Von's experience in and knowledge of urban design, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), architecture, multimedia and academic research has helped move smart growth strategies forward in the metro Atlanta region. He created the Implementation Plan for the MLK Jr. Historic District in Atlanta for a CBO and Bank of America. Mapped and created a database for over over 100 projects totaling over $250 Million in neighborhood development projects prior to the 1996 Olympic Games.

For 10 years (1998-2007) while at ANDP von directed the Mixed Income Communities Initiative (MICI) a holistic program designed to increase the number of viable mixed income housing developments in the 10-county metro Atlanta region. He built and managed a committee of some 70 organizations from "grass-roots" to "grass-tops" from around the Atlanta region. Nkosi managed the creation of "Making the Case (MTC) for Mixed Income and Mixed Use Communities in 2004 and it's follow-up document in 2007: An Executive Summary" report. With Ford Foundation-lead funding, von engaged the services of PolicyLink in Oakland, CA, The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) in Chicago, Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Atlanta Office and others. Earlier in 2007 he became a loaned executive to City of New Orleans Office of Recovery to provide direction on equitable disaster recovery for housing policy and also served as the Director for the Housing Renewal Division for the City.

He provides implementation consultation to philanthropic organizations still investing in New Orleans post Katrina. From 2006 to 2009 von also provided technical assistance to health departments on making the connection between land use policy and health outcomes in two rural Mississippi counties, Albuquerque New Mexico, Cook County (Chicago) IL and Cuyahoga County Ohio.