West Palm Beach July 2026

“When we surveyed teachers, we learned that teachers come out of pocket far more than we realized to cover the cost of expenses for their students,” she said. “And that is what prompted us to start a free school supply store funded by private donations to find an impactful solution.” That same philosophy carried into her work in local government, particularly surrounding one of the community’s biggest challenges: workforce and affordable housing. “One of the things I'm most proud of is our impact on the workforce and affordable housing in the city,” Lambert said. “It is a top issue, if not the number one issue, that our communities are facing.” Lambert said West Palm Beach has worked aggressively to create housing opportunities for residents and city employees while continuing to develop long-term strategies surrounding affordability and quality of life. “I have been a part of the team that has put forth creative and thoughtful policies that have created over 1,400 workforce housing units in the last eight years,” she said. “And I believe that's just a drop in the bucket of what I want to do moving forward.” J U LY 2 0 2 6 | W E S T PA L M B E A C H 11 put on my sneakers, brought my daughter with me, and went to neighborhood meetings. We went and did trash pickups.” For Lambert, those moments mattered because they provided opportunities to hear directly from residents rather than relying solely on formal meetings or presentations. “That is where I heard and saw firsthand what was really happening,” she said. “Because if we just say, ‘Oh, come to City Hall at 5 o'clock and talk to us at the City Commission meeting,’ there are some people who won't show up. They don't feel comfortable. We have to go to them.” That emphasis on listening has become one of the defining characteristics of Lambert’s leadership style throughout both her nonprofit and public-sector work. “To truly listen and make meaningful connections to bring people to the table who either don't typically get invited, who get forgotten, or who maybe don't speak up,” she added. Christina believes collaboration is essential to solving community challenges, particularly when addressing issues like housing affordability, education, and neighborhood quality of life. “I don't ever do it alone,” Lambert said. “It is always about collaboration with others.” That collaborative mindset helped shape some of her earlier nonprofit successes, including her work with the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County. When Lambert joined the organization, the foundation was struggling financially, and board members were considering shutting it down altogether. “They hired me as their CEO, and we took an organization that I don't think we were even making a million dollars at that time to what it is today,” Lambert said. Part of that success came through identifying community needs by listening directly to the people being served. Lambert recalled how teacher surveys eventually helped inspire the creation of Red Apple Supplies, a free school supply store supporting educators and students throughout Palm Beach County.