Who We Are:
Started by longtime friends and urban developers Dana Crawford and Susan Powers, Mothers Advocate for Affordable Housing (MAAH) is a coalition of concerned business professionals, civic leaders, and citizens working to create affordable housing solutions in Colorado through legislative influence and nonprofit partnerships.
MAAH’s work is about recognizing the affordable housing challenge in our community and working towards better solutions so families can lead healthy, thriving lives and our economy can continue to grow.
Housing affordability is key to family economic mobility
Dana Crawford
Award-winning preservationist Dana Crawford initiated a concept of urban renewal that was one of the first of its kind in the United States. She pioneered the redevelopment of Denver’s historic Larimer Square in the mid 1960s, creating a festival shopping area from the neglected and abandoned buildings of Denver’s original main street. Today, Larimer Square serves as a prototype for the revitalization of forgotten main streets and architectural landmarks throughout the country.
In addition to her many business accomplishments, Mrs. Crawford has given much of her time to both local and national concerns. She served nine years on the board of directors of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, six of those years on its executive committee. In 1995 the National Trust awarded her their highest honor, the distinguished Louise duPont Crowninshield Award. For fifteen years she worked with Preservation Action, serving as president for two years. She presently serves on the national board of Project for Public Spaces.
Dana Crawford’s energy and commitment continue to be the spark for the ongoing revitalization of Denver’s Lower Downtown Historic District (LoDo). She is often called upon to assist others in their own revitalization efforts and has served as a consultant for over fifty communities to help preserve the historic character of neglected main streets and neighborhoods nationwide.
Susan Powers
Susan Powers is the President of Urban Ventures LLC, a real estate development company in Denver which she created in 1998. Urban Ventures focuses its efforts in urban neighborhoods, close to the core of downtown. In each development, there is a strong emphasis on health, community building, economic and social equity, and viability.
Prior to forming this company, Susan was the Executive Director of the Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) for 11 years. During that time, she was involved in the structuring, financing and construction of 18 complex commercial and residential real estate developments that contributed to the successful rebirth of downtown Denver. For the prior 12 years, she held a variety of positions in city management, community development and planning in Colorado and Nevada.
In Colorado, she is active with a variety of civic organizations and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Denver Community Health Services, Inc, and the Elevation Community Land Trust (ECLT). She is married and has two sons.