MACAA Welcomes John Edwards, Jr. as Interim Executive Director

The Monticello Area Community Action Agency (MACAA) is pleased to announce the appointment of John Edwards, Jr. as Interim Executive Director. Edwards, a seasoned leader with over 21 years of experience consulting in organizational, executive, and personal leadership development, will begin work with MACAA immediately and guide the organization through this period of transition and growth.

As founder of The Edwards Group Florida, an organizational and leadership development company specializing in all facets of organizational transition and readiness for excellence, Edwards brings a history of impactful leadership in advancing programs and initiatives that serve vulnerable populations successfully. A community action veteran, Edwards served as the Executive Director of the Northeast Florida Community Action Agency (NFCAA) in Jacksonville, Florida from 1983-2014, and as interim CEO in four (4) additional organizations immediately following. His expertise in building collaborative partnerships and driving systemic change will be instrumental in guiding MACAA leadership as they continue executing its mission of empowering families as they navigate pathways to prosperity.

“We are excited to have John join us in the next phase of our rebuilding process, establishing strong compliance and management practices and a firm analytical foundation to support the impact and development of our programs and services to support community members in need,” said Sarah Shalf, MACAA Board Chair. “We thank Trish [Anderson] for her tremendous work leading the organization for the last six months, enabling us to take the time to find a community action veteran to help take MACAA to the next level.”

Trish Anderson, who has served as Acting Executive Director since July 2024, will redirect her primary focus back to MACAA’s early childhood programs and her role as Director of Early Childhood Services, while also partnering with Edwards to move the organization forward.

As Interim Executive Director, Edwards will oversee daily operations, programs, and services while working with the Board of Directors and senior leadership to ensure a smooth transition for the organization during this interim period and prepare the way for a permanent Executive Director. The MACAA team and Board of Directors are confident in Edward’s leadership and look forward to the impact of his contributions.

In considering his role in this critical time for the organization, Edwards offered the following thoughts:

“I want to thank the MACAA Board of Directors for trusting my leadership and experience during this transition period of its history. I look forward to working with the people of the greater Charlottesville area to put MACAA on a trajectory for growth in pursuit of its anti-poverty mission.”

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MACAA was founded in 1965 to respond to poverty and improve the lives of low-income people in Central Virginia. Its mission is to empower families to navigate pathways to prosperity by educating, inspiring, and advocating for those in need. MACAA programs provide essential services to children, teens, and adults in the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle, Nelson, Fluvanna, and Louisa Counties.