Charles Lewis

Charles Lewis is the Executive Director of the Youth Music Project.  Charles was hired by the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation in 2012 to implement the foundation’s vision for a Youth Music Project.  Prior to working for the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation, Charles was the Founder & Executive Director of Ethos Music Center, a small nonprofit in Portland that became the largest music school in Oregon under Charles’ leadership.  Previously, Charles graduated from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard with a Master’s degree in Public Policy.  Because of his demonstrated commitment to public service, Charles was selected to be one of the school’s first Public Service Fellows and received a full-ride scholarship.  At Harvard, Charles was elected KSSG Student Body President and was given the Robert F. Kennedy Award for Excellence in Public Service. Charles attended the University of Portland for his undergraduate work and graduated magna cum laude. Immediately after graduating from the University of Portland, Charles joined the Peace Corps and served two years as a Water and Sanitation Volunteer in the Congo.  He has been very active in Portland having served as an Ombudsman Associate for Mayor Katz, as a Site Supervisor for Habitat for Humanity, and as a Board Member of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Statue Foundation.  Charles was awarded the Contemporary Alumni Award from the University of Portland and was selected as a Public Service Innovator by Harvard University.  In 2008, Charles ran for Portland City Council and won 62,579 votes in his first political campaign.  Charles and his wife Sarah have three children (Coakley, Charley and Mary Ann).

E-mail: charles@youthmusicproject.org     Phone: (503) 616-5967