Meet the Board of directors
Our board is comprised of many different local stakeholders who bring a great variety of experiences and skills to this project. Our board includes downtown tenants, housing managers, students, community organizers, immigrants, long-time residents, legal experts, former diplomats, tenants rights advocates, planning consultants, and city leaders. Download our by-laws to learn about our governance structure.
Shaad Masood, President
Shaad is a proud Lewistonian who recently moved into the downtown community but has been a Lewiston resident for most of his life. He is amazed by the talent and hard-work that is displayed everyday in Lewiston and tries to help the community stay safe and healthy as a registered nurse at Central Maine Medical Center. As a board member of the RAISE-Op, Shaad brings leadership, enthusiasm and a creative vision to the project. He has experience in managing rental property in Lewiston and is always working to improve his construction/handy man skills on various personal home improvements. Shaad loves giving tours of Lewiston, sharing its history with visitors and highlighting the architecture and unique features of the Twin Cities. Shaad is eager to see the cooperative empower citizens to take Lewiston and its downtown to the next level of socially conscious and sustainable living.
Shaad is a proud Lewistonian who recently moved into the downtown community but has been a Lewiston resident for most of his life. He is amazed by the talent and hard-work that is displayed everyday in Lewiston and tries to help the community stay safe and healthy as a registered nurse at Central Maine Medical Center. As a board member of the RAISE-Op, Shaad brings leadership, enthusiasm and a creative vision to the project. He has experience in managing rental property in Lewiston and is always working to improve his construction/handy man skills on various personal home improvements. Shaad loves giving tours of Lewiston, sharing its history with visitors and highlighting the architecture and unique features of the Twin Cities. Shaad is eager to see the cooperative empower citizens to take Lewiston and its downtown to the next level of socially conscious and sustainable living.
Lynnea Hawkins, Vice President
Lynnea is a single mom who lives in the Tree Street Neighborhood. She was born in California, but raised in Alaska. She is a born storyteller...don’t get her started! She has been a long time community volunteer with Maine People’s Alliance, and for the last several years also a Board Member. She has worked with many community outreach efforts, Downtown Neighborhood Association in the early 2000s (briefly), Lewiston United back in 2013 after the fires in the tree streets, Lewiston United for Peace and Hope in 2018/19 after the death on Knox street. Lynnea is also the School Committee Representative for Ward 5. She loves Lewiston and believes this city has so much unrealized potential. She wants to do her part to make Lewiston a safe and happy place for all its residents.
Lynnea is a single mom who lives in the Tree Street Neighborhood. She was born in California, but raised in Alaska. She is a born storyteller...don’t get her started! She has been a long time community volunteer with Maine People’s Alliance, and for the last several years also a Board Member. She has worked with many community outreach efforts, Downtown Neighborhood Association in the early 2000s (briefly), Lewiston United back in 2013 after the fires in the tree streets, Lewiston United for Peace and Hope in 2018/19 after the death on Knox street. Lynnea is also the School Committee Representative for Ward 5. She loves Lewiston and believes this city has so much unrealized potential. She wants to do her part to make Lewiston a safe and happy place for all its residents.
Ronny Flannery, Treasurer
Ronny believes housing is a human right and that an abundant world that meets our human needs is within our grasp. They bring to the Raise-Op Board experience campaigning for marriage equality, universal health care, tenant protections, deeply affordable homes, and land use policies that promote development without displacement. They follow a transformative organizing model that emphasizes relationship building across difference and leadership development of those most impacted by structural violence. They completed studies in English and Sociology at the University of Maine at Farmington and in Global Political Economy at the University of Kassel, in Germany. Ronald proudly identifies as a Poor, Brown, Mixed-Race, Queer, and Gender Non-Conforming Mainer. They currently live and rent in Lewiston, the beautiful city they grew up in, with three lovely cats named Gravy, White Boy, and Star Wars.
Ronny believes housing is a human right and that an abundant world that meets our human needs is within our grasp. They bring to the Raise-Op Board experience campaigning for marriage equality, universal health care, tenant protections, deeply affordable homes, and land use policies that promote development without displacement. They follow a transformative organizing model that emphasizes relationship building across difference and leadership development of those most impacted by structural violence. They completed studies in English and Sociology at the University of Maine at Farmington and in Global Political Economy at the University of Kassel, in Germany. Ronald proudly identifies as a Poor, Brown, Mixed-Race, Queer, and Gender Non-Conforming Mainer. They currently live and rent in Lewiston, the beautiful city they grew up in, with three lovely cats named Gravy, White Boy, and Star Wars.
