Vanessa Barrios facilitates Regional Plan Association’s (RPA) research, engagement, and advocacy for work related to affordable homes, accessible transit, public health, climate justice, and equitable economic development. Prior to joining the organization in 2016, she worked as a case manager, housing navigator, and outreach worker at People Assisting the Homeless, a homeless service organization which serves unhoused families, veterans, and individuals in the Greater Los Angeles area. In April 2022, Vanessa earned a spot on City & State New York’s Non-Profit 40 Under 40 list for her leadership both at RPA and the Healthy Regions Planning Exchange. She has a B.A. in sociology from the University of California, Riverside, and a master’s in urban planning from the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University where she focused on international development planning.