Meet The Allies. Class of

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1 Class of Public Allies Maryland is an AmeriCorps program of the Social Work Community Outreach Service of the University of Maryland School of Social Work Public Allies Maryland operates with the support of: FUND FOR CHANGE Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds

2 New Leadership for New Times Public Allies Mission is to advance new leadership to strengthen communities, nonprofits, and civic participation. We are changing the face and practice of leadership in communities across the country to meet the demands of changing times. Public Allies in Maryland Public Allies Maryland is a program of the Social Work Community Outreach Service (SWCOS) of the University of Maryland School of Social Work. We launched our program in October of 2009 with a class of 20 Allies. The Allies featured in the pages that follow are members of our fourth class; they began their service on October 1, 2012 and will graduate on July 31, Who are the Allies? Public Allies are talented young adults, ages 18-30, from diverse and under-represented backgrounds who have a passion to make a difference. Through the Public Allies program, Allies: Serve as full-time AmeriCorps Members Receive a $15,000 living stipend, $5,550 Education Award, health care, and other benefits if eligible Turn their passion into a viable career path The Public Allies Model Our 10-month signature AmeriCorps program includes: 1 Full-time apprenticeships in local nonprofit organizations or public agencies Where Allies create, improve and expand services that address diverse issues such as education, economic opportunity, healthy futures, and the environment. Allies are matched with nonprofit organizations and public agencies using a thorough matching process. 2 A rigorous leadership development curriculum that includes: Intensive weekly skill training and leadership development seminars. Critical feedback, reflection, and personal coaching toward individual performance and professional goals. Community building and service opportunities with a diverse cohort of peers. Team Service Projects created and implemented using an asset-based community development approach that benefit local communities.

3 Second Year Executive Allies Alan Mclain Keith Holley As the Admissions and Community Outreach Coordinator for the SEED School, Alan coordinates and organizes various activities for the admissions department. This includes a new focus on identifying and attending community events throughout the state for recruitment purposes. Alan is creating a new initiative to bring 5th graders from to tour the SEED School, and will document all progress in a new departmental standard operating procedures. Keith is the Student Support Liaison for Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts. He is working with high-risk students who have been referred to the student support team because of chronic absenteeism, behavioral issues, etc. He is monitoring these students, conducting home visits, and connecting the families to resources. Renee Stainrod Renee is supporting GLSEN Baltimore s Safe Space for All program by facilitating classroom sessions at middle schools on anti-bullying. She is assisting in curriculum development as well as developing measurement tools to collect data on the program. Renee is also facilitating presentations for school staff on LGBTQ issues and creating a bibliography for the school library for LGBT youth. Lastly, Renee is recruiting volunteers from local colleges and High Schools. Reni Lawal In her role as Task Force Manager, Reni is improving the quality of Central Baltimore Partnerships (CBP s) Task Force programs by engaging members who work to improve community issues, including: Housing, Public Safety, Sanitation, Greening, and Code Enforcement. Reni is assessing the community s needs to ensure the Task Forces are targeting relevant issues as well as conducting recruitment and outreach for new members.

4 Amber Jones As the Family Wealth Advocate, Amber works oneon-one with low income Baltimore families and adults using the Earn Benefits Online tool she connects them to income-enhancing benefits, such as food stamps, childcare subsidies, health insurance and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Amber follows up with clients to ensure they have accessed benefits. Additionally she is facilitating trainings about healthy finances. Angelo Williams Antoinella Peterkin Cierra McCoy Angelo is the Program Coordinator for Project PLASE; he works directly with homeless citizens in the transitional housing program. Angelo is designing and coordinating life skills trainings, organizing social activities for residents, and recruiting volunteers who will serve as mentors and job coaches to the homeless residents. Angelo is also working to build an Alumni Association to support the sustainability of Project PLASE. Antoinella is serving as a liaison with the department of Social Services to recruit and enroll middle school aged foster youth into Higher Achievement programs. She is attending foster care events, conducting outreach, building partnerships, and completing one-on-one follow up with foster care families to ensure that youth successfully apply, enroll, and attend Higher Achievement. As Workforce Technology Coordinator, Cierra is supporting the efforts of Maryland New Directions Computer Lab. She is assisting with recruiting, interviewing and orienting new volunteers, then managing and supporting them in their work. She is also recruiting clients to attend the computer classes as well as planning and teaching both basic and intermediate level computer skills classes.

5 Donald Eaddy Elisa Urtiaga Elizabeth Kraus Franklin Young As the Volunteer Outreach Coordinator for Business Volunteers Unlimited (BVU), Donald is responsible for smooth delivery of BVU s Pencil Program which connects skilled business volunteers to Baltimore city schools. Donald also administers Baltimore City s Volunteer Central by connecting citizens seeking volunteer opportunities to local nonprofit organizations as well as helping nonprofits shape volunteer descriptions. As the Community Educator for Casa de Maryland, Elisa creates and implements charlas (community workshops) about college access for the immigrant/ non-citizen community. She is establishing partnerships with schools with ESOL programs in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Anne Arundel County in order to host these charlas. Elisa also provides follow-up to students and families to ensure they take advantage of college preparatory and financial resources. In her role as Assistant Volunteer Manager, Lis is responsible for three main aspects of the volunteer program at Movable Feast: volunteer recruitment, the development of volunteer profiles, and facilitating volunteer management. She reaches out to community groups with the goal of recruiting and retaining new volunteers. Liz also orients, trains, and supervises volunteers that come to work at Movable Feast. Franklin is serving as the Student Support Monitor at MATHS Public Charter School. Franklin provides services to students and families in order to improve the attendance of chronically late and absent students and students with chronic behavior problems. He is also revising the performance management systems for MATHS students, which includes attendance and suspension data on students.

