Devon Hoffman is the new Executive Director of JJAB Los Alamos. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

As the new Executive Director of JJAB Los Alamos, Devon Hoffman brings experience leading other social service organizations to the table. Hoffman also has ties to a few famous figures in Los Alamos history.

Hoffman became executive director of JJAB March 21, taking the reigns from Lisa Zuhn. She explained that Zuhn introduced her to JJAB and what the position entailed.

“I like to use my skill set for things that will improve the community,” Hoffman said.

Prior to coming to Los Alamos, Hoffman served for two and a half years as program director for the Rio Arriba Adult Literacy Program. Before that she served in 2013 in the Peace Corps in the Philippines.

Hoffman grew up in Albuquerque and graduated from Westminster College in Utah. Los Alamos was not unknown to her because her great-great-grandparents are Ranch School Founder Ashley Pond and Peggy Pond Church.

She was attracted to the local position because, “JJAB has a really good mission and a really good staff.”

Hoffman added that the organization has “really solid” programing, which includes case management, support groups, Restorative Justice and the Imagination Library.

The positive feeling is mutual; JJAB Los Alamos Board Chair Pastor Nicolé Raddu Ferry said they are pleased to have Hoffman as executive director.

“The Juvenile Justice Advisory Board is grateful to have Devon Hoffman step into the role of executive director,” Raddu Ferry said. “The organization is so grateful for the previous leadership of Lisa Zuhn and the growth that came under her leadership. We are also eager to see Ms. Hoffman’s work in the current programs that are provided in the Los Alamos community, the exploration of changes for the needs in our community and growth in the organization to provide the best services for families and children.”

Since coming on board, Hoffman said JJAB has been able to expand, adding one new position for budget policy and now partners with First Born to offer case management services for children age 1 to 5 years old and their families.

JJAB partners with various agencies in town, Hoffman said. Los Alamos National Laboratory provides a grant for expanding services for children and young adults or those older than 18 years old, which was the cut-off. The organization works with courts for the Restorative Justice program and Las Cumbres on the Dialectically Behavioral Therapy. Other collaborators include the Family Health Council, Family YMCA and Family Strengths Network.

There is still more work to do. Hoffman said JJAB is facilitating conversations about the recent rash of vandalism, but she hopes to offer more conversations into other areas such as LGBTQ+ issues.

“I want to keep conversations alive in this community and be a facilitator for these conversations,” she said.

What JJAB offers is important, highly needed work, Hoffman said.

“I think that JJAB is meeting a high demand need for facilitating resources – often for people who are experiencing a lot of issues at one time,” she said. “We provide a great service for that.”

While JJAB is here to help those who need assistance, Hoffman emphasized it is the responsibility of the whole community to be aware and proactive on issues it is facing.

“The only way to fully address issues is for the whole community to work on addressing these issues,” she said.

Hoffman said she feels Los Alamos can be the model for this community-wide effort to create positive change.

“If everyone can come together and agree that these are problems … we can succeed in meaningful ways,” she said.

To achieve this, it helps to have a great team, and Hoffman praised her staff.

“I think my staff is a highlight,” she said. “It can be hard to find an environment as collaborative as JJAB is. I admire everyone I work with.”