Rae Sanchez is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Tennessee Resilience Project (TRP). Mrs. Sanchez served as the Director of the HUD Continuum of Care (COC) for the state of Tennessee.
As CEO, Mrs. Sanchez will lead efforts to connect local organizations through a systems-focused approach, exploring innovative solutions to address homelessness in the community. She will strategically drive initiatives aimed at rebuilding both individuals and communities. In response to the economic challenges of a post-pandemic world, Mrs. Sanchez will implement a two-generation, research-driven initiative that offers support and opportunities to economically vulnerable individuals.
For two decades, Mrs. Sanchez has been a prominent advocate for poverty, volunteerism, and leadership in the homeless sector. Now, she brings her expertise and passion as the CEO of the TRP. Over the last 20 years, Rae has held numerous leadership positions, championing the conversation on poverty through workshops and seminars. She also developed a groundbreaking two-generation model focused on addressing inequality and innovating education, leveraging strategic partnerships to build it from the ground up.
In 2019, Mrs. Sanchez joined the Community Housing Partnership as Director of the HUD COC. She has also served as an adjunct professor at a Historically Black University and led her local Rotary Club as President. Mrs. Sanchez’s personal journey is a testament to resilience—having faced the loss of her first husband at 30, and later, tragically, the death of her eldest son in 2023. To her, resilience means leading with hope, fighting with determination, and believing that, no matter the hardship, things will get better.
Highlights
Founder and CEO of Tennessee Resilience Project as of January 1, 2021
Board of Directors, Franklin Rotary at Breakfast
Board of Directors, Bridges Domestic Violence Center
Board of Directors, Secretary, Franklin Justice and Equity Coalition
Board of Directors, Franklin, Cool Springs YMCA
Earned a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Communications from Wright State University and a Master’s degree in Psychology from University of Phoenix
Recognized by THDA in 2021 with the TN Best Director Award, for making the greatest impact in her area of expertise and to have shown to be instrumental in creating affordable housing opportunities for those in need
