Ray Leonard Jr.

Ray Leonard Jr, now all-grown-up is a former two-sport division one collegiate athlete and former sports agent for some of the biggest names.

Ray is a top motivational keynote speaker, radio host, actor and award-winning business executive.

He is the co-founder of rebel venture studio: Nobody Studios and the CEO of the new talent marketplace Ovationz.com

Shanduke McPhatter

National Gang Specialist and Youth Advocate Shanduke McPhatter is no stranger to the street life or mentality. Growing up in foster care, and later, a single parent home of 5, Shanduke’s childhood was bleak with a future destined for failure. Shanduke McPhatter is the Founder and Executive Director of the not for profit, Gangstas Making Astronomical Community Changes Inc. cites his experience in prison as the reason why he became a community activist. After being convicted for a Robbery he did not commit as a teen Shanduke became engulfed into the prison lifestyle. While in a state prison Shanduke saw a little boy (eventually incarcerated for 31yrs) running to his father (mentor during his 1st/2nd incarceration), another prisoner, for the first time. This moment became his reason to break the cycle of incarceration and violence as he did not want his kids or any child to visit their parent in prison. This realization is why he focuses on helping the youth in the community, while also being the reason to not fall into the cycle of violence again.

Chloe Scott

Chloe Scott is a local social media strategist and event coordinator who strongly believes in the power behind connecting communities. As a native of Frederick, MD, Scott understands first-hand that "it takes a village" to spark change and hopes to do so with conversations, content, and curating events. She is passionate about leveling the playing field for underserved communities, small businesses, and advocating for solutions especially when it involves our future leaders. Chloe is the host of "Community Conversations with Chloe" podcast where she invites leaders to have a one-on-one conversation bridge gaps, shift perspectives, and bring people together. She expands her reach beyond the Frederick community doing policy work for Congress on The House Committee on Small Business.Chloe is humbled and honored to serve as the event coordinator and moderator for the first Stop the Violence Rally in Baker Paker on August 6th, 2022.

Richard B. Weldon, Jr

Rick Weldon is the President/CEO of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. Prior to his employment with the Chamber, Rick has served as a public administrator for both the City of Frederick and the City of Brunswick, a member of the Board of County Commissioners for Frederick County, and as a two-term member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing southern Frederick County and southeastern Washington County.
Born and raised in New Castle County, Delaware, Rick relocated to Maryland after a tour of duty in the US Navy Submarine service and a decade-long employment tenure as a civilian in ship systems procurement with the Navy Department in Crystal City, VA.
Rick is a 1998 graduate of the Chamber’s Leadership Frederick County program, and has lectured, advised and assisted program participants for over 20 years.
Rick has experience at every level of government, from local to federal. Rick also understands the nonprofit charitable giving industry, having served as the CEO of United Way of Frederick County during a challenging economic period (the national recession from ’08-2010).

Rick resides in Brunswick with Amy, his wife of 43 years. Rick has three grown children and five grandsons. Rick and Amy are active outdoors enthusiasts, and Rick’s many hobbies include teaching & watching youth baseball, Community Theater (over 23 local productions in MD, VA and WV) as well as reading and being a grandfather.

Tiffany Green

Tiffany is a native of Brooklyn, New York, who has shattered barriers elevating from a public housing resident in Fort Greene Housing Projects to a Housing Program Specialist at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. As a Housing Program Specialist, Tiffany provides guidance and develops housing policies for over 3300 Public Housing Agencies across the nation. Tiffany is a first-generation college graduate who received her Bachelor’s in Psychology from George Washington University and a Master’s in Public Administration from University of Baltimore. Tiffany spent most of career serving in the public and nonprofit sectors as a program manager for programs like Frederick County’s YouthWorks and Virtual Career Academy, the Housing Authority of the City of Frederick’s Beyond Breaking Even, Section 3, and HOPWA (Housing Opportunity for Persons Living With AIDS/HIV) Programs, University of Baltimore’s Community Development Fellowship Program, and Connections, a YMCA school-based gang intervention program. In addition to being a program manager, in 2016, Tiffany founded Empowered to Live, a nonprofit organization empowering youth and families to lead a purpose-driven lives.

Danielle C. Adams

Danielle “Dani” Adams became the Executive Officer of the Frederick County Building Industry Association (FCBIA) in March 2021 from a family that has been in the building industry for over 50 years. As a native personally and professionally of Frederick County, Dani’s career has spanned the financial, legal, educational, and nonprofit sectors. She is a builder of communities and meaningful relationships, advocating for needs of FCBIA’s members to be informed, engaged, and successful. Dani is a proud member of the Leadership Frederick County Class of 2022!

