LOWELL, MA -- Coalition for a Better Acre (CBA) CEO Yun-Ju Choi announced today that she will be stepping down from her post in June 2024 after nearly 10 years at the helm of one of Lowell’s leading community development organizations.
Choi announced her decision this week, citing the need to focus on caring for her parents, both of whom have health issues. She will remain in the Lowell area.
“This was a difficult, but necessary decision,” Choi said. “I have enjoyed every minute of my time at CBA, and I am proud of the community development work we do and all we’ve accomplished together. I am grateful to the CBA Board, our dedicated and capable staff, and our members, who always put our mission first.”
Choi continued, “It’s now time for me to focus on caring for my parents, who sacrificed so much to make sure my siblings and I had futures full of possibility. It is a privilege to do so.”
The Choi family immigrated from South Korea to the U.S. in 1980, settling in Augusta, ME, where Choi grew up. “Typical of so many immigrants, we came to this country speaking no English and with limited means. For us, America truly was the land of opportunity. Assuring that everyone has access to resources and opportunities is what drew me to CBA.”
Board Chair Sixto DeJesus said CBA will hire a search firm to work with the board, staff, and CBA members to identify Choi’s successor.
DeJesus applauded Choi and her tenure at CBA. “She will be missed. I know I speak for the entire Board in saying that Yun-Ju has strengthened the organization’s commitment to community development and increasing the availability of affordable housing. Yun-Ju has been, and I’m sure will continue to be, an important presence in our community. She has put a strong team together, with the ability to move the CBA mission forward.”
As Chief Executive Officer, Choi more than doubled CBA’s annual budget to more than $2.5 million and oversaw construction of 131 units of affordable housing in Lowell, Dracut, and Haverhill. She expanded youth, civic engagement, health access, workforce and economic development, and community engagement programs that complement CBA’s longstanding focus on affordable housing.
Choi also serves on numerous boards and commissions, including the Whistler House Museum, Lowell Finance & Development Corporation, Greater Lowell Community Foundation, and Mill City Community Investments. “Yun-Ju’s support for the Lowell community has been tremendous,” DeJesus said. “She has done much to elevate CBA’s visibility and built important relationships with different sectors of the greater Lowell community.”
Prior to becoming CBA Chief Executive Officer, Choi worked for various Boston nonprofits including Madison Park and Lena Park Community Development Corporations, the Boston Foundation, and the Boys & Girls Club of Boston. A graduate of Bowdoin College in Maine, Choi earned her master’s in management from Cambridge College.
DeJesus said CBA will be casting a wide net in the search for a new CEO. “We will be seeking someone who has a strong understanding of the role of Community Development Organizations in advancing affordable housing and community improvement,” he said.
Also paramount will be a demonstrated commitment to equity and anti-racism, and the ability to work alongside Acre residents to create pathways out of poverty. “It is vital that the next CEO understands the unique makeup of Lowell as a vibrant, diverse, and forward-looking Gateway city,” DeJesus added.
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About CBA: Founded in 1982, CBA is a nonprofit, member-led community development organization that has invested more than $167 million in developing affordable rental and owner-occupied housing in Lowell, Dracut, and Haverhill, currently housing more than 1,500 people.
Serving more than 2,500 people annually, CBA offers a variety of youth, workforce, leadership, and health access programs while also advocating alongside residents for changes to systems and policies that prevent hard-working families from achieving financial and overall wellbeing. CBA is a NeighborWorks affiliate. Visit www.cbacre.org for more information about CBA programs, services, and how to get involved.