A Heartfelt Thank You and Appreciation to Ebony Chambers-McClinton
After serving as an outstanding co-chair for the Parent Partner Advisory Committee (PPAC) for more than a decade, Ebony Chambers-McClinton is moving to a special advisor role. As this longtime champion for social justice, child welfare and mental health takes on her new role, the PPAC would like to share this open letter of gratitude.
On behalf of the entire Parent Partner Advisory Committee (PPAC) and the countless families, partners and communities across California, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to you for your years of dedicated service. Your tireless commitment and unwavering passion have uplifted parent partners statewide, bringing much-needed support, understanding and advocacy to families navigating complex systems.
From the very beginning, you have embodied the spirit of collaboration, and your impact on PPAC has been truly profound. Your leadership has shaped and strengthened the mission of our committee, helping us build bridges between families and services, elevating the voices of those who often go unheard, and fostering a culture of empathy, equity, inclusion and resilience. By steadfastly advocating for parents and families, you have empowered them to find their voices, stand strong in their truth, and secure the resources they need. We have been blessed to watch you work with grace and determination, and we are continually inspired by your ability to connect, to understand, and to make a difference in the lives of so many.
As a leader, you have given countless hours to advancing the mission of the Parent Partner Advisory Committee, ensuring that we always strive to do better and reach farther. Your vision has been pivotal in guiding PPAC, and your legacy is reflected in the programs, policies and practices that now benefit families throughout California. You have worked to establish a foundation of trust and transparency within our committee, and this foundation will continue to grow and serve as a beacon for others.
As you step into your new role as PPAC Special Advisor, we honor the incredible legacy you leave behind, a legacy built on compassion, inclusivity, and hope. We are grateful that while you may be stepping away from active facilitation, you will remain a part of our community as a guiding light and valued mentor. Your expertise and passion are invaluable assets, and we are heartened to know that we can still call upon your wisdom as we continue to serve families and communities with your exemplary examples of dedication and purpose.
Ebony, thank you for your remarkable contributions, your role-modeling of excellence, and the love and energy you have poured into this work. Thank you and congratulations on this well-deserved transition to PPAC Special Advisor.
With deepest gratitude and admiration,
Resource Center for Family-Focused Practice
California Department of Social Services
And, most importantly, the Peer Community!
Ebony Chambers is the Family & Youth Partnership chief officer at Stanford Sierra Youth and Families and has over 18 years of experience working with issues of social justice, equity, child welfare and mental health. She brings both professional and personal life experiences to her work and provides the oversight of advocacy and support to youth and families in Northern California. In addition, she is a speaker, educator and workshop leader who has worked extensively throughout the U.S. and has served nationally and locally as an advocate and activist for access to care and the elimination of the stigma of mental illness for underserved and unserved communities.