WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) issued the following statement on inviting Matrie Johnson to be her guest for President Biden’s State of the Union Address.

"I'm thrilled to have Matrie Johnson, the Director of Programs at Home of the Sparrow, as my special guest for President Biden's State of the Union Address," said Rep. Houlahan. "Matrie's dedication to empowering those who face challenges in Chester County, particularly women and children, is truly inspiring. Bringing voices like Matrie's into the national spotlight will help us continue to tackle a growing concern in our community: affordable housing. I'm eager for Matrie to experience this memorable evening and hear President Biden's vision for a country that continues growing the middle class from the bottom up and the middle out."

"I am deeply honored to attend the State of the Union Address alongside Rep. Houlahan. Her invitation symbolizes the collective resilience of our community and our focus on taking care of one another,” said Matrie Johnson. “As the Director of Programs at Home of the Sparrow, my commitment to empowering women in Chester County is unwavering. As a board member for both the Black Women of Chester County in Action and the West Chester Food Cupboard, I also know we must take a holistic approach to tackling complex issues. I look forward to sharing the stories of these organizations further, and I thank Rep. Houlahan for providing a platform to amplify voices that are working toward a more inclusive and prosperous future."

Guest Information:

Biography

Matrie is the Director of Programs at Home of Sparrow, where she oversees the five housing related programs, including WRAP (Women’s Reentry Assessment Program), Shared Housing, Supportive, Eviction Prevention and Pre-Senior housing. In this role she leads a team of 5 Program Coordinators that implement the daily programming of supportive services and housing for women and their children beginning at age 18. She serves on the Allies for Housing for All, a Chester County organization dedicated to addressing the lack of safe and affordable housing in Chester County. She’s a charter Board Member of BWCCA (Black Women of Chester County in Action).

She serves on the Board of Directors at the West Chester Food Cupboard and on the Board of Trustees for NVCN (National Volunteer Caregiving Network). Matrie, a leader and organizer, is the co-founder of a Philadelphia based organization that assists low-income individuals and families experiencing food insecurity with emergency food. In 2012, she co-founded the Chester County Single Mothers’ Conference, which is a part of the Chester County Community Collaborative.

The mission of this yearly conference is empowering single mothers to live to their fullest potential through encouragement, engagement, and education. Matrie has over twenty-five years of successful management and leadership experience. A determined advocate for women and children, with a focus on housing, food insecurity, social justice. She has received several honors and awards including the Fund for Women and Girls Kitchen Table Award and has presented at several conferences on housing related issues.

Matrie is a graduate of Howard University, Washington, DC with BS in Marketing, and Eastern University, St. Davids, PA with MS in Nonprofit Management, and a Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Read more about Matrie’s role at Home of the Sparrow here.

Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader. She represents Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. She is the recipient of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award which “recognizes members who demonstrate the bipartisan leadership and constructive governing necessary to move our country forward” and the Congressional Management Foundation’s 2022 Democracy Award for best Constituent Services in Congress.

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