Lanai Monroe

Lanai Monroe is the Founder and CEO of Thee Herbal Butterfly brand. Living a life as a Mother, Entrepreneur, Poet, Student, and a Beginner Herbalist and Vegetarian transitioning into a plant based lifestyle. Lanai has hosted events to help give back to the community and help reshape the structure of healing within our ownselves. Her goal is to spread love back into the core of humanity by being an advocate for self-healing and self-growth. Lanai is also the author of her poetry book “Blue Butterfly Secrets”. She has been a poet for many years but now has ventured into pursuing her passion for spoken word full time. Lanai wants to grow with the community as well as help it grow because she believes that we are the help and the solution we have been looking for.

Nick Brown

Nick is a Frederick native who has been involved in providing human services in the county since 1995. He has worked for the Religious Coalition for the past 12 years and has been the organization’s Executive Director since 2017. Nick’s notable achievements include the formation of the county’s first emergency family shelter formed in 2014, and most recently expanded in 2022. Strong collaborations and partnerships have allowed the Coalition the ability to address the variety of challenges facing Frederick’s homeless population throughout the pandemic. With an ideology of equitable access for all, Nick and the Coalition continues working to ensure that resources, stability, and safety are provided for those in need in Frederick County.

Khiry “Totac” Clark

At the age of 13, Khiry Clark was caught in the crossfire of a shooting in his neighborhood. Fortunately, the bullet only grazed his foot leaving him with a minor injury. Khiry also struggled in school and by the time he was 17 he was expelled for fighting and sent to an alternative school.

After graduating high school, his grandmother invited him to live with her and start a new life. Khiry enrolled in community college and worked a part-time job at a gas station. He evenutally graduated from community college and transferred to Bowie State University.

Now, at the age of 29, Khiry has his degree from BSU, works at Costco, has become a real estate investor, has published two books about his life experiences, and thrives as a keynote speaker.

Branden Mccallister

As a young man my life has taken many turns. Some have been good, more have been bad. However, it has always been my own choices that have brought these life lessons about. Jails, Prisons, and death followed me around for a long time. Being shot multiple times within two weeks and almost losing my life still didn’t change my ways. It wasn’t until I lost a very dear friend and my son started following in my footsteps that I decided to make a change. But GOD! Times have still been challenging…. My son was shot 11 times, then shot again. He is serving an 18 1/2 year sentence. HOWEVER GOD HAS STILL BEEN BLESSING ME! CANT STOP WONT STOP! This is the life of a hope-dealer! God’s purpose not mine!

Angela and Darren Gerald

Pastor Darren Gerald along with his wife, Angela, are the Founders and Senior Leaders of Strong Tower Christian Church.In 2008 they began the ministry in a home on Shookstown road and quickly became known as “a church without walls.”Their vision is to be a place where the walls that separate people from God and from each other are collapsed. Pastor Darren’s litmus test for relevancy and effectiveness: “ The community should miss us if we were not here!”Pastor Darren leads a multi-ethnic, multi-generational church with outreach as its epicenter. The church began by shutting down the Sunday morning worship service every 5th Sunday to serve in the community. Together, Darren and Angela have led Strong Tower to do church without walls
by washing windows of businesses in their shopping center, building beds for children in Frederick County, adopting social workers and foster care families,
adopting 30 children monthly through Compassion International, partnering locally to feed the food insecure, using the church building to house homeless families, Weekly feeding the Frederick High Football team, hosting the IBM Mentorship program, partnering with City Youth Matrix other outreaches such as Gospel Haiti and the Frederick Rescue Mission. Angela and Darren are most proud of their two adult children, Alexis and Julian along with their spouses, Josiah and Anastasia and their bonus grandson, Aiden.

Jeneen Stewart, Ed.S.

Jeneen served as Principal of Ballenger Creek Middle School here in Frederick, MD for three years after teaching, coaching and mentoring youth in Montgomery County, MD. She is currently serving as the Supervisor of Student Support in the Department of Student Services where she uses restorative leadership to support students, staff and parents across the district. Jeneen has been in education for over 22 years and holds a Master’s and Bachelor's degree from Howard University in Biology and an Educational Specialist Degree (Ed.S.) from George Washington University. She is focused on ensuring equity and excellence for all youth and providing opportunities for developing global minded, well rounded citizens. In her spare time she enjoys being “restorative” in her community through truth and service. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. initiated at Alpha Chapter while attending Howard University in Spring of 1996. She mentors youth in Frederick, is a community advocate and created a youtube platform during the pandemic to motivate students through a series of interviews on Jeneen CARES. She believes all people are capable of “Legacy Leadership” and enjoys identifying talent, celebrating diversity and bringing communities together using restorative approaches.

Barbara Thompson

Retired Frederick County Public Schools Principals’ Secretary

President of Frederick Association of School Support Employees, 3 years

Joined AARCH Society 2012, presently serves as Secretary on AARCH Society Board Of Directors

Production Assistant for award winning AARCH Society documentary, Tale of the Lion

Coordinator for AARCH READS and Living Treasures

Committee member of AARCH Society Cemetery Committee, Nomination Committee, and Growth & Development

Current AARCH Society representative for 275th Frederick Anniversary Committee

Current coordinator for documentary the Lincoln School Project

Delivers programs/oral presentations of Frederick County African American History

Passionate writer, reader, documenting family history and serving the community.

