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Up for Growth is excited to announce the addition of David Garcia to our team as the new Policy Director. In this crucial role, David will spearhead the expansion of Up for Growth’s policy and advocacy initiatives, focusing on promoting innovative pro-housing policies. His efforts will advance Up for Growth’s mission to ensure that all people, regardless of income or background, can achieve the dream of a home in a community they choose.
“I am excited to welcome David to Up for Growth. His extensive knowledge in housing markets and public policy is crucial for our mission to address the housing shortage with sustainable and effective solutions,” said Mike Kingsella, CEO of Up for Growth.
Garcia is renowned for his extensive expertise in land use and housing policy reform. Before joining Up for Growth, he served as the Policy Director at the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at the University of California, Berkeley. During his tenure at the Terner Center, David led significant research and policy initiatives aimed at enhancing housing supply and implementing land use reforms. His active engagement with lawmakers across various levels of government played a pivotal role in advancing several key housing policies in California and beyond.
“I am thrilled to be joining the Up for Growth team,” Garcia said. “The need for proactive, evidence-based solutions to our nation’s housing affordability and attainability crises has never been greater. While much progress has been made to implement policies that will meaningfully increase housing supply, much more must be done. I look forward to working with the team at Up for Growth and all of our partners in the housing space to ensure a future where everyone has access to a safe and affordable place to call home.”
David’s insightful contributions to housing policy have garnered attention from major news outlets, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and NPR. He holds a master’s degree in public policy from the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies and an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.
David will be based in California, contributing to Up for Growth’s initiatives from one of the nation’s most dynamic housing markets.
Click here to Listen to David discuss Missing Middle housing with other experts.