Kathy Izard

Kathy Izard is an inspiring leader and change-maker on a local and national level. She will be the Lead Instructor for Wake Forest’s Nonprofit Essentials course beginning Fall 2020. Kathy was an award-winning advertising professional for twenty years in Charlotte before launching the pilot program Homeless to Homes for the interfaith Urban Ministry Center in 2007. She led the city-wide effort to build Moore Place, Charlotte’s first permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless men and women. After Moore Place opened in 2012, Kathy worked on numerous civic projects including leading the development campaign for HopeWay, Charlotte’s first nonprofit residential mental health treatment center which opened in 2016. Along with founding three programs and working with nonprofits as both a volunteer and staff member, Kathy has served on numerous nonprofit boards helping to raise funds from individuals, foundations and corporations in Charlotte and across North Carolina. Kathy is the recipient of the Bank of America Neighborhood Hero Award, the NC Housing Volunteer of the Year Award and recognized as a William J. Clinton Distinguished Guest Lecturer. She is the author of two books, The Hundred Story Home which received the 2017 Christopher Award and A Good Night for Mr. Coleman, a children’s book written to encourage kids to dream big and Do Good. Her work has been featured on NPR as well as the Today Show inspiring people to be change makers in their communities.