Allyson Carpenter is an affordable housing developer, community advocate, and former elected official based in Washington, D.C. A proud product of Howard University, she studied Political Science and Community Development and is a distinguished Harry S. Truman Scholar. At the young age of 18, Allyson made history by becoming the youngest elected official in Washington D.C., serving as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner. This early entry into public service marked the beginning of a dedicated career in community engagement and housing advocacy.

Following her impactful tenure as a commissioner, Allyson furthered her studies in government and policy at the University of Oxford, Lady Margaret Hall, as a Luard Morse Scholar. Upon returning to Howard University, she was elected President of the Student Government Association, demonstrating her exceptional leadership skills and commitment to addressing student and community issues. Notably, in 2020, Allyson played a pivotal role on the National Organizing Committee of the Women’s March on Washington, where she helped coordinate logistics and contributed to the policy platform.

Currently, Allyson serves as Regional Leader (Mid-Atlantic) and Vice President of Development at McCormack Baron Salazar, the nation’s leading developer of affordable and mixed-income housing. In this role, she spearheads the development of transformative mixed-income and mixed-use projects in the mid-Atlantic region. She focuses on large-scale HUD Choice neighborhood revitalizations in Baltimore, Maryland, and Syracuse, New York, projects that are poised to deliver over 3,000 new homes for working-class families in the next decade.

In her previous role as the Director of Public Engagement for Council member Anita Bonds and the DC Council Committee on Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization, Allyson collaborated with residents, advocacy organizations, and elected officials. She played a crucial role in advancing legislation to expand down payment assistance for low- and middle-income homebuyers, enhance tenant protections in rent-controlled properties, and address the housing affordability crisis. Her responsibilities also included oversight of the DC Housing Authority and DC Housing Finance Agency, where she developed a deep understanding of DC's housing production and preservation ecosystem.

Allyson's journey in community organizing and housing advocacy began at Howard University. Her successful campaign for the Advisory Neighborhood Commission at age 17 led to two terms as a Ward 1 Commissioner. Her dedication to public service and community development has been recognized by The Root, ESSENCE Magazine, the DC Council, MSNBC, Vice President Kamala Harris, and First Lady Michelle Obama. Leveraging her strong communication and media skills, she hosted "What’s At Stake," a digital series for BET, highlighting social justice and political issues in the black community. Recognized by MSNBC as a rising star in politics, The Root’s “25 under 25: Young Futurists” list, and Affordable Housing Finance Magazine’s 2024 Young Leaders under 40, Allyson continues to drive change and development in urban communities, committed to creating a more equitable and inclusive future.  

Thanks to DC’s Home Purchase Assistance Program, Allyson is a proud Ward 8 homeowner. She serves on the Board of Directors for Running Start, a DC-based nonprofit that encourages and trains high school girls and young women to run for political office; and the Joyce Ivy Foundation, a nonprofit that provides scholarships and mentorship for high school girls seeking admission at the nation’s top colleges and universities.