Gita Sankano is an accomplished attorney whose career has centered on affordable housing finance, real estate law, and community development. Through her work with financial institutions, government agencies, and affordable housing developers, she has helped structure complex transactions that expand housing opportunities while supporting long-term community investment. Born in Harlem and raised in the Bronx, Gita became the first member of her family to attend college. She earned both her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Master of Public Administration from CUNY John Jay College before graduating cum laude from the University of Maryland School of Law, where she finished in the top twenty percent of her class. During law school, she served as Associate Symposium Editor for the Business & Technology Law Journal, Staff Editor for The Authority National Affordable Housing Law Digest, earned the Dean’s Fellow Scholarship for academic excellence, and won first place in the Paul Cardish Writing Competition. Following a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Michael W. Reed of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, Gita spent several years practicing at a national law firm representing mortgage lenders in sophisticated real estate finance transactions involving Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA-insured programs, tax credits, bridge financing, and multifamily housing developments throughout the United States. Today, Gita serves the District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development, advising on affordable housing policies, financing initiatives, acquisitions, dispositions, and multi-layered development transactions. Her practice includes Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, tax-exempt bonds, subordinate financing, and other innovative financing structures that make affordable housing projects possible. Outside the legal profession, Gita enjoys traveling, hiking, painting, Pilates, and exploring art. She also enjoys mentoring young professionals and believes success is measured by giving back to the community and sharing knowledge with future generations.