Veanda Simmons is a community development and urban planning leader with an extensive experience of directing housing, social services, and economic development initiatives. Simmons is a highly accomplished professional, having directed mixed-use developments through the land use entitlement process, resulting in over 3,000 new affordable housing units throughout the Borough of Manhattan over the past six years. Her vast contribution to affordable housing in New York City is one of the critical achievements that has earned the attention of top media outlets. Her knowledge and ability to overcome challenges are highly sought after qualities, and it is evident in the annual success and promotion of the Mayor's New York City's Housing New York 2.0 initiative. Simmons is also a highly skilled self-defense instructor, having taught and facilitated safety awareness workshops as a black belt in karate. She is well versed in urban planning, with her Master's degree in Urban Planning and Housing Development from Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. Over eight out of twelve community boards in Manhattan have reaped the benefits of her collaborative work in mixed-use developments, servicing over 1,300,000 residents.