Meet Lynn VanderWielen, PhD, MPH (she/her/hers) | Founder & CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lynn VanderWielen, PhD, MPH (she/her/hers) and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lynn, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Intentional and thoughtful identity development for multiracial kids is complex.

Samahra is dedicated to multiracial families to support healthy, positive, and celebrated identity development and to support a world where multiracial individuals are seen, valued, and loved for who they are today and who they will be tomorrow.

We have created two unique platforms to advance this vision – one for parents to expand their understanding, reflect on their learning, and connect with other parents, and one for teens to provide a safe, affirming, and validating environment that is centered on the multiracial experience.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am proud and honored to be a part of the Samahra team. We are all learning together and contributing our ideas, strengths, leadership, and time to make the company a success. Without our team, we wouldn’t be where we are today.

One element of our work that sets us apart is our Youth Advisory Council, which is composed of four amazing multiracial teens who make all of the decisions regarding samahra(rise) – our teen app. We knew we wanted the teen app created by multiracial teens, for multiracial teens, and this was our solution to making this happen. I am beyond grateful for each of the Council members and for Jalaya Alexander, who is our Director of Youth Engagement.

Our company’s vision was easy to articulate as my lived-experience as a mom of multiracial kids is the motivation for entering this space. However, it was not easy to venture down the path of app development without a technical background. As a social scientist, I felt confident and comfortable exploring the literature and creating our content, but how would the content interface with users? Where should I even start? Luckily I was able to connect with our first developer, Brian Morales, a graduate student at CU Boulder, who helped me to understand the process and to be more realistic about my expectations.

We are the first mobile app dedicated to supporting multiracial families. We are excited to continue to evolve our materials based on new research and recommendations from the field and to support others in this space. Ultimately, we will continue to advocate for intentional support for multiracial families and shout from the rooftop that multiracial individuals are whole as who they are today, and are whole in who they will be tomorrow.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are a few places around town that we always have to go when my sister (my best friend) is in town. A few must-haves – Sushi Harbor, a giant pizza from Atomic Cowboy/Fat Sully’s Pizza, coffee/breakfast at Woodgrain Bagel, and Katsu Ramen. We always plan a special trip to the Denver Zoo and find time to head up to the mountains.

One of our ultimate favorite things to do in Colorado is camping in Rocky Mountain National Park in autumn. We love to see the aspen in all their glory, hear the elk bugling, and watch the incredible sunsets behind the Moraine. In preparation for camping we always bring ingredients to make pudgy pies and pick up growlers from Copper Kettle Brewing.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family has always been my inspiration, north star, and support system. My parents have encouraged me to follow my dreams, lead with kindness, and lift others up along the way. My sister has always believed in me and pushed me to find opportunities that I categorized as beyond my reach. My husband is my continuous source of love – he motivates to be a better person everyday. We have been through great loss and joy together, always knowing we would be by each others side through it all. He makes me feel like the center of his world.

My children inspire me to make the world a better place for them, where they will be safe, belong, and thrive. I am humbled to be able to see the world through their eyes, delighting in the everyday. I love them more that I thought was possible to love another.

My family is also beyond grateful for our neighborhood and community. When Alex was hospitalized with COVID early in the pandemic, I was 8.5 months pregnant and chasing around our 2-year-old. Our neighbors supported us with food, daily check-ins, and profound kindness. I have never been so scared but also so connected. I still have yet to fully process this traumatic experience, but I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without the selflessness and love I have received from our neighbors.

Professionally, there are countless colleagues, teachers, and professors that have guided and nurtured my career. My high school biology teacher, Ms. Judy Kickland, formerly at Little Chute High School, was the first to open my eyes to science and create a world where I could see myself in a science career. She encouraged all of her students to be curious and courageous. She passed away in 2019 and will be forever missed. Dr. Saba Masho, formerly at Virginia Commonwealth University, was formative in my career as she supported my passion for Maternal/Child Health and Community Health. Dr. Masho passed away in 2018 and she is missed by so many.

Website: https://www.samahra.app/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samahra_app/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynn-vanderwielen-a2547491/