Linda Leaks

Co-Founder

Ella Jo Baker Intentional Community Cooperative

Linda Leaks fought for housing justice in Washington, DC for 35 years. An educator and an organizer, she showed apartment renters how to form cooperatives in their buildings. Leaks supported the development of 13 co-ops in 16 years, including the first cooperative in the U.S. formed by public housing tenants.

Congratulatory Listings

Congratulations to Linda Leaks, DC's own Cooperative Housing (S)Hero!

Linda’s commitment to affordable, safe and consistent housing in the nation’s capital has spanned nearly half a century; she’s helped hundreds of tenants purchase their buildings to form multiple limited-equity cooperatives and helped thousands with other housing justice issues. Linda embodies the collective leadership ideals of the co-op she calls home: the Ella Jo Baker Intentional Community Cooperative.

Thanks to Linda Leaks and Other WISH Staff for Saving Affordable Housing.

Washington Innercity Self Help was the only support that many black and brown people had to save their apartments from the wave of gentrification in the 1990s. Founded by 40 local churches, WISH converted 30 apartment buildings into limited equity housing cooperatives. Respect and appreciation to Linda Leaks from the other WISH Staff:

Paul Battle
Martha Davis
Benito Diaz
Rozanne Look
Dominic Moulden
Andy Waxman

Sending Love to our Shero, Linda Leaks!

We join in celebration of Linda Leaks, co-founder of Empower DC, upon her induction into the National Co-op Hall of Fame! Linda, thank you for your incredible contribution to the creation of cooperative housing, community power and a more just and equitable world. We love you!

Monarc is a full-service general contractor offering services from small MEP projects to multifamily new builds. Developers, Diplomatic Missions, and Nonprofits turn to us because they know we will deliver a quality project through collaboration that builds lasting relationships.

DC Housing Co-ops Congratulate Linda Leaks

Linda Leaks, thank you for many years of dedication and sacrifice to teach and work with us to create affordable homeownership. Thank you for helping us save ourselves from gentrification and build great communities. Congratulations!

Spirit of W Street Cooperative

Malcolm X Court Cooperative

1425 T Street Cooperative

Voice of Madison Cooperative

Mandela Cooperative

Nehemiah Cooperative Estates

We Still Have a Dream Cooperative

Harriet Tubman Cooperative

God is in Control at 1256 Cooperative

Champlain Court Cooperative

LDJ Cooperative

1327 Kenyon Street Cooperative