Despite the unexpected transitions caused by COVID-19, we are very excited to announce the on boarding of five new board members to NHF! This week’s spotlight features Christina Miller. NHF Marketing & Communications Manager, Stephany, had the opportunity to chat with Christina to learn more about what inspired her to join NHF.
Q: What is your current role, outside of NHF?
Christina: “I am the Deputy Mayor of City Homelessness Initiatives for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Here, I am responsible for the City’s response and policy development to homelessness strategies and the City’s comprehensive homelessness plan.”
Q: What did you do prior to that?
Christina: “I served in the Mayor’s Office as a Senior Project Manager overseeing a portfolio of highly visible projects related to the city’s street homeless engagement strategy. I started my work in the homeless service field as a volunteer for the organization School on Wheels, where I tutored children experiencing homelessness in a shelter setting.”
Q: What are you looking forward to most as a board member?
Christina: “The need to focus on health as an intervention to prevent and intervene in someone’s homelessness has never been more necessary as we fight the crisis regionally. Achieving positive personal and community health has always been a passion of mine; tackling the issue of homelessness from the city perspective does not always allow me the opportunity to be involved in health systems as much as I’d like to be- serving on the board excites me as it will allow me to flex that muscle. Aside from being drawn to the mission, I have had the chance to interact with key NHF leadership and the Board Chair who have left me feeling inspired and further connected to the work. It feels like the perfect first-time board position for me.”
Q: What about NHF drew your interest into the organization?
Christina: “Similar to what I’ve already mentioned, I have spent my entire career focused on re-housing people. I love the idea of getting more involved in the upstream solutions. I love the focus on equity and how it intersects health, food, green space, the cityscape and housing.”
Q: What do you like to do in your personal time? Any fun facts?
Christina: “I am married and a mom of 2 girls (middle schoolers). We live in Chatsworth and have lived in the San Fernando Valley for 20 years. I’m a transplant from the Washington DC area- we spend a lot of time traveling, camping, attending kid sport games, and being outdoors, walking our very hyper dog Mack. We have 3 classic cars (1963 Nova Station Wagon, 1935 Ford Truck, and 1931 Ford Coupe) and enjoy weekend cruising.”