Community Builders Network Staff

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Linda Nguyen moved to St. Louis in 2013 to get her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the Washington University in St. Louis with a concentration in social and economic development and a specialization in nonprofit management. Linda is dedicated to the strengthening of organizations’ capacity and building strong neighborhoods through the reinvestments of people and places.

In the last decade, she has created and managed anti-displacement programming that addresses the needs of hundreds of low- and moderate-income households, completed several community-wide needs assessments to identify current gaps of service and areas of opportunities, provided strategic planning and board development for two growing nonprofits, and organized numerous community events and workshops that provided community stakeholders with the tools to take action. Prior to working in the community development field in St. Louis, she has over ten years of experience in social welfare case management and counseling support in an urban setting working closely with seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk youth and families, survivors of domestic violence, HIV/AIDS and homeless populations.

Linda is passionate about working together to build the capacity of leaders and organizations to address the inequities in the St. Louis region. With over two decades of grassroot nonprofit experiences, she looks forward to creating meaningful relationships that connect the private and public sectors to all the great opportunities that make St. Louis a wonderful place to live, work, and play.

Aja Corrigan is a local preservationist and community advocate dedicated to healing trauma through education and equitable community development. Aja believes that empowering strong, informed communities requires an understanding of historical context and systemic inequalities, and she brings this perspective to her work—ensuring that development efforts are rooted in advancement and economic empowerment that is inclusive and sustainable for all.

Aja holds Bachelor's degrees in Communication and Psychology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and applies a trauma-informed approach to community outreach, neighborhood revitalization and advocacy. By recognizing the historical impacts of community-building efforts, she works to ensure that community development provides opportunities for the education of living wage, transferable skills and homeownership, without displacing residents or erasing community foundations. She has collaborated with local and nationwide institutions to amplify underrepresented voices and advocate for policies that promote social equity and create long term solutions. At CBN, Aja works with housing organizations, policymakers, and grassroots leaders to promote equitable development that honors the people and vibrant potential of our communities, while building a stronger, more inclusive future.

Born and raised in St. Louis, Aja’s deep personal connection to the region fuels her passion for preservation, affordable housing and community resilience. Whether she is leading restoration efforts, facilitating discussions on ethical development, or bridging the gap between history and progress at CBN, Aja remains committed to honoring the lessons learned while building a more just and sustainable support system for St. Louis communities.

Graduate practicum students + Fellows