After a seven-month search made throughout the country, CitySquare Chair of the Board Lewis Weinger announced that the organization’s new CEO for Dallas has been found in a neighboring state.
Officially taking over the helm of CitySquare will be Annam Manthriam, who has been the CEO of HopeWorks New Mexico, “one of the largest non-profit homeless service providers in New Mexico.
As Lewis explained, “She brings over 20 years of non-profit experience and a deep understanding of the complexities around homelessness. She has an extraordinary track record for building effective programs and culture, and for fundraising. She is someone who holds true to her beliefs and purpose and does not withdraw from difficulty.”
Prior to joining HopeWorks in 2017, Annam worked at Los Angeles’ AIDS Project and City of Hope Cancer Research Center before becoming development director of Albuquerque’s Storehouse/Adelante Development Center and Meals on Wheels.
While at HopeWorks, she initially was its Chief Development and Communications Director and in 2020 was named Co-CEO and a year later promoted to CEO. During that three-year period she “brought in millions of dollars and a vast network of support for the agency’s mission to heal homelessness through services including day shelter, housing, behavioral/mental health services, outreach and case management.”
It was during her time as CEO that she led HopeWorks through a year-long tussle with the city of Albuquerque, culminating in the New Mexico Attorney General clearing HopeWorks in January of “allegations that it attempted to defraud the city.”
In making the announcement of Annam’s selection, Lewis pointed out, “We are fortunate to have outstanding talent leading CitySquare’s programs and administration and could not have asked for a better Interim CEO than Mandy Shreve, who has been our Chief Administrative Officer since 2019. Under Mandy’s leadership, CitySquare realigned the organization to be better serve the increasing number of neighbors in need of housing, food and health services, expanded capacity in the food pantry to accommodate 300+ neighbors a day, and secured two half-million-dollar gifts.”
In accepting the position, Annam said, “What drew me to CitySquare is the organization and its leadership’s thoughtful understanding of the systemic and ingrained inequities that keep people, particularly those of color, in poverty and homelessness. As a woman of color and with the lived experience of trauma and addition, I know all too well that the cards are stacked against you if you are born in a marginalized group. Were it not for a safety net of love and community, who knows where I would be today.”
While Annam’s last day at HopeWorks is Friday, July 7, she officially takes over her new position on Tuesday, August 22.
BTW, in her spare time Annam is the author of “Dysfunction: Stories” and “After the Tsunami.”
* Photo provided by CitySquare