Karen Heyward-West

With more than 25 years of experience working on behalf of children and families in need, Karen is a strategic, visionary leader, with a special focus on outcomes.

Before joining BACH in the winter of 2021, Karen was the Director of the Homesharing program at St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center. She holds a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Notre Dame Maryland University.

Karen is the recipient of the Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce’s 2012 Women’s History Month award for her work in the non-profit community and was one of The Daily Record’s Top 100 Women in 2016 for her work with young people as a mentor in the community. Karen is a 2009 Associated Black Charities Board Pipeline graduate, 2008 Weinberg Fellow, and member of the 2007 Greater Baltimore Committee Leadership cohort. She is a national expert in the Host Home Model for homeless youth.

A long-time member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKA), Karen volunteers to help make a difference. She has served as a member and officer on community boards including Cultured Pearls of Service, AIDS Interfaith Residential Services, Maryland Food Bank, A Step Closer Foundation, Park Heights Community Health Alliance, and is the co-founder of the Pimlico Terrace Community Association.

As a 2010-2021 mother member of Jack and Jill of America Incorporated, Karen served as the Eastern Region’s foundation member-at-large. She was a two-term chapter president for Jack and Jill’s Greater Baltimore County chapter and has chaired several local and regional committees.

Karen currently serves on the Hearts Place Services board of directors.