The Fair Housing Justice Center is powered by a dedicated team of professionals committed to eliminating housing discrimination and expanding equal access to housing in New York City and beyond. Our staff brings together a diverse range of expertise across key areas, including Intake, Investigations, Legal, Policy, Outreach, and Communications to ensure that all individuals have equal access to housing opportunities.
Marie Winfield
Executive Director (she/her)
Marie Winfield assumed leadership of the FHJC as Executive Director in April of 2026. She previously served the organization in several capacities, including as Legal Director and Deputy Director, and as a member of the FHJC Board of Directors. Her connection to the FHJC dates back nearly to its founding, when she was hired as a summer legal intern in 2008. Beyond her work with FHJC, Marie has built a career at the intersection of civil rights law, land use, and community planning. As a consultant for George M. Janes & Associates, she conducted research and analysis to help community boards and local organizations engage in New York City’s land use and environmental review processes. Other civil rights legal experience includes work as a Community Lawyering Fellow at the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, as well as clinical experience with the Immigration Justice and Human Rights & Genocide Prevention Clinics at Cardozo. She served on Manhattan’s Community Board 11 and participated in the East Harlem Neighborhood Plan. Marie has also served on advisory bodies addressing public health and municipal planning, including the Community Advisory Board for Metropolitan Hospital and as a Borough President appointee to an advisory group working with the New York City Department of Sanitation.
Britny McKenzie
Policy Director (she/her)
Britny has been actively involved in the FHJC’s policy initiatives since 2019, where she is responsible for the development and execution of policy-related activities, programs, research, and communications that further the mission and vision of the organization. In addition to her role at FHJC, she has served as an Adjunct Professor at the Silberman School of Social Work and held the position of Policy Director at Community Voices Heard. Prior to joining FHJC, Britny worked at ERASE Racism, focusing on advancing racial equity in education and housing throughout Long Island.
David Maxwell Berman
Legal Director (he/him)
Prior to joining the FHJC in 2025, David spent two years in HUD’s Office of Fair Housing Enforcement, where he conducted investigations involving source of income discrimination, disability discrimination (including reasonable accommodations requests), redlining, mortgage pricing discrimination, and discrimination against people with criminal records. He also helped author guidance documents about how to analyze the use of AI in tenant screening and online advertising, under civil rights law. Prior to his work at HUD, David completed a clerkship in Bankruptcy court where his litigation experience included monitoring compliance with court settlements.
Eric Petersen
Director of Development (he/him)
As Director of Development, Eric oversees all of the FHJC’s fundraising, grant writing, and reporting. He joined the FHJC in 2022. Since 2014, Eric has worked at New York based nonprofits with a focus on equity in employment and housing. Most recently, he served as the Director of Development at Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow, helping out-of-school and out-of-work young adults to access education and employment. Previously, he had worked in fundraising and development at ICD-Institute for Career Development, and has worked with The Doe Fund, helping residents of homeless shelters to find housing and employment.
Lucille Duncan
Director of Administration (she/her)
As Director of Administration, Lucille is responsible for the FHJC’s administrative and office operations and assists the Executive Director in the development and implementation of personnel, procurement, and office policies and procedures. She previously worked as a tester with Westchester Residential Opportunities and with the FHJC before joining the staff in her current position in 2021.
Paul Carlson
Finance Director (he/him)
As Finance Director, Paul has been overseeing the FHJC’s finances since 2012. In addition to his FHJC experience, he has over 20 years of experience with New York-based nonprofits including fair housing testing, door-to-door canvassing, environmental education, computer programming, database management, and bookkeeping.
Craig Waletzko
Communications Coordinator (he/him)
As Communications Coordinator, Craig manages the FHJC’s communications and social media presence, and designs and conducts fair housing trainings and workshops. He has been involved with the FHJC since he began working as a tester in 2009, and in his current role since 2019.