Independence Now is pleased to announce our new Board President, Jamie Freeny. As the son of a teacher and a mayor, Jamie was destined for a life of service. Over the last twenty years, he has worked for three different non-profit organizations. Early in his career he worked at Independence Now. He began his tenure there as an Independent Living Specialist, then Coordinator of Independent Living Service and finally was promoted to the Director of Housing Advocacy. Under the leadership of founder and former Executive Director, Cathy Raggio, he received tremendous opportunities for growth. Jamie considers Cathy Raggio a mentor to this day. His most rewarding experiences came from working with nursing facility outreach and transition and the Youth Leadership Forum . He learned about the independent living philosophy there. He adopted this philosophy as a personal conviction, and this shaped the rest of his professional career.
Seeing the critical need for affordable housing, he went on to serve as the Senior Associate Director with Housing Unlimited. During Jamie’s tenure, he saw firsthand.
the impact of quality affordable housing on individuals with mental illness. With an opportunity for growth at a much larger non-profit, he transitioned to Coalition for the Homeless. He has served as the Director of Operations since 2010.
Jamie has served on the Independence Now Board for six years and as a NAMI Prince George’s County Board Member for four years.
As a person who lives successfully with mental illness Jamie brings a unique perspective, passion, empathy, and commitment to his work. Jamie considers himself a mental health advocate. He often speaks about his journey of recovery, working to bring awareness and eradicate stigma.
Join us in welcoming Jamie as our new Board President!
