Felicia Pierce, Chief Program Officer for North Shore CDC, is a nationally recognized, award-winning nonprofit leader with over 15 years of community organizing planning and development experience. Pierce implements strategic vision and leadership, led by informed community engagement work, to develop strategies, programs, and projects that enhance economic development, housing, and neighborhood growth for marginalized and underserved residents and youth throughout the North Shore. Pierce oversees all of NSCDC’s community programming which includes, but is not limited to, programs under youth development, community engagement, economic development, and youth housing. In 2019, Pierce was instrumental in developing the innovative service model for Harbor Crossing, which provides affordable housing to young adults that have experienced homelessness or are aging out of foster care, and designed and launched NSCDC’s Community Ambassador Program in 2020.

Pierce is inspired by community building, youth development, and empowering community members of all ages with the tools to become self-sufficient leaders to affect change in their communities. She currently serves as the Immediate Past President of the Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition and Secretary for the YouthBuild USA National Director’s Council. She extends her local community support as the Board Vice-Chair for Root N.S. and serves on the Essex County Community Foundation’s Racial Equity Committee. Felicia is also the co-founder of the North Women of Color Association. Most recently, she was featured in the April 2022 North Shore Magazine article entitled “Wonder Women”.

Originally from NYC, Pierce currently lives in Lynn, MA. Pierce and her husband Milton are foster parents to an inquisitive, resilient two-year-old girl. Pierce has found a balance in life through strength training, mentoring other women, supporting community-based street markets, serving on her church’s prayer team, and collecting vinyl records.

Pierce holds a Master of Social Work with a major in community organization and planning from the CUNY Hunter School of Social Work. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from SUNY College at Old Westbury, as well as a certificate in nonprofit management and leadership from Tufts University through the Institute for Nonprofit Practice.