The board of directors for Partners Achieving Community Transformation (PACT) today announced Shayla Favor as the new executive director of the organization. She will begin her duties on Nov. 22, 2021. Favor succeeds Autumn Glover, who left the organization in August of this year.
Favor, a member of Columbus City Council since January of 2019, will continue her duties as a member of city council. Prior to becoming a council member, Favor served as an assistant city attorney in the Columbus City Attorney’s office. Assigned to the Environmental Division, Favor had the opportunity to serve the residents of the Near East side by addressing neighborhood disparity and criminal activity through the abatement of nuisance properties.
“Eliminating blight gets to the heart of protecting our public safety and improving the quality of life of our residents,” said Favor. Favor is a graduate of The Ohio State University and Capital University Law School and is a resident of Columbus’ Near East Side neighborhood.
Under Favor’s leadership as the incoming executive director, PACT will advance solutions that achieve its goals to drive redevelopment, impact education, health and safety in the PACT geography and drive community transformation. Favor looks forward to building upon the foundation and executing the plans outlined in the PACT Blueprint Community Investment Plan, which was developed in collaboration with the community in 2013.
“Now more than ever, it’s critical that we work to not only ensure the revitalization of the Near East Side of Columbus through the implementation of PACT’s Blueprint Community Investment plan, but to also protect legacy residents from the effects of gentrification and systemic racism that have contributed to the inequities that we see in education, healthcare, housing and employment,” said Favor.
As a non-profit, PACT engages the community in shaping the many moving pieces involved in community revitalization in the PACT geography. “Factors such as mixed-income housing, educational pipelines and wellness resources must come together to create a healthy, financially and environmentally sustainable community,” Favor continued.
Favor brings her deep understanding and legal expertise in housing, her commitment to driving change for marginalized communities and her passion around community redevelopment to PACT.
“Shayla has the skills, relationships and commitment to carry our mission and vision forward,” said Elizabeth Seely, MHA, FACHE, chief administrative officer, Hospital Division for The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and chair of the PACT Board. “We are excited to have her lead us as we continue to create meaningful change in our community,” said Seely.
PACT recently celebrated 10 years of community transformation. Remaining future-focused, Favor and PACT’s board aims to continue removing barriers to housing, healthcare, education and employment for those in the Near East Side.
