Muraina “Morris” Akinfolari

Muraina “Morris” Akinfolari became involved in the affordable housing crisis in 1987. Living and working in Providence, he saw how rising rents and disinvestment in certain neighborhoods were pushing families out and destabilizing communities.  “What really struck me was how many homes were sitting vacant — boarded up and falling apart — while so many people were struggling to find a safe, decent place to live. That disconnect was unacceptable, and it sparked a passion in me to be part of the solution

Over the years, Morris has served as president of a wide variety of non-profit organizations and today is Executive Director of Oasis International. Utilizing his public administration, leadership, and engineering skills, Morris has been instrumental in important changes in our community.

“ Perseverance and hope are what truly drive the progress we have made together,”  Morris says. “SWAP has been a game-changer. From its roots as a grassroots effort to reclaim abandoned buildings, it’s become a model for how community-based organizations can lead real, lasting neighborhood transformation. SWAP didn’t just build or renovate homes — it rebuilt trust in communities that had been left behind.”

“As federal and state resources shift, CDCs can also help hold policymakers accountable to ensure investments truly serve low- and moderate-income Rhode Islanders. In a housing landscape that’s more complex than ever, organizations like SWAP provide the community-based leadership we desperately need.”

Interview

How did you first become involved/concerned about the lack of affordable housing?

My concern about the lack of affordable housing began as far back as 1987. Living and working in Providence, I saw first and how rising rents and disinvestment in certain neighborhoods were pushing families out and destabilizing communities. What really struck me was how many homes were sitting vacant — boarded up and falling apart — while so many people were struggling to find a safe, decent place to live. That disconnect was unacceptable, and it sparked a passion in me to be part of the solution.

What are your thoughts on how SWAP has made a difference in housing and revitalizing neighborhoods over the past 50 years?

Looking back, SWAP (Stop Wasting Abandoned Property) has been a game-changer. From its roots as a grassroots effort to reclaim abandoned buildings, it’s become a model for how community-based organizations can lead real, lasting neighborhood transformation. SWAP didn’t just build or renovate homes — it rebuilt trust in communities that had been left behind. It turned neglected properties into homes where families could thrive and brought life back to entire blocks. Over the decades, their work has helped stabilize neighborhoods, create generational wealth through homeownership, and preserve affordability where it’s needed most.

Community housing development has evolved over the past 50 years — but we still find ourselves in a housing crisis. What do you see as the role for SWAP and other CDCs in finding solutions to create more housing in RI?

CDCs like SWAP are absolutely essential in addressing today’s housing crisis. They’re rooted in the communities they serve and know the local needs better than anyone. SWAP can be a key player in pushing innovative solutions — whether that’s acquiring land for permanently affordable housing, advocating for stronger tenant protections, or helping first-time buyers navigate an increasingly competitive market. As federal and state resources shift, CDCs can also help hold policymakers accountable to ensure investments truly serve low- and moderate-income Rhode Islanders. In a housing landscape that’s more complex than ever, organizations like SWAP provide the community-based leadership we desperately need.

Do you have an anecdote or funny story to share about your experience working with SWAP?

There are quite a few stories, but one that always makes me smile happened early on when we were doing a walk-through of a property SWAP had just acquired. It was a total mess — no electricity, full of debris — and someone joked, “You need more imagination than a Hollywood set designer to see the potential here.” Fast forward a year later, that same house was part of a ribbon-cutting for three new families moving in. The transformation was incredible. I still remember one of the kids running through the hallway, yelling, “This is our house!” That’s the kind of moment that reminds you exactly why this work matters — and why we keep showing up, even when the buildings are falling down around us.