JUBILEE HOUSING - Key Persons

Jim Knight has led Jubilee Housing as its president and chief executive officer (CEO) since 2002, guiding strategic direction for its mission and vision. He leads a staff of more than 70 employees developing and managing affordable housing communities and offering various supportive services for residents. In his tenure, the organization has completed the development of ten properties totaling nearly $150M in investments, growing resident service delivery for youth and families, and establishing first-of-its-kind housing and services for people returning from incarceration. In addition to utilizing cutting-edge financing and innovative solutions to address DC's affordable housing crisis, Mr. Knight has led the organization to adopt environmental justice tools such as Solar for All, energy resiliency, and aquaponics. Knight spearheaded the launch of the Justice Housing Partners Fund series, impact investment funds that Jubilee has used to acquire eight new properties that will produce 300 new units of justice housing®. Knight has also helped establish new collective efforts among community partners, including the Platform of Hope, working with families in Adams Morgan, and the DC Reentry Housing and Services Alliance, a collective impact initiative working with partners to establish citywide housing and services for residents returning from incarceration. Knight, a DC resident for nearly three decades, previously served on the Housing Production Trust Fund Advisory Board, assisting two mayors in their strategic investment in affordable housing. He currently serves on the board of Recovery Café DC in historic Anacostia. Knight is a member of the Leadership Greater Washington class of 2019, was recognized as non-profit CEO of the Year in 2018 by the Washington Business Journal, and was recently recognized with the Bob Pohlman Lifetime Achievement in Community Development Award from The Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development (CNHED). Knight began his career in 1994 as an intern with the Festival Center, a mission of the Church of the Savior in Washington, DC, which placed him at Jubilee Housing. He is a member of the Bread of Life Church, a faith community that grew out of the Church of the Saviour, and he describes his career path as driven by his faith. Jim Knight received his BA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He and his family are proud DC residents, and his wife co-owns a veterinary practice in the District.

Jason Ellis

Job Titles:

Vice President of Programs

Jhon Sanabria

Job Titles:

Member of the Property Management Team

Jilian Johnson

Job Titles:

Vice President of Human Resources
Vice President of Human Resources and Administration

Jilian Johnson serves as Vice President of Human Resources and Administration. She assumed the role in the fall of 2021. Johnson oversees all human resource functions and collaborates with leadership to strategize and facilitate staffing capacity and work plans for Jubilee's expansion. Along with expertise in human resources, Johnson has a demonstrated ability to build diverse and inclusive team cultures and shares Jubilee Housing's commitment to justice housing. Her experience includes employee relations, performance management systems, compensation, and payroll analysis. Johnson's last position was at American Girl, Inc. She spent over ten years and served as a key leadership member and was responsible for broadening organizational awareness about diversity and inclusion, increasing employee partnership, and fostering an inclusive, positive workplace. Previously, she served on the Literacy Volunteers and Advocates board of directors and received a BA in Communications and an MBA from Trinity Washington University.