Who We Are
We're everyday people facing the same daily struggles as you—commutes, bills, and family obligations. Yet, we share a common concern for the well-being of our planet and a burning desire to make a difference.
Leveraging diverse skills and experiences, we innovate, collaborate, and support initiatives that aim for a positive impact. We are driven by the belief that change is possible and begins with committed individuals making the right choices, united in action.
Our Purpose
Our Mission
The Chamber of Us is committed to leading innovative and collaborative efforts to address global challenges in education, health, and environmental sustainability.
Our Vision
We envision a world where every community has the resources and opportunities to thrive, and where the environment is protected and preserved for generations to come.
Meet Our Founding Team
The Chamber of Us wouldn't be here without the dedication and passion of our founding team. Here's a glimpse into what brought us together:
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Founder, Executive Director
My journey to The Chamber of Us began in the world of engineering. After years of analysis and project management at Siemens Energy, I led diverse teams across the globe in product development, risk assessment, and process improvement. We achieved incredible results, earning prestigious awards for innovation. Managing multi-million dollar budgets and spearheading international teams were impressive accomplishments, but something was missing.
Working in the fossil fuel industry started to conflict with my values. I felt a disconnect between the groundbreaking projects I led and their ultimate contribution to the status quo. The desire to make a real difference grew stronger.
Driven by self-reflection and inspired by my friend Ted's encouragement, I took a leap of faith. I quit my job and embarked on a journey through the Global South. It was an opportunity to explore where my skills and passion could intersect with the world's most pressing needs.
Growing up in a low-income environment, I experienced firsthand how acts of generosity can dramatically shift one's trajectory. This profound experience changed the course of my life and set me on a path to create an organization that could improve the lives of others.
The Chamber of Us aims to offer a hand up, not just handouts. This organization is the culmination of my experiences, skills, and a deep desire to replicate the life-altering act of kindness I received.
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Chief Health Officer and Board Member
Me, Farhan, and Kevin used to have weekend hangouts after I moved to the U.S. to pursue my master’s. We would bounce off ideas and share cool info with each other.
My journey in healthcare began as a physician in Kerala, India, serving remote and populous areas and tackling communicable diseases. But my own health was declining due to a multitude of reasons, which ultimately led me to pursue applications of IT in health with a focus on NLP and data analytics from UF Medicine. The more I delved into the field and reflected on my own experiences, the more I realized how challenging it is to navigate even a single condition, even as a healthcare professional.
Coming from a developing country to a developed nation, it was surprising to see the disconnected living, rampant non-communicable diseases, and mental health conditions plaguing our society. Additionally, the inaccessibility of many treatments and information for common people was striking. I also became increasingly interested in alternative treatment modalities that often go unnoticed.
After Kevin embarked on his worldly ventures in Africa and other parts of the world and witnessed the living conditions, we felt a strong pull toward a mission of uniting people for better living for all beings. Being from Kerala, we are instilled with a culture of sharing for the greater good of the community. When Kevin pitched the idea of The Chamber of Us, I was excited to join this journey, hoping to create a better world for all.
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Chief Financial Officer and Board Member
As an immigrant from the Middle East, I’ve always felt lucky to have made a home in North America. Ever since I was a kid, Hollywood had me dreaming of America—think awesome places, stunning nature, cool buildings, and all that freedom. Who wouldn’t want a piece of that?
I started off with a bachelor’s in civil engineering and dived into the construction world. After stacking up some experience, I pushed for bigger dreams, earning a master’s in construction management from the University of Florida. Go Gators! I landed what many would call a dream job and it almost felt complete.
But something was still off. My mind often wandered to folks back home who didn’t have the same chances I got. That’s when my buddy Kevin came up with “The Chamber of Us.” I jumped right in—no second thoughts. It was the perfect way to give back to a society that’s given me so much. Plus, having my partner and best friend, Sadiya, on the team made it even better.
I’m pumped to use my know-how and experience to help change lives with “The Chamber of Us.” Excited to see where this adventure takes us!
Our Journey
Have you ever encountered a situation that shattered your perception of the world?
For me, Kevin Schmidt, that moment came during my first visit to Ethiopia in September 2022—a trip that marked the beginning of The Chamber of Us, born out of a response to the needs of our global neighbors.
I arrived in Ethiopia as part of a broader journey through the Global South, where I was confronted with some heart-wrenching realities. In Hana, Ethiopia, the term "walking skeletons" was introduced to me by my cousin, a teaching surgeon at Soddo Christian Hospital. This term painfully and accurately described the children suffering from severe malnutrition, leaving them vulnerable to death from preventable and treatable diseases. This overwhelming experience compelled me to action, to attempt to make a lasting difference.
On that day in Ethiopia, my mind was paralyzed by a flood of thoughts, trying to grasp how we as a global community had reached this point, and wondering where one even begins to address such entrenched issues. After months of reflection and avoidance, I decided that what felt right was to start an organization where profits aren’t the focus, and where our work for the people and the planet would matter the most.
That idea, putting people over profits, is embodied in our name, The Chamber of Us, a direct challenge to the notion of placing commerce and economic interests at the center of our daily lives.
We’re now in our founding phase, with a focus on amplifying the work of nonprofits already making significant impacts. We aim to learn from them while helping extend their missions, all the while tinkering with innovative concepts. Our strategy is to build our understanding while collaborating with experienced organizations that have deep insights into the challenges and contexts of the communities they serve.
We’re an organization aiming to connect resources with needs in ways that haven’t been tried before, supporting and scaling solutions that are sustainable, impactful, and built for the long term.
Our journey is just beginning. Each step we take is driven by a belief in the power of compassionate, strategic, and coordinated action. Join us as we continue to explore, learn, and act—writing new chapters in a story we hope will inspire others.
Our Values
At The Chamber of Us, our core values guide our behavior, shape our culture, and define the principles by which we operate. By adhering to these core values, we are united as an organization, and inspire trust and confidence among our partners, stakeholders, and the communities we serve.
Core Values
Inclusivity: Ensure that all voices are heard and valued. We believe that diverse perspectives strengthen our work and foster a more equitable society.
Innovation: Encourage creative solutions and continuous improvement. We strive to stay at the forefront of new ideas and technologies that can drive sustainable change.
Collaboration: Work together across sectors, ideologies, and borders to achieve common goals. We recognize that solving global challenges requires collective action and partnership; focusing on commonalities rather than differences.
Sustainability: Commit to long-term, environmentally sound practices and solutions. We prioritize actions that protect and preserve our planet for future generations.
Integrity: Act with transparency, accountability, and the highest ethical standards. We are committed to honesty and fairness in all our dealings, ensuring trustworthiness in our work.
Our Approach
At The Chamber of Us, we believe that real change comes from tackling the root causes, not just alleviating symptoms. Our projects are designed to empower communities by providing the tools and resources needed for long-term self-sufficiency, encompassing everything from skills training and educational initiatives to critical infrastructure development.
Collaborative Efforts: We forge partnerships with established organizations to pool resources and expertise, increasing efficiency of donor generosity and extending reach.
Community Empowerment: We focus on providing communities with the necessary skills and knowledge for self-reliance and long-term prosperity.
Local Involvement: Understanding that local communities best understand their own challenges, we aim to work closely with them, respecting and integrating their insights.
Get Involved!
Here are several ways you can help drive our mission forward:
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