Meet Maisha Colter | CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maisha Colter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maisha, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Work-life balance for me is being able to show up where you can be yourself, contribute, and feel good doing it. Sometimes, work requires more of my time and attention than home. And sometimes the reverse is true. The important thing is recognizing when that is true and making sure I can do what I need to where I am most needed. When I can’t do that, then something is wrong, and I have to start making changes.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am currently the Chief Executive Officer of the AVDA, aka Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse. AVDA is a nonprofit that has served the greater Houston community for the last forty-four years. Our mission is to end domestic violence by advocating for survivors and holding those who abuse them accountable while educating the community about how domestic violence impacts us all. I lead a dedicated staff of advocates, attorneys, paralegals, counselors, and many more. My role is to ensure my team has what they need to execute services and programs. I spend a fair amount of time myself educating others about domestic abuse. I am a licensed attorney and social worker. My professional training perfectly fits AVDA. The subject matter and the client’s situation are very difficult. Vicarious trauma is real. I have learned how to establish boundaries and partake in effective self-care. I am proud to lead in the area and feel like I have been called to do this work.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love Houston’s diversity. There is so much to do. If a bestie were in town, we would eat. My pallet is varied. I crave Asian cuisine, particularly Korean food. We would hit up my favorite, Korean Garden, on Longpoint. I also love the Seafood Soft Tofu Soup at Yori Yori in the 99 Rancy Market. I love a good brunch, and my current favorite is Kulture Houston. They have delicious food, tasty drinks, and some of the best live music every Sunday. We have a great theater district, and I am often a Broadway at the Hobby Center Season ticket holder. I live in Pearland but would travel south to show them around Kehmah. It is June as I write this, and it would be opportune to show them the place where the end of slavery was announced here in Texas.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I thank and shout out my amazing AVDA family, staff, board, and dedicated volunteers. Taking it further, shout out to all of the people who work in the sister organization (the Bridge, Bay Area Turning Point, Daya, HAWC, Tahari Justice Center) doing the work to help address the issue of domestic violence/gender-based violence in our community!

Website: www.avda.org

Instagram: avda_tx

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avda

Twitter: avda_tx

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/houstonavda

Youtube: AVDAHouston002

Image Credits
Polly Bryant and Daniel Ortiz