Interview with CHCA's President and CEO, Adria Powell.

Adria Powell’s Journey at CHCA

Adria's path at Cooperative Home Care Associates (CHCA) is truly inspiring. Her professional journey began long before she joined CHCA, as her mother, Peggy Powell, was one of its original founders. In 1985, Peggy, alongside Rick Surpin, co-founded CHCA, the first worker-owned home care cooperative in the United States. In an industry where home care workers often weren't prioritized with fair wages and benefits, CHCA was created to challenge that norm. Peggy and Rick envisioned CHCA as a model for the industry, emphasizing the importance of workers' rights, fair compensation, benefits, empowerment, and dignity in the workplace.

Growing up, Adria was exposed to this innovative vision. She often accompanied her mother to work, and as a child, she was introduced to the idea of workers having a voice in the decisions that affected them. After CHCA was established, Adria visited the organization and participated in meetings held for CHCA's worker-owners, further deepening her understanding of cooperative principles.

Adria began working part-time at CHCA in high school and later earned a B.A. in Psychology from Boston College and an M.P.A. in Health Policy and Management from NYU. Joining CHCA full-time as a Service Delivery Coordinator, she advanced to lead the department over the next few years. Over time, she took on increasing leadership roles, becoming Executive Vice President. In 2010, when the former president of CHCA, Michael Elsas began to contemplate retirement a succession plan was developed to prepare Adria to lead CHCA. Adria was appointed President and CEO by CHCA’s Board of Directors in January 2017. In this role, she continues to uphold CHCA’s mission of prioritizing workers' voices, fair compensation, and dignified work.

Home Care and Worker-Owned Cooperatives Impact

When asked how home care makes a difference in an individual’s life, Adria reflects thoughtfully on its profound impact. “Home care offers people the opportunity to stay in the environment where they feel most comfortable—their own homes—while receiving the care they need to manage chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension, or living with disabilities,” she explains.

Adria recognizes home care workers (HCWs) as the “backbone” of the system, ensuring care recipients are afforded the opportunity to maintain a meaningful quality of life. At a worker-owned cooperative like CHCA, HCWs are more than employees—they are stakeholders actively involved in decision-making and governance. This model prioritizes workers' well-being by offering growth opportunities, leadership training, and a supportive work environment.

Adria acknowledges the industry's challenges, noting that home care jobs have historically been undervalued, with workers often lacking basic benefits. She stresses that the cooperative model combats this injustice by ensuring fair treatment and professional support. However, she points out that society has yet to fully recognize care workers and the value of their output. The need for more significant investment in home care continues.

For Adria, worker ownership is an important key to transforming the industry. By giving workers, a voice and fostering a sustainable, ethical care model, CHCA ensures that both caregivers and care recipients are at the heart of its mission.

Industry Changes: Progress & Challenges

Adria explains how the home care industry has changed throughout her tenure at CHCA, she reflects on both the progress and the challenges that have shaped the field. “One of the most significant changes I've witnessed is the growing recognition of the importance of home care services. Due to our aging population and most people’s desire to remain at home as they live with increasingly complex chronic conditions or a disability, there is an understanding and recognition that quality home care helps people avoid institutional settings in most cases” she explains. "Home care allows them to live with dignity in familiar surroundings, and this has become even more important as our population ages."

Adria discussed how the aging population is a key driver of the rising demand for home care, creating both opportunities and challenges in meeting care needs while ensuring workers are valued. However, she points to a critical issue: a shrinking home care workforce. Despite the growing demand, fewer people are entering the field due to the work being undervalued, inadequately compensated, and lacking essential benefits.

At CHCA, technology has transformed CHCA’s operations and helped to increase efficiency for CHCA’s administrative staff. For example, replacing manual systems with automated scheduling and case management tools has improved productivity. Yet, Adria emphasizes that the biggest challenge remains workforce recruitment and retention. To address this, CHCA focuses on fostering a supportive environment through growth opportunities, training, and worker ownership, ensuring that home care professionals receive the respect and support they deserve.

