Project for Pride in Living - Employment Training and Homeownership Work

Angie Willardson, Director of Employment and Training, and Henry Rucker, Financial Coaching & Homeownership Manager, will speak about Project for Pride in Living (PPL).

Angie Willardson, Director of Employment and Training, joined PPL in 2009. In her time with PPL’s Career Readiness services, she has provided direct service, program development, and management. Her current responsibilities include leadership of a staff of 30 who provide computer and job readiness workshops, career pathway programs, financial coaching, and homeownership services. Angie also serves as the point person for Employment Training data integrity and evaluation. She works closely with PPL’s grants, finance, and leadership teams to provides strategic leadership of PPL’s efforts to collaborate and braid funding streams that support career readiness programs and for overall program management. Angie holds a M.A. in nonprofit management from Hamline University and is a certified Global Career Development Facilitator.

Henry Rucker, Financial Coaching & Homeownership Manager, joined PPL in January, 2014. Over his eight years advancing financial literacy and homeownership at PPL, he has developed expertise in helping lower-income individuals attain greater financial stability and even make the transition to homeownership. Henry manages a team of five staff who provide financial coaching, housing counseling, financial literacy workshops, and homeownership education to participants at PPL. An experienced banker, Henry is well-versed in the tools available to consumers, with a deep understanding of both the challenges and opportunities along the path to financial stability and homeownership. Henry has been an active participant in implementing PPL’s race equity framework. He has served as a board member of Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota and of YouthCare and is currently a board member of National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) Twin Cities, vice-chair of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS 2022 Diversity Committee, and a member of the Minneapolis Area REALTORS 2022 Diversity Committee. Henry was awarded the 2022 Excellence in Service Award from the Minnesota Homeownership Center. Henry holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Clark Atlanta University. Henry is a licensed real estate broker and is certified through the Minnesota Home Ownership Center in Foreclosure Advising, Homebuyer Education, and Homebuyer Advising.