Michael Herrmann (Secretary)
Michael is a father of two cool teenagers. He enjoys singing, swimming, martial arts, disco music, wrestling with numerous kids at once, and learning as much about edible and medicinal plants and mushrooms as he can. His main forms of employment are usually the minimum wage kind like farming and child care. He is currently working at the Lewiston YWCA teaching swimming lessons and teaching exercise classes and lifeguarding. He is also an unlicensed - but excellent - massage therapist and sometimes he even gets paid a lot of money for it. He also likes being part of the Raise-Op. Great folks one and all.
Michael is a father of two cool teenagers. He enjoys singing, swimming, martial arts, disco music, wrestling with numerous kids at once, and learning as much about edible and medicinal plants and mushrooms as he can. His main forms of employment are usually the minimum wage kind like farming and child care. He is currently working at the Lewiston YWCA teaching swimming lessons and teaching exercise classes and lifeguarding. He is also an unlicensed - but excellent - massage therapist and sometimes he even gets paid a lot of money for it. He also likes being part of the Raise-Op. Great folks one and all.
Hilowle Aden (Steven)
Aden works as a Community Health Advocate at the Somali Bantu Community Association (SBCA) in Lewiston. He has worked in clinical and administrative medical office roles and with multiple mental health agencies in the Lewiston/Auburn area. He has experience as a case manager for adults and children, is a certified mental health rehabilitation technician, behavioral health professional (BHP), and is certified in residential medication and administration (CRMA) and as a direct support professional (DSP). He studied Mental Health and Human Services at the University of Maine Augusta. Aden is dedicated to working closely with community members, motivating others in health awareness, and encouraging positive expectations. His work focuses on empowering people to take control of their health services by developing better health habits, being educated about medical diagnosis and treatment plans, and by being informed about primary or secondary prevention. Aden feels lucky to be part of SBCA and the Raise-Op team.
Aden works as a Community Health Advocate at the Somali Bantu Community Association (SBCA) in Lewiston. He has worked in clinical and administrative medical office roles and with multiple mental health agencies in the Lewiston/Auburn area. He has experience as a case manager for adults and children, is a certified mental health rehabilitation technician, behavioral health professional (BHP), and is certified in residential medication and administration (CRMA) and as a direct support professional (DSP). He studied Mental Health and Human Services at the University of Maine Augusta. Aden is dedicated to working closely with community members, motivating others in health awareness, and encouraging positive expectations. His work focuses on empowering people to take control of their health services by developing better health habits, being educated about medical diagnosis and treatment plans, and by being informed about primary or secondary prevention. Aden feels lucky to be part of SBCA and the Raise-Op team.
Brendan Akers
Brendan has a BA degree in Social Science from California State University, which they earned while raising two children. Then, halfway to their lifelong goal of PhD/ psychology, they took a break from college for a midlife child, and then returned to Maine, their birthplace, in 2003. Their first friend in Maine asked them to sew clothes in an African store off and on, and they also sew for other businesses, including native American regalia for powwows. At Powwows in New England, Brendan has been sometimes controversial by carrying a flag as a veteran. In the Army , decades ago, Brendan worked in a mental health clinic doing interviews, counseling, and was trained for drug/ alcohol therapy group co-facilitation. Brendan has learned that their ancestry includes Salem witches and the Natives who met the Mayflower. Currently, Brendan is co-chair of Maine People's Alliance Board, and a gardener with Lots to Gardens.
Brendan has a BA degree in Social Science from California State University, which they earned while raising two children. Then, halfway to their lifelong goal of PhD/ psychology, they took a break from college for a midlife child, and then returned to Maine, their birthplace, in 2003. Their first friend in Maine asked them to sew clothes in an African store off and on, and they also sew for other businesses, including native American regalia for powwows. At Powwows in New England, Brendan has been sometimes controversial by carrying a flag as a veteran. In the Army , decades ago, Brendan worked in a mental health clinic doing interviews, counseling, and was trained for drug/ alcohol therapy group co-facilitation. Brendan has learned that their ancestry includes Salem witches and the Natives who met the Mayflower. Currently, Brendan is co-chair of Maine People's Alliance Board, and a gardener with Lots to Gardens.
Stuart Brown
Stuart has raised his children and grandchildren in Lewiston. He served as a paratrooper in the US Army during the 1980’s, where he traveled around the world to 6 different continents. He has volunteered for the VA, helping with veteran peer support services. He is currently retired and enjoys Netflix and socializing on his porch with neighbors. He’s excited to see the Raise-Op improve units in the neighborhood.
Stuart has raised his children and grandchildren in Lewiston. He served as a paratrooper in the US Army during the 1980’s, where he traveled around the world to 6 different continents. He has volunteered for the VA, helping with veteran peer support services. He is currently retired and enjoys Netflix and socializing on his porch with neighbors. He’s excited to see the Raise-Op improve units in the neighborhood.