Culture in Action: Clarvida’s Cultural Ambassadors Lead the Way
When people feel seen, heard, and valued, they thrive. And when teams thrive, the communities they serve flourish in ways that are both powerful and lasting. This belief is deeply embedded in Clarvida’s mission to brighten lives and communities, not only through our services, but in the culture we build together every day.
That’s the spirit behind the Clarvida Cultural Ambassador Program, recently relaunched to reflect our evolving workplace and renewed commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility. It empowers elected employees across the organization to become culture-shapers and community-builders in the spaces where they work every day.
Who Are the Cultural Ambassadors?
Cultural Ambassadors are Clarvida employees who step into a leadership role of influence. They’re selected for their empathy, their ability to listen deeply, and their commitment to creating an environment where everyone feels safe, respected, and heard. They lead with compassion and conviction, helping turn Clarvida’s core values into everyday actions.
A Culture That Listens, Learns, and Leads
Ambassadors help strengthen a culture that is connected and inclusive every day. They bring Clarvida’s values to life through meaningful cultural activities, elevate employee voices and lived experiences, and partner with leaders to foster inclusive, consistent team practices. Ambassadors also identify opportunities to strengthen cultural alignment across the organization and help maintain clarity, trust, and a sense of belonging—especially during times of change. Through it all, they create safe spaces for open dialogue, grounded in confidentiality, discretion, and respect.
At the heart of the program is a continuous cultural support cycle: Listen → Learn → Lift → Lead → Loop Back. Ambassadors listen to their teams, learn from their stories, lift insights to the right spaces, model inclusive behaviors, and loop back with feedback, ensuring voices don’t just get heard, they help shape real outcomes. This model is a reflection of Clarvida’s belief that a thriving workplace is built on trust, dialogue, and shared responsibility.
How the Program Works
Ambassadors serve a six-month term, contributing about 1–3 hours per month. They participate in cultural engagement activities, inclusion and accessibility initiatives, quarterly huddles and resource-sharing, and peer support and listening sessions. They’re guided by a dedicated Ambassador Committee made up of co-leads, People Team partners, and operational leaders who help keep the program aligned, responsive, and consistent across the organization. Ambassadors are celebrated for their impact through recognition and rewards and receive special Clarvida swag as a thank-you for leading with compassion and advocacy.
A Workplace Where Everyone Belongs
The Cultural Ambassador Program reflects the kind of workplace we’re building together, one where belonging is intentional, diverse voices are celebrated, and every employee feels empowered to show up fully as themselves. Here at Clarvida, we believe culture doesn’t come from the top down. It comes from the inside out, through the people who care enough to listen, learn, and lead.
Meet our Cultural Ambassadors
Learn their stories. Hear their voices. Celebrate the work they do to help Clarvida reflect the very best of who we are and who we’re becoming.
Keishala Lorah
Keishala Lorah, a Life Skills Specialist with the FPS team since July 2024, brings a deep passion for helping families heal and grow. “We encounter families at their lowest point,” she shares, “and it’s inspiring to help them build new, positive relationships.” As a Cultural Ambassador, Keishala is driven by her desire to make every community she’s part of more inclusive and connected. She believes that fostering belonging is vital to creating a better, more accepting world.
Musange Hansen
Born in Uganda and a survivor of extraordinary hardship, Musange Hansen became a passionate mental health advocate after arriving in the U.S. as a refugee in 1996. He lost his daughter Solange to suicide in 2017—a tragedy that now fuels his daily work as a suicide prevention specialist. “Mental health is still taken as a stigma. It’s a health issue like any other. Awareness is key,” he says. Musange brings deep life experience, resilience, and a powerful voice to Clarvida’s Cultural Ambassador team.
Jason Patterson
Jason Patterson joined Clarvida’s Compliance Team in 2023 after serving in multiple leadership roles at AmericanWork since 2007. With a background in crisis intervention and community support, he brings a deep understanding of mental health and a long history of building bridges between systems and people. “No matter where we come from, we can all be successful if we work together,” Jason says. As a Cultural Ambassador, he champions the strength of individual uniqueness and the value of shared purpose.
