Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana Announces Appointment of Jennifer Parham as Director of Development and Community Engagement

Dear Friends, Partners, and Supporters,

It is with great excitement that I share an important addition to our leadership team at Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana, as our mission and momentum have never been stronger.

Please join me in welcoming Jennifer Parham, our new Director of Development and Community Engagement.

A visionary leader known for aligning people, purpose, and performance, she has a proven track record of building mission-driven organizations, developing strategic partnerships, and expanding access to homeownership opportunities.

Most recently, Jennifer served as the 2024 President of the Indiana Association of REALTORS®, where she helped guide statewide strategy, policy, and professional standards. She is also the founder of Lighthouse Realty and the Lighthouse School of Real Estate, where she has led initiatives focused on equity, education, and community advancement.

Her passion for affordable housing, financial literacy, and community collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission, and her leadership will be instrumental as we continue to grow our impact across Lake County.

This announcement comes at a pivotal moment for our organization.
In 2026, Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana proudly celebrates 40 years of building homes, communities, and hope across Lake County. For four decades, we have partnered with families to create strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable homeownership and critical home repair.

Today, that mission is more urgent than ever.

With rising housing costs and limited access to affordable financing, too many hard-working families are being left behind. That’s why we are expanding our work through innovative solutions, including the Affordable Housing Tax Credit (AHTC) program.

The AHTC program offers a powerful opportunity for individuals and businesses to invest directly in affordable housing, receive significant state tax credits, and help Habitat build more homes and serve more families. Through this initiative, we are raising critical funding to accelerate construction, expand homeownership opportunities, and deepen our community impact.

Jennifer will play a key leadership role in advancing this effort by building relationships with donors, financial advisors, and corporate partners to maximize the impact of the AHTC program and other strategic initiatives.

As we look ahead to our next chapter and the next 40 years, we are focused on scaling our impact, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring that more families across Northwest Indiana have a place to call home.

Please join me in welcoming Jennifer to the Habitat family. We are excited about the energy, experience, and heart she brings to this work and about what we will accomplish together.

With gratitude,

Jim Drader
Executive Director
Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana

Connect with Jennifer:
dirdev@nwihabitat.org
219-923-7265
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-parham-36257727/

www.nwihabitat.org

Be part of the next 40 years of impact.
To learn more about the Affordable Housing Tax Credit program or how you can get involved, please contact our team today.

Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana Announces Appointment of James Drader as Executive Director

Gary, IN – February 16, 2026 — Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana announces that appointment of James (Jim) Drader to the position of Executive Director. Mr. Drader has over twenty years of nonprofit management experience, underscored by a commitment to collaborative community development and housing advocacy.

“Jim exemplifies servant leadership and strategic vision," stated Chris Johnson, Board President. "His extensive experience and dedication to building inclusive communities make him exceptionally qualified to lead our organization forward.”

Mr. Drader holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University and a Master of Public Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Jim has held senior leadership roles in both banking and nonprofit sectors, most recently serving as Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of New River Valley in Christiansburg, Virginia. During his tenure, Drader expanded the critical home repair initiatives for aging populations, increased donor engagement, and enhanced ReStore operations. Prior to this, he was the founder and CEO of New Creations Men’s Center in Valparaiso, Indiana, from June 2008 to August 2020, where he established nonprofit services for men experiencing homelessness, collaborated with numerous congregations and agencies, and initiated transitional housing programs.

As an active participant in local governance and housing policy, Drader serves on the Oversight Committee for Habitat for Humanity International and was honored with the 2013 Northwest Indiana Innovator of the Year Award.

In his role as Executive Director, Jim will oversee strategic planning, operational management, project development, community relations and financial oversight. His leadership will beinstrumental in advancing HFHNWI’s mission to bring people together to build homes, strengthen communities, and instill hope.

“I am privileged to join Northwest Indiana Habitat for Humanity during a period of growth and potential,” said Drader. “This organization has a remarkable tradition of fostering change through safe and affordable housing. I look forward to working collaboratively with staff, volunteers, and partner families to enhance our impact throughout Lake County Indiana.

Since 1986, Northwest Indiana Habitat for Humanity has not only constructed homes but also forged enduring partnerships, cultivated neighborhood pride, and created avenues toward stability for families in need. Under Drader’s leadership, the organization looks forward to furthering its long-term vision - a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

For updates and additional information about Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana, please visit www.nwihabitat.org.

Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana Announces Leadership Transition and Reaffirms Continued Commitment to Its Mission

Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana today announced that Executive Director Dawn Michaels, who has served in the role for the past eight years, will be stepping down effective December 31, 2025. Michaels leaves with more than a decade of dedicated service, visionary leadership, and organizational advancement, leaving a legacy that will influence the mission for years to come.

