Richard Townsell is a Chicago (North Lawndale)  native and thought leader in community development. In Richard’s 20+ year career in community development, he has developed nearly 500 units of residential and commercial properties (which have totaled over $100 MM in total development cost) and helped to design comprehensive community plans for affordable housing, education and economic development initiatives.

Richard is the Executive Director at the Lawndale Christian Development Corporation. Richard has taught community development courses at Northwestern University’s Asset-Based Community Development Institute as well as with the Chicago Rehab Network’s Urban Developer’s Institute.  He holds a Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University in Mathematics Education and a Master of Science from Spertus College in Nonprofit Management. Richard has received many awards for the work including the Fellow of the Year at Leadership Greater Chicago’s 20^th anniversary and a Leadership for a Changing World Award from the Ford Foundation.

Richard has been married to his college sweetheart Stephanie for over 30 years.  They have two adult children, Lena and Gabriel.  Richard also coaches youth wrestling in his spare time with Beat The Streets Chicago.