Jenny LaBonte
Jenny LaBonte is Clarvida’s Director of Marketing Communications, bringing over 10 years of marketing experience and a lifelong passion for inclusive leadership. Since joining in March 2025, she’s led initiatives that amplify employee voices and strengthen the candidate experience. Jenny became a Cultural Ambassador to help build a workplace “where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued.” Having felt overlooked in previous roles, she is committed to fostering spaces where people are genuinely heard and seen.
Maria Huddleston, LCSW
Maria Huddleston serves as Director of Clinical and Community Programs in Colorado and Clinical Training & Wellness Leader for ITHRIVE. With Clarvida since 2018, she leads trauma-informed initiatives grounded in dignity and connection. Her passion for equity was shaped by years of working with survivors of trauma. “Healing becomes possible when people are met with respect and a sense of safety,” she says. Maria sees Cultural Ambassadorship as both a responsibility and a privilege to help build spaces where every person can thrive.
Anita Robinson
Anita Robinson is a Behavioral Health Professional at Merrymeeting School in Maine, where she works one-on-one with clients and supports children in their emotional development. She believes in creating safe, secure spaces where parents feel confident in the care their children receive. “Being inclusive and accepting is what I do every day,” she says. As a Cultural Ambassador, Anita brings authenticity, heart, and an unwavering belief in the value of every individual.
Sander Stanley
Based in McMinnville, Oregon, Sander Stanley is a Group Home Program Manager with over 20 years of experience in care work. At Clarvida, he finds purpose in uplifting both clients and the staff who support them. “We thrive in diversity,” Sander says. A passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion, he leads by example—whether by educating others about gender identity or standing up against misgendering in the workplace. His Cultural Ambassador role reflects a deep commitment to dignity, bravery, and belonging.
Tamica Fricks
Tamica Fricks is a Permanency Caseworker who brings over a decade of experience in child welfare, mentoring, and community leadership to her work with Clarvida. Inspired by the resilience of youth and families, she believes that inclusion must be a lived, daily practice. “I am deeply committed to challenging bias, advocating for equity, and leading with empathy,” she says. As a Cultural Ambassador, Tamica helps cultivate spaces where every voice is honored and every individual can thrive with dignity.
David P. Phillips
David P. Phillips brings years of ambassador and training experience from a large, high-revenue organization and is now proud to serve as a Cultural Ambassador at Clarvida. He hopes to contribute meaningful insights that help strengthen Clarvida’s culture and support its continued growth. “My goal is to contribute insights that help Clarvida grow.”
Kasey Stuntebeck
With a background in mental health and aging services, Kasey Stuntebeck has witnessed firsthand how barriers and biases can affect lives. As a Cultural Ambassador, she is committed to open dialogue, fairness, and building a culture of equity and belonging. “I advocate strongly for my clients, I am in my master’s program, and I hope for all Clarvida staff to feel heard and listened to.”
Miguel Esparza
Miguel Esparza sees his role as a Clarvida Cultural Ambassador as both a blessing and a responsibility. He is passionate about embedding Clarvida’s rich, ultra-cultural values into the communities the organization serves, and finds purpose in fostering unity through shared mission. “It is truly an honor and a blessing to serve as a Clarvida Cultural Ambassador.”
Bridget Bossert
Bridget Bossert approaches her Cultural Ambassador journey with intention, believing that even slow and steady shifts can create meaningful change. As a Cultural Ambassador, she is focused on contributing to that progress in a thoughtful and authentic way. “I am hopeful to make an honest and meaningful difference for the people we work with.”
Paige Osborn
Having lived in four different states, Paige Osborn brings adaptability, compassion, and a deep appreciation for diversity to her role as a Cultural Ambassador. She is passionate about bringing Clarvida’s values to life in every local office. “As a Cultural Ambassador, I hope to help translate Clarvida’s values into meaningful, everyday practices across our communities.”