Fredericton, NB – The United Way of Central NB is thrilled to announce that Faith McFarland has accepted the Executive Director position and will head up our local United Way beginning April 1, 2019.
Faith has been working in the non-profit sector for over a decade with a strong emphasis on community organization, poverty reduction and homelessness. She is currently the Coordinator for the Community Action Group on Homelessness (CAGH) and has also worked with the Fredericton YMCA’s Department of International and Community Development, and the John Howard Society of Fredericton. Through her work in the community, she has collaborated with a wide range of charities, non-profit organizations, government partners and private sector supporters.
Faith is recognized as an active community leader and has had the privilege of helping to mobilize Fredericton’s multi-year plan to end homelessness which has included the creation of new and innovative streams of funding for evidence-based programming and Housing First infrastructure. This work reflects her enthusiasm for up-stream solutions to complex social challenges.
“Faith is passionate about her current role as the CAGH coordinator and how it impacts the community that she lives in,” said Heather Dubé, President of the United Way of Central NB. “I know Faith will take this same passion and carry it over to her new role with United Way. Faith is empathetic, understanding, and brings a wealth of knowledge to the organization. Speaking on behalf of myself, our board, and United Way staff, we couldn’t be happier about our newest addition.”
Faith considers herself an engaged optimist; believing that deliberate action, creativity and collaboration can lead to real long-term solutions to even the most complex social issues. To this end, she likes the adage, “if you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you’ve always got.” Faith embraces change, new ideas, and innovative approaches to existing issues.
Before joining the nonprofit sector, Faith worked in the arts as a potter; spent a stint working with a national youth-led environmental education program (Students for a Viable Earth Tour), and in the film sector.
Her greatest passion is for her role as a single parent to her now teenaged daughter, Fiona. Family life has brought her great joy and learning. As a parent, she is exposed to a wide variety of youth programmings such as the Best Buddies program, and youth leadership and peace educations programs through Children’s International Summer Villages. She is also, reluctantly, a confirmed crazy cat lady.