The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Fahren Johnson has been selected as the next Chief Executive Officer of Amara. We want to express our gratitude and appreciation for the support of our staff, the community Amara serves, and the outstanding candidates who applied for this role.
Fahren brings to Amara over 25 years of expertise in youth and community development, as well as the Expanded Learning Opportunity field. Her career is marked by a deep passion and unwavering commitment to ensuring that the voices of communities, children, youth, and families are always at the heart of the work.
Most recently, Fahren served as Strategy and Partnerships Director at School’s Out Washington (SOWA). There
she led the organization’s efforts to advance equity for youth of color and youth in poverty by developing and strengthening the expanded learning ecosystem in Washington state. She also provided leadership and oversight to SOWA, driving policy and advocacy efforts to create legislation for sustainable youth development systems through the Youth Development Strategy Table (YDST). She will continue to partner with the YDST moving forward.
Previously, Fahren served as Director of Strategic Initiatives – Out of School Time Intermediary, where she launched and led the work of the Pierce County Out of School Time Intermediary. She has served as a board member and advisory council member of many organizations dedicated to supporting youth and community. Fahren is a Washington state native, born and raised in Tacoma. She has been married to her husband for over 30 years and is a mother of four plus a bonus daughter. She also has 8 grandchildren.
“I am honored for the opportunity to lead our work as Amara’s next CEO. Foster Care and Youth Development are two passions of mine, stemming from my lived experience and my heart work. These two spaces are what helped me to become the woman I am today. I think about my foster mom as I write this. I am reminded about the power of words and following your passion. She often told me as an adolescent to never despise small beginnings or how my story began; one day, I was going to lead work that influenced and shaped me, through a lens of justice, fairness, love, grace and strength. I could not see what she was talking about in that moment as a youth, but I heard it, and always kept her words close. I am not a stranger to hard, meaningful work. I am excited to be a part of the Amara team, who are at the forefront of dismantling barriers and systems that hinder equitable access to essential services and support, particularly for our young people.” – Fahren Johnson
“The Amara Board of Directors has been fortunate to have Fahren serve as a board member with us for the past two years. We are thrilled to continue her service, partnership and leadership in this new capacity.” – Sara Wong, Amara Board Chair
Fahren will join Amara on September 16th. Please join us in congratulating Fahren and welcoming her as the incoming CEO. We look forward to the leadership, expertise, commitment, and passion she will bring to the Amara community and to our work with kids and families!