LOCAL HERO Joanna Zambella: A Driving Force for Families and Children in the Region

Whether she's advocating for youth in her community, planning a training center in Peru or earning black belts in karate, Joanna Zambella wants to be engaged in life. &emsp;"It's why I travel, and I've changed careers," she notes. "If I want to try something, I say, 'Absolutely. Of course.' It's why I have experience in so many different things." &emsp;Zambella, of Jaffrey, was married and raised a family before setting off on her many life adventures. &emsp;She was inspired to give back by her former in-laws. Her mother-in-law, who worked with the Girl Scouts of America and the YMCA, received a proclamation from the mayor when she retired from volunteer service. Both she and her father-in-law spent their vacations working with Habitat for Humanity. &emsp;"They dedicated their lives to being good people," says Zambella. "I admire them. They helped me realize I have the power (to make change). It was just a matter of getting out and doing it." &emsp;In her earlier working life, Zambella was an elementary and middle-school teacher in the greater Boston area and Cape Cod for eight years and went on to become an entrepreneur in many different capacities. She was a real estate investor (she has her broker's license); she then owned and operated a small graphic arts company in Keene and a business at the Hannah Grimes Center doing fundraising, digital marketing, consulting, project management and small business mentoring. She also served as president of Elm City BNI (Business Networking International) Business Connections. &emsp;She continued fundraising and working as an independent business contractor and spent time traveling the world, including to Peru, South Africa, Israel, India and Indonesia. &emsp;When she returned to Keene six years ago from India, she began working as an account executive with Monadnock Broadcasting Group — work she continues today. &emsp;The job is smack dab in her wheelhouse. &emsp;"A big part of me settling into this area and taking the job I did is I wanted to be involved in the community," she says. "I work with businesses to help them thrive within the community." &emsp;Three years ago, Zambella began volunteering as a board member for the Keene Housing Kids Collaborative, an organization that gives kids free access to opportunities and experiences (including arts and after-school programs, athletics and summer camps) so that they can have fun, do well in school and become economically dependent adults. &emsp;She became chair of the development committee in early 2022, board secretary early this year, and member of the strategic planning committee last year. &emsp;Sally Malay met Zambella, who was on the search committee that hired Malay as executive director in late 2021. &emsp;"Joanna has been a driving force as both a fundraiser, strategic planner and advocate for the Keene Housing Kids Collaborative," wrote Malay in an email. "She co-chaired our annual Benefit Breakfast in 2022 with Riki Greenwald. She initiated and co-chaired (with Riki) our first annual cocktail reception for our leadership donors last year. She steps up to represent our organization at many community events, and she generously gives her personal time and financial support to help our organization." &emsp;Malay called Zambella a driving force who is passionate about the organization's mission, families and kids. &emsp;"She cares deeply about the opportunities that we provide for our kids and is connected to our vision of ensuring our kids become successful, engaged members of our community," wrote Malay. &emsp;Zambella has also been involved in youth work in Keene (for the past year and a half) as a member of the Juvenile Conference Committee (of the City of Keene Youth Services division). The committee runs diversion programs for Cheshire County, focusing on using restorative justice practices to hold youth accountable while keeping them out of the court system. The committee supports youth and families by empowering positive decision-making and community engagement. Zambella works closely with Youth Services manager Alyssa Bender. &emsp;She listed her work with Keene Housing Kids Collaborative and the Juvenile Conference Committee at the top of her priority list. &emsp;"Helping children is the most important thing you can do for your community," she said. &emsp;Zambella feels she's able to live freely because she has faced all her deepest fears. &emsp;"Everything else is gravy," she said. "It's all connected — my work, my fun. We're here once for a very, very short time and this life has so many beautiful things to offer. That's my purpose."