Kanesha Brown

Kanesha Brown’s journey to the development industry is one of resilience, perseverance and tenacity. Fueled by her childhood experiences living in a blighted community, she committed her career to revitalizing neighborhoods, resuscitating urban commercial corridors, and restoring cultural history through new developments. With a strong portfolio of 50+ architectural design, renovation, and new construction projects combined, Kanesha’s extensive knowledge has allowed her to thrive as a prominent leader in community engagement and advocacy. 

Kanesha graduated from Hampton University with a Master of Architecture in 2012. Throughout her tenure, she began to establish successful partnerships as an Urban Design Intern for Newport New Housing Authority in 2010. There, she worked closely with a team on the launch of accessible and affordable housing developments. Most notably, she participated in the revitalization of Jefferson Park, which was known to be a high crime and low-income, yet historic neighborhood.   

After graduating from Hampton University, Kanesha accepted an Architectural Internship in her home state, Connecticut. Driven by her passion for community development, as well as her desire to inspire young women pursuing STEM career paths, she wanted to pave the way for minority women of color who had similar backgrounds and upbringings. Under the advisement of long-time mentor, Regina Winters, Principal of Zared Architecture, Kanesha strategically mapped out a career plan that would encompass qualifying experiences pertinent to the architectural registration exam and construction manager certification. While her career began as a Zared Architecture intern, she quickly flourished into a full-time designer within her first year. Esteemed for spearheading the master plans for the CTFastrak, and Neighborhood Revitalization Zone (NRZ) for the Black Rock Neighborhood, she spent the next 5 years at Zared learning, growing and refining her skills with the aspiration of one day, opening her own architectural firm. In 2015, role model and mentor, Regina Winters, suffered from a decline in health and tragically succumbed to cancer. Devastated by the loss, Kanesha decided to carry out the Zared legacy through neighborhood revitalization and virility restoration as a freelance architect.  

In 2016, Kanesha was recruited to join the University of Maryland’s Planning and Construction Department. Joining the team as a Project Coordinator, she quickly climbed the ranks to Project Manager Associate, and later, Project Manager. There, her 5-year employment concluded with the completion of 121M in educational renovations and new construction projects. Some of Kanesha’s most recognized projects included the South Wing Renovation for the Main Administration Building; the UMD Solar Canopy; and the UMES Agriculture and Research Center (New Construction).  

Diving further into passion and purpose, Kanesha channeled the multifaceted, diverse and authentic aspects of her skillset, and in 2020, she utilized them to start a new venture. Equipped with 10 years of architectural, urban design and development experience, and 7 years of project management experience, she expanded her network as an affiliate with several community organizations. Inspired by the new possibilities presented, she returned to the development industry as a Project Manager for Local Housing. With the flexibility and support of leadership, she implemented robust community engagement plans, designed with the goal of empowering low-income residents and transitioning their communities while providing civic engagement opportunities. Her work in creating and implementing the Resident Engagement Plan for the Alexandria Housing Authority currently stands as the crown jewel of her career.