Raekwon Johnson joined True Ground in 2022. He’s held numerous roles on the Resident Services team and was recently promoted to Housing Stability Manager. We sat down with Raekwon to discuss his vision for this next chapter and how resident services will continue to make an impact with our neighbors.
What is your educational and professional background?
I earned my bachelors of social work from Virginia State University in 2019 and my masters of social work with a concentration in clinical social work from George Mason University in 2022.
I’ve worked in employment services at the Fairfax County Department of Family Services, and in student services at a company called Year Up. I gained some great experience in case management at each job and maintained a caseload of 20+ people.
Where did your interest in human services and social work come from?
The interest stems from when I was in high school working with the guidance department. While I was an office aid, I was exposed to numerous different social workers, Guardian Ad Litems (GALs), and guidance counselors. These experiences really sparked my interest in learning more about their work and roles.
I also completed career assessments and found out I was a “Helper.” I landed with social work because there is such a vast opportunity to make an impact. It just made sense.
What social work value resonates with you the most as a practitioner?
Working at True Ground has given me a meaningful opportunity as a practitioner to demonstrate all six NASW core values, especially Service, the Importance of Human Relationships, and Competence, which resonate most with me.
The value of Service allows me to take what I learn from working directly with residents and use that knowledge when advocating for and planning new initiatives and programs. That direct practice experience helps me speak from experience and plan realistically and effectively.
Valuing the Importance of Human Relationships is crucial in our field. I believe that approaching this work with a genuine desire to help others and see positive change fosters a collaborative spirit between practitioner and client, making the helping process more effective and meaningful.
The value of Competence reminds us that social work practitioners must be lifelong learners. It reinforces our goal of creating positive change at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels by encouraging us to collaborate with community stakeholders and bring in expert perspectives to help guide strategy.
How do you incorporate social work values into your day-to-day job at True Ground?
Some of social work’s core values include Service, Competence, and Dignity & Worth of the Person. Our team centers its efforts around collaborating with residents, identifying their needs, collaborating on an action plan, and helping them see it through.
Our protocols and processes emphasize Dignity & Worth of the Person. For example, our entire team recently completed trauma-informed care training through the Arlington Department of Human Service – one of the many ways we support staff growth and reinforce core social work values. We strive to work effectively with residents from diverse backgrounds, and staff competence is key.
When did you join True Ground and how has your role evolved?
I joined in September 2022 as a Resident Services Coordinator at Columbia Hills Apartments. I was able to establish myself in the community and let residents know I was there to assist. Everyone in this building knows Raekwon. I’ve walked those floors and knocked on every door many times.
During my door-to-door outreach, I highlighted our onsite programs and services, but I also wanted to introduce myself. My goal was to build rapport and foster open communication with each household. I’ve also supported our neighboring community, Columbia Grove, which is directly next to Columbia Hills.
Next, I was promoted to Senior Resident Services Coordinator, where I took on more of a leadership role. One highlight was a collaboration with my colleague, Charade Jackson, and my former employer, the Fairfax County Department of Family Services. We organized a job fair and had a wonderful turnout, including neighbors from Arlington and Fairfax counties.
Since February 2026, I have been serving as Housing Stability Manager.
Were there any standout programs that you supported during your time at Columbia Hills and Columbia Grove?
Both communities serve many families and children, so I supported a lot of family-oriented events. These included community gatherings like a Ramadan celebration, Spring Fests, and the after-school learning program for youth. We also held neighborhood town halls to engage parents, gather feedback, and provide childcare at the same time.
In your new role as Housing Stability Manager, what priorities do you have and what impact do you expect?
One of my first goals was to establish a formal framework for housing stability. That includes process guides for working with households in crisis and eviction prevention protocols. We want to clearly understand the parameters and limitations we are working within, so everyone on the Resident Services team has the resources they need.
The vision is for this framework to be a durable but evolving document that standardizes our processes across the portfolio while adapting as needs change. Our goal is to keep our eviction rate as low as possible while also creating opportunities for advancement, including financial wellness, homeownership, and asset-building initiatives. I’m looking forward to supporting residents and establishing impactful partnerships that bring resources to them so we can positively influence the trajectory of their lives and well-being.
It will take time to tailor different approaches for different localities and target populations, but establishing this framework gives us a clear path forward and builds the partnerships needed to support that work.
What does a typical day look like as the Housing Stability Manager?
I try to be a resource for our team. I collaborate closely with onsite staff to discuss complex, housing stability cases across the portfolio. I’m also always on the lookout for new partnerships – at True Ground, we believe partnerships are essential to building stronger communities.
What have you learned from working in social services?
Meet people where they are and be intentional with how we interact with each other.
Are there any stories that stand out from the community from your time at True Ground?
I would point to the residents who recently participated in our Individual Development Account (IDA) program. Many of the participants from Columbia Hills shared positive feedback about the impact it had on them, especially the opportunity to save money and receive tailored financial resources from Virginia Cooperative Extension. Their feedback was consistent: they found the program valuable and were looking forward to the next iteration.
I’ve heard similar feedback about our Encouraging Affordability and Stability for Everyone (EASE) program, which is specific to Gilliam Place. I recently led a financial class there, and many residents shared how much they value the program. They said it gave them an opportunity to build savings, which is especially important because many of our residents are one unexpected expense away from becoming destabilized.
Hearing that feedback from both IDA and EASE participants shows that these programs are positively impacting participants.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Working at True Ground has definitely been one of the greatest parts of my career so far. Coming here shortly after earning my masters in social work gave me an incredible opportunity to apply those skills in different ways. As a Resident Services Coordinator, I was able to work directly with residents, host small-group programs, and contribute to more macro-focused work with the leadership team.
Starting in that role was an important step in my professional development because it exposed me to the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of social work. Now, as Housing Stability Manager, I can focus even more on mezzo and macro level work. True Ground has been an employer of choice for me.
