We are pleased to announce that Andrea (Andi) Crawford has joined Next Street as a Partner and will lead our new Revenue Office. In her role, Andi will develop new strategic relationships for the firm, secure new business with a focus on local and regional governments, establish processes to scale our business development efforts, and help steward the firm’s growth and evolution as a member of the firm’s Management Team.

Before joining Next Street, Andi was the Director of Economic Development at Accelerator for America where she built and led a team to support and advise mayors across the country in advancing economic mobility, with a particular focus on Black and Brown business development.

Andi has over fifteen years of experience working in community and economic development with expertise in regional and local government. She started her career at the YMCA with a focus on solving health disparities in communities around the country.  From 2016 – 2020, Andi worked for the City of Lansing, Michigan where she started as a Neighborhood Resource Coordinator leading the restructuring of funding mechanisms to design a system for publicly funded neighborhood support. She ended her time with the City of Lansing, Michigan, as the Chief Innovation Officer leading the Department of Neighborhoods + Citizen Engagement and directing economic and community development projects.

“Throughout my career, I have worked to expand economic opportunity and create policies, systems, and environments that help people and communities thrive. As we build the next American century, it is critical that we invest in communities that have been left out of opportunities. Not only is it a moral imperative, but it is also a critical strategic need to ensure a healthy, strong, and prosperous future for our country,” said Andi. “I am thrilled to join NXST and its efforts to dismantle oppressive systems that have harmed communities and build a prosperous future where everyone has an opportunity and the resources necessary to reach their full potential.”

“We are thrilled to have Andi bring her deep small business expertise, commitment to mission and network to Next Street,” said Managing Partner, Charisse Conanan Johnson. “Andi leads with our Authentic Joy value, and we are confident that she will help lead Next Street into our next phase of growth.”