Burlington Community Land Trust to Hire Executive Director
Burlington, N.C. – Burlington Community Land Trust is pleased to announce that after an
extensive search, Preston Lewis has been named as the organization’s inaugural Executive
Director. Preston will build upon the progress led by Burlington Community Land Trust’s Board
of Directors to create avenues for affordable housing in the Morrowtown community.
“We’re thrilled that Preston will bring his experience in community development and
fundraising to Burlington,” said Board Chair Shineece Sellars. “Preston has a demonstrated
commitment to under-resourced and often overlooked communities, and we are confident in
his abilities to implement the land trust model, beginning in Morrowtown.”
Lewis will officially join Burlington Community Land Trust on May 4. In his role, he will lead
efforts to attract and increase public and private investment, elevate neighborhood voice,
acquire and rehabilitate properties, and ensure long-term affordability through community
ownership. He will also represent Burlington across the state as a member of the North
Carolina Community Land Trust Coalition, the North Carolina Housing Coalition, and in
partnership with the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency.
“Housing is more than shelter—it is the foundation for stability, dignity, and generational
wealth,” said Lewis. “The community land trust model puts power back into the hands
of residents—for the residents—making it a win for the City of Burlington and local businesses
when housing is aligned with economic development. I’m honored to work alongside the board
and the people of Morrowtown to build something rooted in trust, ownership, and
opportunity.”
Lewis brings nearly two decades of leadership across the nonprofit, government, and private
sectors, with deep experience in community development, strategy, and urban planning.
Known for his systems-level thinking, collaborative spirit, and genuine passion for helping
others, he has led impactful work across the Midwest and Southeast. A graduate of North
Carolina Central University (B.S.W.) and the University of Michigan (Executive M.S.W.), Lewis
began his career in philanthropy with the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation. Lewis led
community engagement and grantmaking strategies across Detroit, with an emphasis on
increasing community investment in blight removal, land use, block club stabilization, and
securing resources for basic needs of children and families.
Lewis later served as a Community Engagement Specialist with the Brightmoor Alliance in
Detroit, where he strengthened neighborhood partnerships and increased resident
participation through grassroots organizing, fundraising, and collaborative programming.
Lewis is also the founder of Minority Males for Higher Education, a national initiative designed
to support college and career pathways for men and boys through mentorship, exposure, and
personal development. This work gained national recognition and led to his recruitment to
Durham, where he was tapped to lead My Brother’s Keeper, an initiative launched by President
Barack Obama. In this role, he led a citywide strategy focused on improving outcomes for boys
and men of color, securing major investments and launching innovative programs in financial
literacy, neighborhood improvement and workforce development.
About Burlington Community Land Trust
Burlington Community Land Trust was created to provide affordable housing for low-income
households in under-resourced neighborhoods, beginning in Morrowtown. The heart of the
Burlington Community Land Trust resides in the community of Morrowtown. Burlington
Community Land Trust collaborates with the Morrowtown Community Group, city and county
government, and private and public funders to implement the land trust model. Burlington
Community Land Trust’s goal is to build community involvement and engagement while
improving the local neighborhood. To learn more, visit burlingtonclt.org