Can we get an amen for housing? Exploring California’s new opportunities for affordable housing on faith-based properties. A conversation with Derrick Morgan and Cherie Ong on Thursday, February 15 at 5:30 pm. Napa Methodist Church 625 Randolph St, Napa

Can we get an amen for housing?

Exploring California’s new opportunities for affordable housing on faith-based properties – a conversation with Derrick Morgan and Cherie Ong.

This January, California’s newly enacted law SB 4 (dubbed “Yes in God’s Backyard”) went into effect — streamlining regulations for churches and higher education institutions to develop affordable housing. Locally, Napa Methodist Church has a head start on the law — recently announcing a new 46-unit workforce housing community in partnership with Burbank Housing and Napa Valley Community Housing.

This promising template represents a groundbreaking shift in how faith-based organizations can actively contribute to solving our housing crisis. Join NVCF for a Town Hall Meeting to learn more about the new opportunities the law offers, and hear from Derrick Morgan and Cherie Ong, two experts who have pioneered innovative solutions and partnerships in the realm of community-focused real estate development.

Derrick Morgan is a former NFL linebacker who enjoyed an amazing 9-year career with the Tennessee Titans. After studying Business Management at Georgia Tech and receiving his MBA from the University of Miami, Derrick transitioned into a role as a real estate developer and impact investor. He co-founded NexLegacy, a construction company engaged with FEMA for disaster relief services. More recently, Derrick co-founded KNGDM Group, mission-driven real estate developers who partnered with the United Methodist Church and with Good Places to develop affordable housing for artists in Atlanta. Derrick also collaborated with Rooted Good to create a guide for churches working with property developers to build housing.

Cherie Ong is a pioneering real estate developer and business consultant in Atlanta, focusing on innovative, sustainable, and equitable community development. As a co-founder of Good Places, she collaborates with property owners, artists, churches, and nonprofits, driving significant projects like the city’s first micro-housing apartments and converting a historic department store into a creative business incubator. Originally from Malaysia and a long-term resident of Atlanta, Cherie’s approach is informed by her degrees in finance and economics, as well as a master’s degree in religious education.

Representatives from Napa Methodist Church will also be on hand to share more details about their upcoming housing project. We hope you can join us!

Space is limited, please RSVP below to reserve your spot.

Hourly Schedule

Schedule

5:30 - 6:00
Doors Open
Vintage High School Chambers Singers performing during welcome
6:00 - 6:30
Welcome and Keynote Speakers
Speakers:
Cherie Ong, Derrick Morgan
6:30 - 7:00
Q&A
with Derrick, Cherie, and Burbank Housing’s Jocelyn Lin, and Napa Valley Community Housing’s Erica Roetman Sklar
Speakers:
Cherie Ong, Derrick Morgan
7:00 - 7:45
Reception
Cherie Ong
Cherie Ong
Principal, Good Places
Cherie Ong is a real estate developer and consultant working to create innovative, sustainable and equitable communities in Atlanta. She is the co-founder of Good Places, a firm that develops properties with mission and community impact at its forefront. With over 25 years experience in strategy management and real estate development across a broad range of public, non-profit and private sectors, Cherie has an affinity and special interest in the faith based community. She has consulted for the Archdiocese of Melbourne, the Baptist Union of Victoria and the Churches of Christ denominations in Australia, assisting them with church mergers and the repurposing of their assets for community impact. In the US, Good Places in partnership with KNGDM group recently completed the first of its kind, demonstration project for the North Georgia United Methodist Conference. This arts centered development features 78-units of affordable housing and mission aligned programs integrating a shared kitchen incubator, black box theatre and art studios inside the 100-year old historic UMC church. Born in Malaysia, Ong immigrated to Australia at the age of fifteen and is now married to an Atlanta native with 2 children, residing in Georgia for the last 13 years. Cherie served several terms on the Board of the Urban Land Institute Atlanta and holds honors degrees in accounting, finance and economics from the University of Melbourne Australia, and a masters in religious education from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago.
Derrick Morgan
Derrick Morgan
Co-founder and Managing Partner, KNGDM Group
Derrick Morgan is a former NFL linebacker who enjoyed an amazing 9 year career with the Tennessee Titans. He studied Business Management at Georgia Tech and later received his MBA from the University of Miami. Derrick has a passion to change the narrative of a traditional athlete. He is a champion of empowerment for the underserved as well as an advocate for financial literacy. Derrick has been involved in commercial and residential development in Nashville and Austin over the last several years. He is a co-founder of NexLegacy construction company, and engages with FEMA to deliver construction services to areas hit by natural disasters. Derrick is an angel investor, investing in dozens of companies over his professional career. More recently, aligning his private finances with his values, Derrick has started KNGDM Group, an Opportunity Zone initiative focused on investing in projects and companies that generate a “double bottom line return” (financial+social/environmental). He is an early investor in food sustainable company Beyond meat, as well as Bitwise, a tech startup that administers technology training for minorities. Derrick believes that private investment has a critical role in revitalizing marginalized communities and continues to leverage his platform for positive change. Derrick is also the founder of the pro athlete organization, IAMNATION, a collective of business minded athletes. Derrick is married with 2 children and his faith is the centerpiece of his life.