Adria’s Leadership and Vision

Despite the many challenges in Home Care, Adria remains inspired to lead CHCA.   During this interview, she shared, “The people I work with are a huge source of motivation for me. Our team at CHCA is truly committed to the work we do, and that makes all the difference. I know we’re having a real impact on the lives of our home care workers, clients, and their families. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see how our services improve the quality of life for so many people.

Adria draws strength from the positive feedback CHCA receives, with satisfaction surveys and research affirming the organization’s impact. This validation reinforces her commitment to CHCA’s mission. She is also inspired by the recognition CHCA gains in professional and advocacy circles, where others acknowledge the organization's influence on the home care industry.

One of her most powerful moments comes from seeing CHCA’s workers advocate for their profession. At advocacy events, she takes pride in watching them speak on the importance of home care and the need for greater investment, asserting their value to the sector.

Looking ahead, Adria envisions CHCA expanding beyond New York, believing its worker-ownership model can serve as a national example. CHCA is already part of a network of worker-owned home care coops across the U.S. She is committed to pushing for greater investment in home care, ensuring workers receive the respect and resources they deserve.

Beyond advocacy, Adria focuses on CHCA’s growth and leadership development, especially within the organization. She emphasizes collaboration in strengthening the organization while preparing the next generation of leaders. By fostering opportunities for growth and leadership, she ensures that CHCA remains strong, dynamic, and mission-driven for the future.

Adria’s Learnings and Achievements

Adria shares what her biggest learnings are since becoming President and CEO at CHCA, she reflects on the valuable lessons she's gained through both triumphs and challenges. "One of the most important lessons I've learned is the importance of flexibility—being able to adapt and recognize what’s in my control and what isn’t," she explains. "It’s easy to get bogged down by things outside of your control, but I’ve learned that sometimes the best thing you can do is pivot quickly and move on from the things you can’t change. Focusing on what I can control has been key to staying grounded and moving forward."

She continues, “Being resilient has also been a huge lesson, especially during difficult times. In those moments, I’ve learned the importance of leaning on others for support. You can’t navigate challenges alone. I’ve been fortunate to work with an amazing operations team, and having a shared vision and shared values with them has been crucial. When we face obstacles, it’s our collective strength and collaboration that help us get through.”

Adria’s Hobbies outside of CHCA

Outside her role at CHCA Adria is a mom first and foremost, and her time outside of work is all about spending time with her children and family." During the interview, Adria stated, "We’re a close-knit group, and I love going on family trips with 10 to 20 people—whether it's just a weekend getaway or something bigger. We play games, watch sporting events, and of course, we love watching movies together."

Adria is deeply involved in her children's activities. "My daughter swims and plays volleyball and softball, and my son plays football, basketball, and soccer. I'm at every game I can make, cheering them on and being part of those moments," she shares. "I also love being connected to their school activities—attending musicals, concerts, and whatever else they’re involved in. It’s really important to me to be present in their lives."

Adria finds relaxation and renewal in swimming, whether in a pool or at the beach. She also has a deep appreciation for exploring local cultures while traveling, enjoying the opportunity to connect with new communities. For her, balancing family, hobbies, and work is key to maintaining well-being. Staying active, spending quality time with loved ones, and embracing new experiences keep her grounded and energized, allowing her to bring passion and dedication to her work at CHCA.

What is Adria most Proud about CHCA?

When asked what she is most proud of about CHCA, Adria's answer is immediate and heartfelt. "I’m most proud that we’re still here, 40 years later," she says with a sense of deep appreciation. "To think that we started with just 12 workers, and now we’ve grown to 1,700 workers and 70 administrative staff, is incredible. What makes it even more meaningful is that we’ve maintained the same foundation and commitment to our workers and our mission since 1985."

Reflecting on CHCA’s origins, she highlights its founding vision—to empower workers and transform home care through a cooperative model. For Adria, the organization’s success isn’t just about numbers but about the lives that have been impacted. Staying true to its values of fair wages, worker ownership, and quality care for four decades is what she finds most gratifying.

Adria continues, "It’s not just about the numbers—it’s about the people. Our growth means that we’ve been able to provide more opportunities for our workers, and in turn, offer better care for our clients. The fact that we’ve been able to stay true to our values for four decades is something I’m incredibly proud of."