Sam Skillern is the executive director of the Salem Leadership Foundation, a faith-based community-impact organization that was founded in 1996. SLF is well-known for its work building bridges between the faith community and the community at large, especially schools, government, business, the human services and law enforcement. SLF is also active working across the denominations and between different religions, helping people-of-faith practice the Sacred Art of Servanthood, as modeled in the ministry of Jesus. SLF is a strong partner in the Churches as Neighborhood (CaN) Centers Project, the Interfaith Hospitality Network, Fantastic Fridays at Grant School, Reading Buddies at Highland, the North Neighborhoods Community Project Team (CPT), and the Marion County Children and Families Commission, among many other initiatives.
Sam is a Salem son who graduated from South High (1977) and Oregon State (1982) before heading to Seattle for a 14-year career in consulting and community-building ministry. Sam and his family live in a historic 1916 Crafstman home and worship (Salem Alliance Church) in the Grant neighborhood of north-central Salem, which is also the location of SLF’s offices.
Sam serves on the Marion County Children & Families Commission and chairs both the Grant Neighborhood Association and the North Neighborhood-N2 Community Progress Team (CPT). In March 2005, Sam was honored with the Distinguished Service Award by the Salem Chamber of Commerce and City officials.