Date

Feb 15 2024
Expired!

Time

5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Location

Napa Methodist Church
625 Randolph Street, Napa, California

Speakers

  • Derrick Morgan
    Derrick Morgan
    Co-founder and Managing Partner, KNGDM Group

    Derrick Morgan is a former NFL linebacker who enjoyed an amazing 9 year career with the Tennessee Titans. He studied Business Management at Georgia Tech and later received his MBA from the University of Miami. Derrick has a passion to change the narrative of a traditional athlete. He is a champion of empowerment for the underserved as well as an advocate for financial literacy. Derrick has been involved in commercial and residential development in Nashville and Austin over the last several years. He is a co-founder of NexLegacy construction company, and engages with FEMA to deliver construction services to areas hit by natural disasters.
    Derrick is an angel investor, investing in dozens of companies over his professional career.

    More recently, aligning his private finances with his values, Derrick has started KNGDM Group, an Opportunity Zone initiative focused on investing in projects and companies that generate a “double bottom line return” (financial+social/environmental). He is an early investor in food sustainable company Beyond meat, as well as Bitwise, a tech startup that administers technology training for minorities. Derrick believes that private investment has a critical role in revitalizing marginalized communities and continues to leverage his platform for positive change. Derrick is also the founder of the pro athlete organization, IAMNATION, a collective of business minded athletes. Derrick is married with 2 children and his faith is the centerpiece of his life.

  • Cherie Ong
    Cherie Ong
    Principal, Good Places

    Cherie Ong is a real estate developer and consultant working to create innovative, sustainable and equitable communities in Atlanta. She is the co-founder of Good Places, a firm that develops properties with mission and community impact at its forefront.

    With over 25 years experience in strategy management and real estate development across a broad range of public, non-profit and private sectors, Cherie has an affinity and special interest in the faith based community. She has consulted for the Archdiocese of Melbourne, the Baptist Union of Victoria and the Churches of Christ denominations in Australia, assisting them with church mergers and the repurposing of their assets for community impact. In the US, Good Places in partnership with KNGDM group recently completed the first of its kind, demonstration project for the North Georgia United Methodist Conference. This arts centered development features 78-units of affordable housing and mission aligned programs integrating a shared kitchen incubator, black box theatre and art studios inside the 100-year old historic UMC church.

    Born in Malaysia, Ong immigrated to Australia at the age of fifteen and is now married to an Atlanta native with 2 children, residing in Georgia for the last 13 years. Cherie served several terms on the Board of the Urban Land Institute Atlanta and holds honors degrees in accounting, finance and economics from the University of Melbourne Australia, and a masters in religious education from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago.

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