About us
History and overview
Friends for Neighborhood Progress, Inc. (FFNP) was established in 1968 by Lord Nickens and Seaven Gordon, leaders of the Frederick County Chapter of NAACP. Under the auspices of FFNP, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, the organization leased a building and began operating the Frederick Community Center in 1968.
The City of Frederick became a partner in the operation of the Frederick Community Center in 1979 under the leadership of former mayor Ron Young (currently a state senator). The Frederick Community Center evolved into the Frederick Community Action Agency (FCAA) and became the federally-designated Community Action Agency for all of Frederick County in 1993. Friends for Neighborhood Progress remained an active partner in the operation of the FCAA and served as a non-profit development partner for many projects jointly undertaken by FFNP and the FCAA.
FFNP has reorganized, is continuing to operate its Housing First Program, has hired an interim director, and is re-establishing itself as an independent non-profit agency invested in providing direct human and homeless services to lower-income residents of Frederick County, Maryland.
It is important to note that FFNP has a 54-year track record of successfully establishing and operating programs and services; has an active and engaged board of directors led by Janet Jones and Becky Wells; has hired Michelle Petersen as Executive Director and Ms. Petersen has over 25 years of human service experience including two years of serving as a VISTA member; and a consultant on a pro bono basis in order to help to rebuild FFNP into a successful provider of a diverse array of human services.
2023 Board of Directors
Janet Jones– Board Co-Chair
Becky Wells– Board Co-Chair
Jenifer Beach – Secretary
Jacqueline Badro - Treasurer
Christine Bickle
Dr. Larry Costello
Annette Perkins
Daysi Villalta
Carol Mack
Ron Young, Former State Senator