ADDIE CHAMBERLAIN

I get to work with the people and an organization who are not only on the cutting edge of social innovation and solving some of the most intractable social challenges we have in this country, but those who are constantly defining the next edge. It’s thrilling that I get to spend my days creating tangible solutions across the nonprofit and private sectors which have positive outcomes on people, our country, and our institutions.

I worked as a Chief of Staff on Alan Khazei’s Senate campaign here in MA. When it ended, I went to work for Alan’s wife, who was (and still is) the Founder & CEO of New Profit. We weren’t sure what I was going to do there, but she was an unbelievable person making unbelievable change, so I knew it was worth jumping into a world I didn’t know much about: social enterprise. I had gotten a master’s in international relations, so the issues of social mobility, poverty alleviation, and systemic social change were issues that had always been my calling, this was just a different model for tackling social challenges in a very innovative way.

 

The memories of ALC and associated happy emotions are as acute for me today as they were 20 years ago.

 

Tent time: hanging out with my tent-mates reading, playing cards, tying bracelets, laughing, or just laying there resting, feeling the breeze blow through and half listening to the chatter. To this day, I LOVE the sound of rain on roofs since it reminds me of the gentle patter it would make on the tent. I even bought a condo with lots of skylights because I love that sound and memory so much.

 

Meals in the farmhouse and the sense of community it came with - even on ice cream night - are one of my favorite memories. Nothing like 150 girls talking all at once, coupled with clanging dishware and shouting requests to sing “Dominique!!!”

Alford Lake shaped me more than anything else in my life, second only to my parents. I use that, I am that, every day with my family, friends, and colleagues. I use the lessons of how to be resilient, flexible, how to make new friends and get along in groups, how to express myself in a constructive way, how to be less afraid, how to appreciate the right things, how to be strong, how to contribute, and where to draw from when the going gets tough. And I still remember the right way to approach someone who’s drowning - but I hope I never have to use that!