Freyja S. Harris is a dynamic leader with a remarkable career dedicated to advocating for safe, healthy, and affordable housing. As the executive director of the Coalition for Home Repair (CHR), she is spearheading efforts to make a positive impact on communities nationwide.

An expert in affordable house preservation, she leads CHR, a nonprofit organization present in 38 states. CHR offers essential support services to home repair and rehabilitation partners, including educational resources, technical assistance, funding, and advocacy. Freyja's leadership has significantly increased CHR's visibility and impact.

Ms. Harris’ academic journey paved the way for her impactful career. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Florida in 1996; received dual graduate degrees from the University of Colorado Denver in Public Administration and Urban Planning in 2003. She holds a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School in 2017 and is licensed to practice law by the State Bar of Michigan. Her notable achievements include the Martin Luther King Jr. Diversity Award and recognition as a Detroit Revitalization Fellow.

In addition to her role at CHR, Freyja operates Visible Orange Consulting, PLLC, which provides legal and organizational development services. Her career spans numerous positions including a legislative assistant for the Colorado General Assembly; housing counselor and program liaison for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless; senior housing policy analyst for the Florida Housing Finance Corporation; executive director of the Florida Coalition for the Homeless; senior management analyst II for the Florida Department of Children and Families; and Michigan Benefits Access Director for the State of Michigan.

Ms. Harris has also worked as a senior program officer and Detroit Revitalization Fellow at the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation during her time in law school in 2012. In 2015, she was offered an opportunity to be a Management Support Specialist in the Midwest Multifamily Asset Management Division of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ms. Harris continued her career as Chief Administrative Officer with Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation through 2020 before an appointment as the director of the Pontiac Funders Collaborative and DEI Advisor with the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, where she excelled from 2020 through 2022.

In addition to her professional pursuits, she has served as the chief diversity and inclusion officer within the School of Music, Theatre and Dance at the University of Michigan from 2016 to 2019 and was named the assistant dean for student affairs at the institution in 2019. She has also held positions at Lakewood University focusing on education and leadership as a member of the Board of Directors since 2022; and is also a board member of Sparklife International since 2022 addressing human trafficking.

Ms. Harris credits her grandfather's positive influence on her work ethic, ambition, professional standards, and spirit of generosity as instrumental in her success. She also holds a heightened awareness and empathy for the underserved and for those suffering from mental illness, and counts it as her personal mission to provide a voice for those who remain unheard. Freyja S. Harris's future includes continued efforts to impact lives through CHR's housing initiatives and raising national awareness for safe and affordable housing.