Where we live—and where we’ve lived—shapes our futures more than almost any other factor. It influences our health, our access to opportunity, and our ability to heal from trauma. To truly understand opportunity, we must first understand the power of place.
Meet Kion
Kion Sawney is a real estate and policy professional with deep roots in New York City, San Francisco, and the communities that connect them. For over a decade, he has worked at the intersection of urban planning, housing development, and community advocacy—helping neighborhoods unlock their potential through thoughtful investment and inclusive growth.
Most recently, Kion launched his own real estate consulting practice, supporting mission-driven organizations as they plan, finance, and deliver projects that strengthen communities and expand opportunity. His work spans affordable housing, mixed-use development, and public-private partnerships, with a focus on aligning vision with execution.
Previously, he served as a Senior Project Developer at Mercy Housing California, where he led the development of more than 300 affordable homes across San Francisco. His role included navigating entitlements, assembling complex capital stacks, and engaging community stakeholders to deliver deeply affordable housing in one of the nation’s most challenging development environments.
From 2021 to 2024, Kion was appointed by Mayor London Breed and confirmed by the Board of Supervisors to serve as a Commissioner on the San Francisco Rent Stabilization and Arbitration Board. In that role, he worked to preserve rent-controlled housing and uphold tenant protections amid an evolving policy landscape.
Kion has also contributed to local housing policy and political advocacy efforts, including campaigning for San Francisco’s 2021 Proposition D, a ballot measure aimed at streamlining housing approvals. Earlier in his career, he served as Board President of Street Works, a Nashville nonprofit supporting people impacted by HIV/AIDS.
A long-time member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), Kion remains deeply engaged in national conversations around equitable development, community-centered design, and sustainable growth. He also holds a LEED Green Associate credential, demonstrating his commitment to environmentally responsible building practices and integrating sustainability into real estate strategy and development.
Now based back in his hometown of New York City, Kion is using his experience to support inclusive, community-driven projects across the five boroughs. In particular, he is working to expand access to reading and literacy resources in Jamaica, Queens—an effort grounded in his belief that thriving communities are built not just with housing, but with culture, knowledge, and connection.
A proud Posse Scholar, Kion earned his degree in Urban Planning from Vanderbilt University. Outside of work, you’ll find him hiking coastal trails, cycling across bridges, or dancing in the park. He also teaches free community classes as a certified group dance fitness instructor through the NYC Parks Department’s Shape Up NYC program.
