EASTHAMPTON — The Treehouse Foundation has named Erika Kuester its next CEO as the Easthampton nonprofit sets its sights on expansion across Massachusetts and, eventually, throughout New England.

Effective Jan. 1, Kuester stepped into the permanent CEO role, replacing former Treehouse CEO and founder, Judy Cockerton, who stepped down from her post after 22 years to explore new opportunities. Now, as Treehouse prepares to bring its unique housing model to Boston and Worcester, Kuester is prepared to spearhead the mission that has grown near to her heart.

“This is a very pivotal moment for Treehouse,” said Kuester. “This is such an exciting moment to step into this role.”

The Treehouse Community in Easthampton is an intergenerational neighborhood designed to support the development of children who have been through the child welfare system by providing enduring relationships, stability, programming and support for their families as well. Family and older adult homes are interspersed throughout the community, encouraging connection across generations. After seeing success with this model in the Pioneer Valley, the foundation hopes to bring it to urban settings and gateway cities on a larger scale.

Kuester started her work with Treehouse in November of 2023, coming on as chief operating officer. Before transitioning into the role of CEO, she spent six months as interim CEO, working closely with Cockerton and the organization’s board members to ensure a smooth transition — not only in Treehouse’s leadership, but into the depths of its expansion phase.

“Having familiarity with the role has been very helpful,” said Kuester.

The organization had been preparing for a period of transition for some time, bolstering leadership and infrastructure so plans for its two new communities could move forward unfettered.

The foundation’s most imminent plans for expansion lie in Boston, with the Olmsted Village development, set to open in 2028. Following Boston, Treehouse will open another community in Worcester. Kuester said that an exciting facet of both communities is that they will include apartments for transition-aged youth — or those who are aging out of the foster care system — so that they may still live in the Treehouse community and have access to its support system.

“These would be our first urban settings, which is very exciting,” said Kuester.

But moving from a rural to an urban setting might make these new Treehouse communities look a bit different, she noted. For one thing, the Boston and Worcester locations are going to be “vertical communities,” rather than sprawling across many acres like the Easthampton location. With this in mind, Kuester said it has been a priority to ensure that residents have access to outdoor recreation.

“As we move to more urban centers, it’s going to be important to find sites that have access to green space,” she said.

Kuester brings a deep history of community organizing work to her new role, previously working for organizations such as Leadership for Educational Equity, National Community Reinvestment Coalition, and Direct Action & Research Training. Throughout her years of work and advocacy, she has found that issues relating to children and childhood welfare have resonated very deeply with her.

Yet even with her wealth of experiences, Kuester immediately recognized Treehouse’s mission and model as something special.

“This is one of the truest manifestations of community that I’ve ever experienced,” she said of the Treehouse Community. Within the community, she said she consistently witnesses people stepping up to meet one another’s needs, creating a system of support.

As CEO, Kuester says she looks forward to scaling that impact, and seeing even more children and families benefit from the Treehouse model.

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.