Beginning July 1, 2022, Sonja Allen took the helm of the Friends of Guest House, after serving as the organization’s Director of Operations for four years. In that role, she led the organization’s daily operations, including back office management, staff relations, strategic planning, and financial administration.
“As I take on this new role, my focus and Friends of Guest House’s focus will continue to be on increasing the number of formerly incarcerated women who successfully reenter their communities. Our efforts will continue to address the key areas that influence their path to successful reentry (housing, employment, education, healthcare, and family/community reconnection) with the goal of ultimately reducing the incidence of recidivism amongst women re-entering in Virginia.” – Sonja Allen
Previously, Sonja spent more than 24 years in other operations and upper-level management positions, not to mention that she is also a licensed attorney. Sonja’s former legal practice largely catered to indigent and under-represented populations while working closely with such charitable organizations as the Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Services, the Maryland Homeless Representation Project, and the Maryland Disability Law Center to serve the most vulnerable communities.
“We are thrilled that Sonja will lead Friends of Guest House as we continue the tremendous progress we’ve made in our mission to help women successfully reenter the community from incarceration,” said Deborah Minor, Guest House Board Chair. “Her leadership, values, and background as a nonprofit leader have been vital to our operations over the past four years. As we head into this next chapter for the organization, we are grateful to have Sonja’s unique skillset, energy, and commitment to our mission.”