Executive & Leadership Staff

Dorothy Abellard, Interim Executive Director
Dorothy Abellard joins Freeport after working at American Express Financial Advisors for nearly 13 years. Dorothy feels strongly committed to the values of the nonprofit sector and is excited to put her educational background of Sociology and Black Studies to work for Freeport. Dorothy also brings her knowledge of customer service and skills as a compliance analyst to the table as she will continue to develop Freeport’s internal and external communications and marketing elements.

Dorothy served on the Twin Cities Juneteenth Board for three years and is an avid volunteer in her community.

Matt Lasure, StreetWorks Program Manager, Youth Leadership and Development Manager and managing programming and services at our Freeport-Saint Paul service site
Matt believes strongly in mission supported non profit work. He values and supports a collaborative working environment within his own agency and with other like minded agencies to better serve our community.  
 
Matt comes to Freeport West after 12 years in youth programming roles with the YMCA’s of Metropolitan Minneapolis and Greater St. Paul.  His experience includes youth and community outreach, leadership and character development, civic engagement, and policy development.  He has had the opportunity of training youth, youth workers and community members on youth work philosophy and fundraising.  He believes developing the total person gives youth the opportunity to be successful in all avenues of life.
 
Matt was born, raised and educated in and around the Twin Cities and upper Midwest.  A life-long, die-hard Vikings fan, he puts his family first (although, some Sundays, his family might disagree with that).

Tamara Muhammad, Youth Education & Development Program Manager
Tamara is the Program Manager for Freeport’s Youth Education and Development programs. She coordinates our Health and Wellness program and manages other aspects of programming including assisting youth with obtaining their GED, High School Diploma and/or Post-Secondary Education and maintaining their employment goals, establishing cooperative working relationships with area employers, providing job placement and training youth to work through their personal barriers. Her experience includes processing referrals from the county and client support. Prior to joining Freeport, Tamara worked in a correctional facility, providing direct services to inmates.

Linda R. Waters, Housing Manager
Linda has over 12 years of experience working in youth programming and advocacy for at-risk children, youth, and families. As the Community Housing Supervisor, Linda oversees programming for Freeport’s Community Housing Program including; a scattered site Transitional Living Program (TLP) for homeless youth, Family Homeless Prevention Assistance Program (FHPAP) Youth Rapid Exit Services, Group Residential Housing (GRH) services, and Freeport West’s Youth and Young Parents Host Home Program. Linda has been with Freeport West since 2004. Linda holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Human Services from Metropolitan State University. Previously, Linda worked for the YWCA Children’s Center as a Family Services Coordinator and prior to that, she was an Early Childhood Educator. Her personal mission is to provide unwavering support and guidance to youth and families in achieving their goals of independency, stability, and empowerment.