Community builders: A campus conversation with Habitat for Humanity's worldwide CEO

Joy. Community. Housing access. In nations around the world, Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford has seen how closely intertwined those concepts can be.

In a special appearance at Roanoke College, which has a close partnership with Habitat, Reckford spoke with students and community members about what he’s learned during his years leading the global nonprofit that last year alone helped more than 7 million people. 

“We have seen so many extraordinary stories of transformation,” Reckford said, adding that extends to volunteers as well. “When people are out on a build site together, they get a glimpse and a feeling of what community is supposed to feel like but too rarely does … They become community builders.”

Reckford’s visit was part of the Bishop Crumley Lecture Series sponsored by the Benne Center for Church and Society, and was the kickoff in a series of community-centered events being held in the leadup to next month’s inauguration of Roanoke College President Shushok.

During his trip Thursday, Reckford was able to tour the 18th annual R House project that Roanoke students come together to build in partnership with Habitat. He later reflected on the layered meaning of the collaboration’s name — our house built by our community.

“Really, the story of Habitat is a story of people just like you in this room,” he said. “People who decide, hey, there's a real issue out here and we can do something about it together.”