Yusef Freeman

How did being in New York impact your professional journey?

Being in New York, I was able to learn how municipal government worked in the largest city in the country while interning in both the Mayor's Office and City Council.  I also got my start in the community development field as an intern at a community development corporation in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, which was the first step in my current career path.

Describe your current job.

I am a senior executive of McCormack Baron Salazar, a national urban real estate development firm that focuses on revitalizing urban communities that have suffered under long-term disinvestment.  I am based in San Francisco, CA and am responsible for leading our development projects in Northern California and building our pipeline of deals throughout the country.

What are the advantages of the Wagner alumni network?

The Wagner network is everywhere! I have friends in the Bay Area who were in my graduating class, I served on a housing round-table in Chicago with one of my Wagner professors earlier this year, and spoke at a similar event in Washington, D.C. with another one of my professors last month.