrant,
equitable, and prosperous community, where our equity-based approach centers on People,
Place, and Opportunity. In her role at the Foundation, Stephanie collaborates with
government, nonprofit, community, and private partners to deliver on place-based housing
and neighborhood redevelopment strategies that support inclusive, thriving
neighborhoods.
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Additionally, she serves on the Board of Directors of Blueprint 15 nonprofit community quarterback, an organization charged with delivering on a bold vision for the holistic revitalization of the East Adams Street neighborhood following the Purpose Built Communities model. From May 2020–August 2021 she served as the interim CEO of the organization. She also serves on the boards of the Central Current, Fired Up for Youth, the Good Life Youth Foundation, the Housing and Homeless Coalition of Central New York, and Jubilee Homes.
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Formerly, Stephanie served as the Commissioner of the Department of Neighborhood and
Business Development for the city of Syracuse and was responsible for oversight of the
Department’s five divisions and 75+ employees that carried out the delivery of a wide variety
of community development activities, including the administration of over $10 million in
federal, state, and local funding annually.
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Stephanie has also held several nonprofit affordable housing and community development
finance positions at Home HeadQuarters, Worcester Community Housing Resources, and
the United Way of Central New York. Stephanie earned her Master of Public Administration
and Bachelor of Arts in Policy Studies from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University,
where she later served as an adjunct faculty member for more than 10 years. She has also
served on several community boards, including Christopher Community Housing, Syracuse
Northeast Community Center, the Onondaga Early Childhood Alliance, Planned Parenthood,
Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County, the HomeOwnership Center at Home HeadQuarters,
and the Board of Christian Education at Plymouth Congregational Church.
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Stephanie lives in Syracuse with her husband, two daughters, and beloved pup.