Andover Launches New 'Collaborative Support Services' Division

ANDOVER, MA — Andover has created a new Division of Collaborative Support Services, composed of the existing Office of Wellness and Recovery and the new diversity and inclusion office.

Sobhan "Soap" Namvar, the community support coordinator with the Andover Police Department, will head the new division and report directly to Town Manager Andrew Flanagan.

The diversity and inclusion office will go by Andover DIVERSE, for Diversity, Inclusion, Values, Respect, Support and Education. The office was announced in June in response to the Black Lives Matter movement as well as racist incidents in Andover. It will be charged with leading anti-racism efforts in town.

“Sobhan has demonstrated that he has both the passion and commitment needed to build a program from the ground up,” Flanagan said in a statement. “Andover’s work in wellness and recovery has served as a model for other communities in the Commonwealth and I am confident that Sobhan will replicate that success as he develops a program that focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion within our community.

"Sobhan has a deep understanding of the realities of systemic racism and his studies in social justice and passion for facilitating meaningful change in Andover make him a natural fit to lead this effort”

Namvar is a licensed independent clinical social worker and previously served as a youth coordinator for Andover Youth Services. He worked as a social worker in New York, Boston, Chelsea and Lexington before returning to Andover in 2016 for his role with the police department.

Namvar developed "a companion curriculum and program, opened a community drop-in center and connected more than 650 individuals and families with resources to support mental health, addition recovery, family services, housing and food security," according to the town's release.

“I’ve long been dedicated to improving the lives of children, families and individuals by helping them confront and overcome a broad range of challenges,” Namvar said in a statement. “I’m excited about the possibilities this role holds to do that work on an even larger scale, and I’m eager to engage with the whole community in conversations that lead to honest, inclusive and real action.”

Namvar will begin in his new role overseeing the division on Monday. Town officials will present details to the Select Board at their Monday evening meeting.

Residents can watch live and send questions in advance to SelectBoard@andoverma.us.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.