We are excited to announce that Lyndsey Summers has joined Habitat for Humanity of Oregon as the new Engagement Manager. In this role, Lyndsey serves as the first line of contact with the public and will bolster Habitat Oregon’s relationships with local Habitat affiliates, community partners and other key stakeholders through communications and outreach. Additionally, Lyndsey will provide logistics support for networking groups, conferences and trainings, manage data collection and administer day-to-day operations.
Welcome, Lyndsey!
Tell us a little about yourself:
Lyndsey Summers (she/her/hers), now in her mid-30s, “grew up” in a few different places. Born in San Diego, California, while her dad was in the Navy, she spent her early childhood in Iowa before moving to Pennsylvania in the middle of sixth grade. Her adult youth was spent exploring the Pennsylvania Wilds (as they’re called by locals) around Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, where she graduated from high school and college. After working at a local newspaper in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, she took a job in Washington, D.C. Realizing it wasn’t for her at that time, she packed her car in October of 2015 and left for Portland, Oregon, where she had visited about two years earlier and fell in love. After working in journalism for a few more years, Lyndsey decided to pursue something new and found a home, so to speak, at Habitat for Humanity of Oregon. She lives in Northeast Portland with her husband, Rob, and their cat Harley. In her spare time, she volunteers at The Hollywood Theatre because she’s a movie fanatic and believes that it’s the best movie theater in the world.
What is your favorite to see or do in Oregon?
As much as I adore the Oregon Coast, I have to say that I’m partial to exploring (camping and hiking in) the remote areas of Oregon’s high desert. There’s something so intriguing to me about the landscape – its vast spaces and emptiness. It’s so quiet and at night, so pitch black without any light pollution that you can spot the Milky Way. Some of the rock formations look like they’re otherworldly — and as a fan of science fiction, maybe that’s what draws me in. The John Day Fossil Beds and Crater Lake National Park are some of the most beautiful places that I’ve ever seen.
What is a recent book, podcast or movie/TV show that you would recommend to others?
Recent book: Lately I’ve found myself very intrigued by early American history, such as how our government’s foundations came together and why. I stumbled upon the novel “American Rebels: How the Hancock, Adams, and Quincy Families Fanned the Flames of Revolution.” It’s super interesting and educational. I’m also enjoying “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together” by Heather McGhee.
Recent movie: “Everything Everywhere All at Once” has to be the best film I’ve seen not only this year, but in a very long time.
Recent TV show: “Abbott Elementary” and “Superstore” are both wholesome and progressive shows with diverse characters. While being hilarious, they still address important issues, like our under-funded education system and the challenges of unionizing. I also adore anything by Ken Burns.
What does home mean to you?
The word that immediately comes to mind is “stability.” My family had to move around a lot — not just because my dad was in the Navy for a while. When he left the military, there was still a lot of moving around for a number of reasons — and that was difficult as a child. When my dad finally bought his first home when I was in high school, only then did I understand what it meant to have a home for more than a year at a time. It was reassuring that I wouldn’t have to throw all my possessions in a box again in a few months, that I would be able to get to know our neighborhood, to develop roots and connections. I still live in an apartment rental, but I’m looking forward to having a set of keys to my own home, too.
What are you looking forward to most about this position?
I’m looking forward to making an impact. Habitat for Humanity has helped so many families find that stability that I know is necessary to thrive. I’m so excited to be a part of that mission.