Staff & Board
OUR TEAM
James Barnett
Founder & Executive Director
James founded Neighborly in 2009 after choosing to live homeless in order to understand poverty and love those experiencing it. He has served as a pastor of multiple churches over the course of the last twenty+ years. For Neighborly, he handles everything from vision casting, to marketing, filmmaking, fundraising, web development, and envelope licking. When he’s not writing his bio in third-person, you’ll find James enjoying the great outdoors on his kayak, motorcycle, or pogo-stick. Little known fact, he can out hula-hoop the best. Weird flex, but true.
Community Development Coordinator
Jeff Mucheke
Jeff has worked with Neighborly off and on for 10 years and serves as our Community Development Coordinator. He designs initiatives that reflect Jesus' compassion, aiming to create lasting impact in the lives of the vulnerable. His mission is to ensure that through our programs, people receive tangible support and experience God's love and answered prayers. Outside Neighborly, Jeff is a Shepherd at his church and a cab driver, where he often engages in deep, faith-filled conversations. Fun Fact: If he’s not smiling, he will dose off.
Operations Director
Kristin Barnett
Kristin joined Neighborly in 2020 after feeling led to leave the private sector and join in ministry. She has a decade of experience serving refugees and immigrants, and also manages our day-to-day operations, admin, bookkeeping and fundraising. You’ll find her either working remotely at Ology coffee shop or sipping tea with our Arab clients. When she’s not a total hero, she loves to listen to mystery podcasts, dance to reggaeton, eat snacks from Trader Joes, and loiter around local breweries. Kristin is a proud mom to two boys and wife to our founder.
Board Member
Dr. Kimberly Johnson
Kimberly first encountered Neighborly in 2011 when her daughter asked for some of our apparel. Years later, she reconnected with Neighborly because of the common vision to extend hospitality and the love of Christ with refugees. She has volunteered in various capacities including serving at Breakfast Brigade and helping serve refugees with Jubilee Marketplace. She is a speech-language pathologist and always has her bag ready to travel. Fun fact: sometimes she hides in her room to snack on Cheez-its, Coke Zero and dark chocolate.
Jake Moran, CPA
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Board Member
Brianna Burchell
Intern
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Pastor Bryan Marvel
Pastoral Council Member
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