John Kern

John Kern is the Director of Programs and founder of The SOS Fund, a nonprofit
dedicated to housing stability and equity in Baltimore City. As a co-founder of The SOS Fund, he leads initiatives that prevent home loss, encourage affordability in housing, and advance fair assessment and reform policies. Previously, at the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, he directed citywide outreach to help residents secure property ownership and preserve intergenerational wealth. Before his policy work, John spent a decade as a director and dramaturge with Poor Dog Group, collaborating with artists and historians from Rwanda to Los Angeles on projects exploring reconciliation and classical texts. He holds an M.A. in Aesthetics and Politics and a B.F.A. in Theater from the California Institute of the Arts.