US STAFF

Our US Staff has the pleasure of working with our volunteers and donors to ensure the operations and programs of CHI continue.

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LEAH MATHIASON
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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Leah Mathiason has a law degree from the University of Saint Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis, MN, and an undergraduate English literature degree from Hamline University in Saint Paul, MN. She is a DONA- certified postpartum doula, a certified lactation counselor, and recently worked in this capacity for Ramsey County Public Health. In 2013, Leah was accepted as a Partners of the Americas Legislative Fellow through the U.S. State Department. During the three-week intensive in Port-au-Prince, she studied the country’s legal system, made new friends, and gained an abiding affection for Haiti. Leah lives in Saint Paul, MN, with her husband and their two young children. When she’s not reading, you can find her in the dirt, trying to grow food, throwing snowballs at her kids, or plotting her next adventure. She is honored to be part of the CHI family and is determined to carry the mission forward.

PAULA ADAMS
​BOOKKEEPER

BRITTANY CHENELLE
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST

​​Paula is semi-retired having worked a major part of her professional career in medical administration in family practice and orthopedic clinics, an urgent care facility and surgery center.  Paula lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and teaches fitness classes to women age 50 and beyond.
She is familiar with the good work of CHI and has known co-founder Chris Buresh since he was 12 years old.  She welcomes the opportunity to serve as bookkeeper and to support the mission of CHI…now and well into the future.

Brittany Chenelle has a B.A. in Communication Studies & Journalism, and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Cal State University, Northridge (CSUN). She also holds an M.F.A. in Documentary Film Production. During her MSW program, Brittany created a documentary from her research on access to healthcare and resources for older adults in the Caribbean. Brittany has traveled to Haiti 7+ times partnering or volunteering with 7 different Haitian grassroots organizations. She is passionate about Haiti and loves working for CHI because of its commitment to sustainable change and collaboration with the Haitian people.

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