During Michaels’ tenure, Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana experienced transformational growth and measurable community impact. The organization expanded the development of essential workforce housing across Lake County—with notable progress in Lake Station—completed one Veteran home per year and continued to grow the ReStore into a thriving resource that supports ongoing mission work. Under her direction, partnerships deepened, programs strengthened, and the organization’s ability to serve families in need of safe, affordable housing continued to rise.

“Dawn has made an incredible impact on our organization and the communities we serve,” said Chris Johnson, Board President “Through her leadership and commitment to our mission, we are stronger, more resilient, and better positioned for the future. We are deeply grateful for the past decade of service and impact.”

Reflecting on her time with the organization, Michaels shared:

“It has been such a joy to serve Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana and work alongside such a passionate board, staff, volunteers, and community. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together and confident that the organization’s brightest days are still ahead.”

The Board of Directors has initiated a leadership transition plan to ensure continuity and sustained success. Information regarding the Executive Director position can be found on the organization’s website: https://www.nwihabitat.org/who-we-are/careers.html

Michaels will work closely with the Board and leadership team during the transition to support a seamless handover of responsibilities.

Ask Us How You Can Get a Tax Credit for Your Donation!

We are so excited to share with you that donors to Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana are eligible for a tax credit equal to half of their donations!

Donors need to contact us to get the tax credit form and more information on how you can participate.

Direct your tax dollars to Lake County, Indiana by helping give your neighbors a hand-up and not a hand-out through Habitat for Humanity's homeownership program!

Call Amanda to get all the information! 219-923-7265 ext. 1304

November 2, 2026

How Positive Thoughts Make You Healthier

Negativity. It’s all around us, on our social media feeds, on the news, even in our thoughts. Sometimes it seems like there is no way of avoiding it. Negativity can swallow us up, bring us down and ruin our days, weeks, months, life. And once you start feeling negative, it can be very difficult to push those thoughts out and focus on something else.

On the other hand, positivity is often something few and far between. In living an altruistic lifestyle, positivity helps us stay focused on what is most important—moving forward—rather than being bogged down in negative circumstances.

Turns out, living a positive lifestyle has more benefits than just “feeling better.” Focusing on positive thoughts can actually impact your overall health. How, you ask? Today we dive in and see how positive thoughts can make you healthier.

1. Positive thinking fights depression.
What better way to fight depression and negative thinking than with positive thoughts? Recent studies have shown that one of the major factors leading to depression is negative self-talk. When you make the switch from pessimistic thinking to focusing on positivity, you combat depression and drastically change its effects. Now, this isn’t to say that depression in its entirety can be overcome simply by changing your mind, but it can help in resisting and refocusing your mind away from the depression.

2. Positive thinking decreases stress.
With positivity comes the release of happy hormones such as serotonin and endorphins. These hormones help to decrease our stress levels, making us feel more relaxed and energized. And, with decreased stress levels comes overall better health, including a better cardiovascular condition. When you refocus your mind on thinking more positively, you help to decrease your overall stress and improve health.

3. Positive thinking helps you live longer.
When your stress levels are decreased and your health is improved, you are more likely to live a longer life. Research on health outcomes in Denmark showed that hospital patients with a positive outlook were 58% more likely to live at least another five years. Other studies have demonstrated that positive thoughts lead to a lower rate of death from illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, hypertension or diabetes. Sounds like a whole lot of benefits for one simple mindset change. So, if you’re hoping to avoid illness and live a long, happy life, start with a positive first step.

4. Positive thinking strengthens your immune system.
One of the reasons you live longer with positive thinking is because it strengthens your immune system. Thinking negatively has been known to cause greater electrical activity in areas of your brain, weakening your immune response and making you more susceptible to conditions such as the common cold or influenza. However, when you focus on positive thinking, this tends to have the opposite effect, and strengthen your immune system to fight off smaller—and sometimes larger—ailments.

5. Positive thinking gives you coping skills.
Finally, positive thinking gives you coping skills when your physical and mental health encounter difficulties in the future. For example, when something goes wrong, such as losing a job, having a strong positive thinking process makes you more likely to respond optimistically, helping you to overcome the challenge faster and bounce back quickly. The more you practice positivity, the more likely it is to have a lasting impact on your life.

If you want to feel better and live a healthier, more altruistic lifestyle, try implementing more positive thoughts into your self-talk. Next time you’re feeling down, turn that around and focus on positive aspects, and increase your overall wellbeing.

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