A Renaissance Volunteer: Glenn’s Second Career in Service

After 42 years as a city planner, Glenn could have easily spent his retirement relaxing. But when he retired six years ago, he wanted to do something meaningful—something connected to his lifelong passion for housing and community development.

“I wanted to do something in retirement that was kind of meaningful and related to my profession,” Glenn said. “So I approached Natisha about some volunteer opportunities, and that’s how I landed here.”

It was a chance meeting through the Matthews Housing Alliance—where he first met Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity President and CEO Natisha Rivera—that led Glenn to discover his next calling. Encouraged by a neighbor to join the Alliance, Glenn soon found himself not only contributing his professional insight to local housing conversations but stepping deeper into Habitat’s mission.

Today, Glenn serves as president of the Homeowner Selection Committee, a volunteer group that helps evaluate applicants for Greater Matthews Habitat’s homeownership program. “Our role as a committee is we help evaluate the candidates for the houses,” he explained. “After Jeffrey vets them for their finances and other factors, we meet with them, look at their housing situations, and offer our input based on the criteria we have. Then we offer our recommendations to the board.”

The work can be both rewarding and difficult. “Going out and meeting with the candidates for the houses—it’s also the hardest,” Glenn said. “It didn’t look bad from the outside, but inside, it was… I can’t imagine somebody sleeping on the couch or on the floor. Another one, she had to go outside the house to get to her laundry, and she said one time she opened the door and there was a copperhead in there. You really don’t realize what people have to do. We take so much for granted.”

When he’s not leading the committee, Glenn spends one day a week at Habitat’s office as an administrative volunteer—helping with mailings, research, and computer updates. “Whatever you want me to do,” he laughed. “Usually it’s mailings, although I’ve helped Natisha look at maybe some parcels that would be suitable for purchase. Whatever eases the burden on you guys that doesn’t take a lot of thought or effort.”

That willingness to help in any way needed has made Glenn a familiar and valued presence. “Housing has always been my biggest interest when I was a planner,” he said. “And volunteering here, I feel like I’m doing something meaningful. I call it my Renaissance career.”

Volunteering has given Glenn a new sense of fulfillment. “I feel more fulfilled. I feel like I’m doing something meaningful,” he said. “I also volunteer at the library, and last week I spoke to a class at UNC Chapel Hill. You’re making just a little difference—that’s all I want.”

His perspective on housing remains grounded in both experience and empathy. “Not enough houses for people that need them,” he said. “But you know that going in. You can look at it through the lens of, ‘We’ll never be able to finish this,’ or through the lens of, ‘We provided homes for these three families.’ I look through that lens—otherwise it’s just too depressing.”

Glenn’s dedication to service was inspired in part by President Jimmy Carter, whose example after leaving office struck a chord. “He instilled that motivation,” Glenn said. “The meaningful impact he’s had as a volunteer doing other things.”

That same sense of purpose continues to guide Glenn. “Housing has always been my biggest interest,” he said. “We don’t meet the housing needs of much of our population—not even just the really disadvantaged. There’s missing middle housing people can’t find.”

After decades of planning communities and now helping families find stability through Habitat, Glenn remains focused on what matters most: doing what he can, where he can, to make a difference. “Here we are,” he said with a smile. “We can do what we can do.”