Matt Hamada
board chair
Matt Hamada and SHI Founder Florence Reed know each other from Matt’s time in the Peace Corps. He followed her work as she founded SHI and looked for ways to get involved with this up-and-coming organization. After becoming a donor, Matt wanted to get more involved. So, he joined the board, led a task force, became an SHI officer, and is now the Board Chair. “The work has always touched me personally, having lived in a community in Panama similar to those benefiting from SHI’s work,” says Matt.
a history of social justice and environmental conservation work
Matt’s involvement with SHI is a natural continuation of his commitment to environmental conservation and social justice. When he had just graduated from college, Matt served as a community organizer in Chicago, where he focused on social justice. He then joined the Peace Corps to do reforestation work. His work with SHI combines his experiences of social justice and environmental restoration.
“Now is a pivotal time for organizations like SHI. There’s something special about balancing big picture ideas that benefit the environment with smaller impacts like benefiting individual families.”
Matt remembers many pivotal experiences with SHI. “My field visits to Belize and Panama stand out,” he says. “Visiting the gardens and seeing how regenerative techniques are used in the field, rolling up our sleeves and doing some work to help is memorable. The opportunity to see the work first-hand reminds me of how SHI is making a difference.”