6 Haley Bandier As Village Coordinator for CHAI Baltimore, Haley supports the new Village program an initiative aiding seniors aging in their homes in Northwest Baltimore by creating systems of volunteer support. Haley is organizing neighborhood leaders who will own and run the Village process as well as recruiting and engaging new volunteers and potential business partners that can offer discounted services. Joanna Parmer Jordan Paley Kevin Paul In her role as Community Engagement Coordinator, Joanna serves as the main point of contact for any community member interested in volunteering at or engaging with the SEED School of Maryland. She is streamlining the existing volunteer process with a special emphasis on the tutoring program. Joanna will also manage SEED s external presence online and attend networking events in order to increase community engagement. As the Academic Coordinator for SquashWise, Jordan is expanding the reach of the organization's intensive academic tutoring program by developing new resources and services offered to students in the after-school program. Jordan works with SquashWise students in daily sessions comprised of academic tutoring and enrichment curricula, she tracks student progress, supports students and teachers in partner schools, leads field trips, and manages volunteers and mentors. Kevin is serving as the Community Asset Builder and is working to expand the reach of Central Baltimore Partnership north of 25th street. He is meeting with community and neighborhood groups in the area and working to engage the new members and agencies into existing taskforces. In particular, Kevin is working with Johns Hopkins to realize community engagement and service ideas.

7 Leichelle Smith As the Senior Case Manager at Charm City Clinic, Leichelle manages the day-to-day operations of the clinic and assists walk-in clients as they arrive. As a case manager, Leichelle completes client intakes, then works with client through the eligibility and application process for health care resources. Leichelle also supervises student volunteer case managers who are in the office during clinic hours and assists Charm City Clinic with community outreach. Nadja Bentley Hammond Nick Jones As the Activities Coordinator for the Youth Empowered Society (YES) Drop-in Center, Nadja develops and facilitates life skills, recruitment, and resource workshops for homeless youth as well as supports volunteers who deliver workshops. Nadja also serves as a Peer Counselor and completes intake and provides case management services to youth homeless clients at the Center. As the Outreach Coordinator for Youth Empowered Society (YES) Drop-in Center, Nick recruits year olds at risk for or currently experiencing homelessness through presentations, online communications and one-on-one conversations. Nick also serves as a Peer Counselor and completes intake and provides case management services to youth homeless clients at the Center. Nyasha Dixon In her role as the Youth Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator for the Maryland Foster Youth Resource Center (MFYRC), Nyasha conducts outreach to Baltimore Homeless and Foster Youth to share about the services of the center. She then works with youth that come to the center by completing intake, case management and follow up services. Finally, Nyasha facilitates life skills classes and support groups.

8 Oyinade Koyi Shannon Daley Oyinade is the Outreach Coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Chesapeake. She focuses on volunteer outreach by recruiting Big Brother and Big Sister mentors for youth ages 8-18 years old. She plans recruitment events, assists in partnership development and manages an online database of volunteers. Oyinade has a special focus on a new campaign for Black Male Achievement, which provides male mentors for boys on the waiting list. Shannon is creating a story bank for the Just Kids Partnership program at Community Law in Action (CLIA) to put a face to the issue of youth charged as adults in the Justice System. Shannon is interviewing and documenting youth and families involved in CLIA s programs and will turn the Story Bank into outreach materials such as brochures and a website, as well as attend community events to distribute the materials. Shannon Marshall As the Youth Program Assistant Shannon is creating and expanding My Brothers Keeper s new Youth Programs. Shannon is facilitating activities within three programs- Circle of Dreamers, Youth Leadership Team, and APEX- which work with K-12 students in school and out of school in the Irvington neighborhood of West Baltimore. Shannon will collect data and evaluate program activities and will document program events and successes and help to spread the word, and recruit youth via social media.

9 Taeketra Haynes In her role as Community Conversations Outreach Coordinator, Taeketra is developing a program of Community Conversations designed to improve intergroup relations and understanding amongst neighbors in CHAI's five neighborhoods of Northwest Baltimore City. This involves engaging a leadership group of volunteers who are designing the community conversations that create a safe space for kids and/or adults. Zach Bradley Zach is serving as the Squash and Volunteer Coordinator for Baltimore Squashwise. Zach is expanding the squash, fitness and nutrition curriculum, including teambuilding exercises and lessons on sportsmanship and athleticism with a team of High School students. He works with Baltimore City Students in daily squash programming, fitness activities, tournament planning, and pre/post testing of athletic progress. Zach also recruits, orient and train volunteers for SquashWise s programs. This year s class: 60% Age % Age % Age % Female 32% Male 28% LGBT Identify 60% Bachelors Degree 32% Some College 8% HS Diploma/GED 60% Black 32% White 4% Hispanic 4% Other Allies residence at time of application: 68% Baltimore City 24% Other Counties in Maryland 8% Out of State