Trust for Community Housing: Senior Staff & Board Update!

05 Feb Trust for Community Housing: Senior Staff & Board Update!

Amy Levek, Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Trust for Community Housing (TCH) of the Telluride region has announced her semi-retirement, stepping back from running the organization day-to-day, effective as of Jan 31. Ryan Markey was elected as TCH Board President and Nate Smith joined the Board.

Go here for more on TCH.

Amy Levek standing next to one of her award-winning photographs, “Behind Ingram Falls.” A star in all her endeavors.

Amy Levek was instrumental in the founding and success of TCH. Her tenure there has been the capstone of a decades-long community advocacy career in her hometown of Telluride.

“I’ve lived a life of activism and involvement, especially during my time in Telluride. The time seems right to explore partial retirement and some of my other interests like photography. I look forward to continued involvement with the community and TCH,” said Levek.

It is hard to overstate the positive and long-lasting impact Amy has had on the Telluride community.

Amy Levek attended the University of Pennsylvania in the Master of Regional Planning program, moving to Telluride in 1987 to become the Planning Director for the Town, after working in the planning profession in the Denver and New England areas. She also served on Telluride Town Council and as Mayor, as well as San Miguel County Commissioner.

Amy worked for the Town of Telluride and San Miguel County, also consulting for numerous private clients in the region. She was Executive Director of the Telluride Council for the Arts and Humanities (now Telluride Arts) and helped establish the San Miguel Authority for Regional Transportation as its first Interim Director.

As a planner representing both public and private interests, Amy worked with diverse citizen groups and individuals involved in the public process, advocating for an affordable and livable community. She also became a regular nonprofit volunteer, mentoring through One to One, helping the Telluride Film Festival and Mountainfilm, as well as other local organizations, including as a board member for the San Miguel Educational Foundation, KOTO, and the San Miguel County Historical Commission.

“Amy is the kind of community activist who has helped make Telluride what it is today — a place we love to call home,” noted DeLanie Young, Mayor.

Under Amy’s leadership, the Housing Trust established the Housing Opportunity Fund, which provides financial assistance to qualified locals to access affordable housing. Now approaching its third year, the Fund has supported over 100 locals.

Amy’s expertise and TCH’s research has also figured prominently in community discussions around affordable housing.

Of her time with TCH, Amy noted:

“I’ve been grateful to have the support of co-founders Katherine Borsecnik and Gene Weil in establishing the Trust. Having a nonprofit devoted to housing was a missing part of the housing picture in the Telluride region.”

Though the Trust will miss Amy’s daily leadership, she will continue to be supporting the organization’s mission through special projects.