Maya Francis
Director of Community Engagement
Lift Jax, Inc.
Maya Francis is a visionary leader, transformational consultant, mentor, and advocate for community equity. A proud native of Jacksonville, Florida, and deeply connected to her roots in the city’s urban core, Maya has a steadfast commitment to uplifting marginalized communities and advancing sustainable, community-driven change.
Maya currently serves as the Director of Community Engagement at LIFT JAX, where she leads the design and implementation of strategies that strengthen community voice and foster neighborhood transformation. In this role, she spearheads resident engagement efforts within Jacksonville’s Historic Eastside while supporting expansion into additional communities. Maya works to build meaningful cross-sector partnerships, represent the organization in community spaces, and develop systems that ensure resident voices actively shape programs, strategy, and long-term impact. She also collaborates closely with communications teams to elevate authentic storytelling that reflects lived experiences with dignity and purpose, all in alignment with LIFT JAX’s mission to eradicate generational poverty.
In 2024, Maya launched Legacy Building Collective, LLC, an organization committed to empowering communities and organizations through strategic consulting, community-driven initiatives, and sustainable real estate development—creating a lasting impact for future generations. Prior to this, she founded Bold Move Ministries, Inc. in 2023, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping believers to be disciples and build disciples through Bible studies, Christian coaching, and fellowship.
Maya is a graduate of Florida State University and Webster University, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Communication and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Project Management. Recognized for her commitment to fostering connections and building collaborative relationships, she was honored as a member of the Jacksonville Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” class of 2022.
Maya’s journey reflects not only personal achievement but a deep and unwavering dedication to creating pathways of opportunity and extending a helping hand to others.
10:15 am - 11:30 am ET
Community of Practice Workshops I-VI: Small Group Breakouts @ 2nd Floor
From Strategy to Street: LIFT JAX’s Mixed-Income Model in OutEast Jacksonville
Offsite Workshop
How does a housing strategy move beyond paper and show up on the block? Join LIFT JAX in OutEast Jacksonville for an on-the-ground look at how a mixed-income housing strategy is driving visible neighborhood change. In a community defined by scattered sites and legacy homeownership, development doesn’t happen in one large footprint; it happens intentionally, lot by lot, around key neighborhood nodes.
Participants will tour homes under construction and recently completed to see how LIFT JAX aligns new single-family development and comprehensive home repair investments with existing neighborhood assets. By focusing on strategic infill near schools, commercial corridors, and community anchors, LIFT JAX strengthens long-time residents’ ability to stay, creates pathways to first-time homeownership, and stabilizes blocks through thoughtful rehabilitation and design.
This session offers a candid look at what it takes to implement a mixed-income strategy in a legacy neighborhood, where context, culture, and proximity matter as much as the homes themselves.
Note: This workshop is off-site. You will travel to and from the conference hotel to OutEast via shuttle. Limited to 20 participants.
