I am a freelance grant writer, specializing in housing and community development projects, and currently a masters candidate at the University of Oslo, conducting research on social housing policy in my homeland: British Columbia, Canada.

For nearly a decade, I was a resident of Marion, Indiana. The first four years were spent earning an undergraduate degree in English Literature and Writing, and after I graduated, I entered the community development and affordable housing nonprofit sector as a communications specialist. I began as the marketing director for the city's economic development department and focused on increasing the tax base through industry expansion, entrepreneurial activity, and quality of life initiatives. I became interested in the financialization of community intrastructure. How do we build more bike lanes? How do we finance the renovation of historic structures, or develop new green spaces?

Subsequently, I found my professional passion: grant writing. I familarized myself with the landscape of federal and state funding for community development projects related to quality of life infrastructure, such as bike lanes, parks, street facades, and extended bus routes. I built partnerships with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) and became an OCRA-Certificated Grant Administrator, which made me eligible to apply for OCRA grant programs on my city's behalf.

Soon I took a new position as the Development Director for our local social housing agency, the Affordable Housing Corporation. I had the privilege of working closely with the organization's founder and executive director, Jacqueyln Dodyk, prior to her retirement. For over thirty years, Jacquie played a pivitol role in our community's economic development. Jacquie has brought millions of dollars into the community from federal and state funding opportunities to finance community projects such as blight removal, historic building renovation, or the new construction of social housing. Jacquie imparted vital knowledge on the naunces of project development and federal financing options, and we collaborated on a many exciting projects: an experiment with modular housing on vacant city lots, the conversion of a parking lot into a community event space, the rehabilitation of a beautiful but derlict downtown apartment complex, and more. Through working with Jacquie, I gained experience with applying for and administrating a variety of federal and state financing opportunities. I have worked with entities such as the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA).

These days I continue writing and adminstering grants for project in Indiana, but this time from across the Atlantic sea. I have launched my own consulting firm - Mikayla Marazzi, LLC - and I continue to serve as the Development Director for the Affordable Housing Corporation. 

Currently, I am a candidate for the University of Oslo's Masters of Philosophy in Development, Environment, and Cultural Change and conducting research on social housing policy in my homeland: British Columbia, Canada.