DES MOINES, Iowa — Deidre DeJear is in the middle of her first week as CEO of Iowa's largest affordable housing community. The Oakridge Neighborhood Association started as a housing organization 50 years ago, but now it offers much more than that.
Close to 800 residents live in the Oakridge Neighborhood where more than 15 different languages are spoken.
DeJear’s first week has been all about conversations and working on strengthening relationships with her residents and staff.
“We stand steadfast with creating a solid foundation for individuals and a pathway so that they can follow to achieve their dreams,” DeJear said.
DeJear brings experience from time at the Evelyn K Davis Center for Working Families and the United Way of Central Iowa to her new role.
“I worked with nonprofits and corporations to best meet the needs of our low to moderate income communities,” DeJear said.
DeJear is taking the reins from Teree Caldwell Johnson who served as CEO for 20 years before she passed away from cancer in March.
“What she left was a legacy that we all hold near and dear to us and a torch that we all want to make sure stays alive,” Dejear said.
It’s a homecoming of sorts for DeJear as she worked with her predecessor at Oakridge 10 years ago.
“If Teree were here right now, she would say, ‘don't let them see you sweat,’” DeJear said. “‘The pressure is not on unless you turn it on.’ There is no pressure from my vantage point.”
In the past four months there have been two shootings at Oakridge. DeJear remains committed to creating a safe community for residents and promises to further relationships with Des Moines police.
“We're in this together as a community,” DeJear said. “Just as any other community we need that partnership and need that relationship. Oakridge is no different.”
In her role, DeJear will also be in charge of overseeing the childcare, youth program and workforce development services at Oakridge.
“It’s incredibly important that we pursue pathways to success and connect everybody in this community with services that are going to help them thrive,” DeJear said.
While in college, DeJear started Back 2 School Iowa, a nonprofit that gives out free backpacks to students that is still around today.
In addition, DeJear was the Democratic nominee for governor in 2022, a race she lost to Kim Reynolds.