Mya Chamberlin Demonstrates the Impact Lived Experience Brings to the Executive Suite
Mya Chamberlin, Executive Director of Friendly House (a non-profit community center and social services agency in Portland) is a leader whose connection with her organization began many years before she was professionally affiliated with it. Her depth and breadth of experience at Friendly House gives her a unique perspective on the work being done and the needs of the communities served by their many programs. Mya’s approach to leadership is informed by this perspective and the hats she has worn at Friendly House over the years further support her understanding of how to best lead her team. In this episode, we touch on our typical talking points about leadership but also explore how Mya did not always see herself in an Executive Role at a large non-profit, and the courage it took for her to step into the position at Friendly House when the leadership team and board asked her to do so. We also what has resulted from Mya’s leap of faith thus far. Her story is beautiful and inspiring, and we trust you will love it and learn from it, just as we have.
Mya’s Bio
Mya Chamberlin grew up in NW Portland where she attended Friendly House's Preschool in the 1970’s. Mya maintained her ties to the organization as a teen, working there as a teen volunteer, and returned to Friendly House in the mid-90's as a teacher in the after-school program. In 2004, Mya took a job as a case manager in the senior program, where she became passionate about advocating for vulnerable populations and building inclusive community for all. Her commitment to, and passion for working with marginalized populations won her a promotion onto Friendly House’s Leadership Team where she took on oversight of the organization’s social service programming, including services for older adults, houseless families, and Elder Pride Services, Oregon's first nonprofit to serve LGBTQ+ older adults specifically. Under Mya's leadership, Elder Pride Services won national awards for its innovative service model and was the first culturally specific program in the state to be awarded a government contract expressly for serving LGBTQ elders. Mya is thrilled to bring her passion for advocacy and community building into her current role as the Executive Director of Friendly House.