 He served for a decade as executive director of the Fifth Avenue Committee, a not-for-profit community-based organization that develops and manages affordable housing.As a director, Lander won local and national recognition for his work at FAC including the 2000 New York Magazine Civics Award, and the 2002 Leadership for a Changing World award, sponsored by the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Sustainable Communities.In 1999, "Rolling Stone Magazine" awarded Lander the "Do Something Brick Award" for his community work in affordable housing advocacy.