Raymond Ocasio

Raymond Ocasio is semi-retired after many years of engagement in housing and community development work at local, state, and international levels.

What he describes as a more “modest” level, he is currently active as the advisor and board member for the newly created Oikia Development Corporation that is engaged in redevelopment of housing. He is also associated with the Simon Group and the Beverly Group as a consultant in housing and community development activities. He remains active in the Newark Community Development Network and the Newark’s Mayor’s Equitable Development Advisory Commission. Mr. Ocasio also serves as a member of New Jersey’s Puerto Rico Commission.

Prior to his retirement he served as the Executive Director of La Casa de Don Pedro, Inc.,  (1998-2021), a Newark, N.J. based community development corporation offering comprehensive social and housing & economic development services to low- and moderate-income households and neighborhoods.

With his leadership the organization achieved phenomenal programmatic growth in its scope, and effectiveness in addressing critical needs while managing financial growth (from $3 million to $26 million) , with corresponding increase and enhancement of employment opportunities and the agency’s assets. The work was anchored with strategic organization development, community planning and community engagement while remaining true to its roots as an advocate for society’s most vulnerable population. 

Prior to Mr. Ocasio return to Newark, he served as Vice President for the Local Initiative Support Corporation with responsibilities overseeing programs in Indiana, Ohio, New York City as well as for Newark, and NJ Multi-City programs. During the Gibbon’s Administration, Mr. Ocasio was the co-director of the Business Administrator’s Office.

His earlier role in community development were in the international stage, with a number of short-term international assignments as well as significant long-term assignments in Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica where he assisted non-profit organizations, local governments and US Agency for International Development. In Bolivia and Peru, he worked with an international institution providing social services, community and economic development work. Mr. Ocasio’s interest in international development and community development was fostered by his Peace Corps experiences in Colombia.

Earlier and intermittently, Mr. Ocasio worked domestically as the Director of Housing for the City Planning Department of New York City as well as managing the City’s urban renewal programs (St. Nicholas Park & West Side).  Mr. Ocasio also worked in Comprehensive Planning and Section 312 Rehabilitation programs for HUD’s Region II Office. In addition, with the Harlem Urban Development Corporation Mr. Ocasio was the project manager for over a thousand units of affordable housing.