Paulina Apone is BII’s Senior Impact Investing Associate. Originally from Oregon, she brings knowledge and experience supporting BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs in realizing their ventures. Prior to BII, she lived in New Orleans, where she worked with an affordable housing nonprofit formerly known as the Tulane/Canal Neighborhood Development Corporation, now People’s Housing+. She also was a microentrepreneur financial advisor for Fund 17. Currently, her focus is on economic development for historically marginalized communities in the New England area and learning the local history and the effects it has on community development. Professionally, she strives to work with BII in community economic growth, using affordable and accessible real estate to mitigate displacement and supporting programs that emphasize environmental justice. Paulina holds an MBA from Brandeis’ Heller School for Social Policy and Management and a BA in English from Portland State University.