Brad Young

Brad started his community advocacy through joining the Frederick Jaycees in 1986. He became a member of the executive committee, serving as treasurer. Brad taught Sunday School at Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ for 10 years. He was a member and served as President of the Frederick County Estate Planning Council. Brad was a charter member of the Frederick Toastmasters, and a member of Frederick Rotary. He has been an active sports coach coaching the varsity softball team at Walkersville High School and softball at Hood College. He is currently on the Board of I Believe in Me (IBM) and Love for Lochlin. He has served on the Frederick Health Hospital Planned giving committee for over 25 years.

Brad was born and raised in Frederick County and attended Frederick County Public Schools from kindergarten through graduation. Brad lives in Walkersville with Cheryl, his wife of 36 years. Brad & Cheryl have 3 daughters and 4 grandchildren.

James Smith

James Smith owner of Jerk N Jive restaurants in Frederick MD is a native of Maryland, now residing in Frederick MD with his wife and two daughters. Mr. Smith has a strong background in marketing and entertainment producing and promoting artists and comedians such as Wylclef Jean, Musiq SoulChild, Bill Bellamy and Jill Scott to name a few. His interest in the restaurant industry grew from a festival that he planned and produced in 2017 at the Frederick County Fairgrounds and led to the development and opening of two restaurants.

Jazmin Di Cola

Jazmin Di Cola is the owner of Capital Property Restoration & Jazpro Solutions. Economic Inclusion has been one her main priorities for the Minority Community. As a business consultant, education and mentoring is what she provides for the path to entrepreneurship for the American Dream. As a philanthropist, she enjoys volunteering with non-profit organizations to give back to the community that helped her thrive.

Jazmin has worked as an organizer/advocate for immigrant community in Frederick County. She is a leader for RISE COALITION OF WESTERN MARYLAND. Jazmin’s passion is to serve and be able to empower underserved/impacted communities to lift their voices and become a unify community.

Dr. Paul W. Dyer

Dr Paul W Dyer has been teaching and training individuals in human performance on Mental, Emotional, Physical advancement. Dr Dyer has worked with top tier business professionals to Olympic athletes increase their potentials. Dr Dyer helps professional people understand the science in the energy of life. Dr Paul W Dyer has chaired many committees to help communities , individuals rise above different situations and circumstances, from homelessness, prison reform, and domestic violence. Dr. Paul W Dyer has devoted 40 years to learning and Studying Human Development.

Tracey L. Pinkard

Tracey L. Pinkard is a long time resident of Gowanus Houses and the cofounder of Gowanus Houses Arts Collective a not for profit located within the Gowanus Houses. GHAC reaches neighborhood teens through the arts and connects them with local artist. As a community leader she serving two terms as the vice President of Gowanus Houses Residents Council. She is also the Parent Coordinator at Brooklyn collaborative school a public New York City Outward Bound 6 -12 grade school located in Carroll Garden's section of Brooklyn. Tracey is currently attending CUNY for Urban and labor Studies.

Jason Lee, CBSE

Chief Executive Officer, Lee Building Maintenance
Jason Lee of Frederick, MD is the innovative leader of Lee Building Maintenance. Lee focuses on
the strategy and growth of the company that oversees 3.7 million square ft. on a daily basis. Using his unique and proven solutions that he as learned over 20 years of experience and his
Certified Building Service Executive (CBSE) certification from Building Service Contractors International (BSCAI), Lee can make buildings and businesses more efficient, while improving
customer retention and satisfaction.
Lee contributes his leadership strategies to the community as well. He has served on numerous boards and non-profits and has been board chair of the local Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce. Jason is currently a board of director for Woodsboro Bank in Maryland and a current board member for the Building Service Contractors Association International. When Jason is not in the office or lending a hand in the community, the married father of three
can be found on the golf course or traveling with his family.

Rev. Dr. Derek T. Shackelford

Rev. Dr. Derek T. Shackelford currently serves as an Alderman in the City of Frederick. He is also the Senior Pastor of Buckeystown United Methodist Church, CEO of City of Hope and an NCAA College Basketball Official. Dr. Shackelford has also taught and guest lectured at colleges across the country. He is a current member of Who’s Who in Professional Management and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

He is the author of the book - Power Pill: 90 Daily Prescriptions for Encouragement and the host of The Leadership Conversations Podcast.

Dr. Shackelford graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Political Science and African American History. He also holds a Masters of Divinity Degree and an earned Doctorate of Ministry Degree from Wesley Theological Seminary.

He is married to Reverend Charlotte Janell Shackelford and is the proud father of two children Shamara and Derin.

Tiana Massaquoi

Mrs. Tiana Massaquoi is a joyful wife, loving mother, passionate community member, and inspired social change philanthropist. It is Tiana’s family that drives her passion for seeing change in the world around her. Tiana serves with authenticity and courage, advocating for families, women and youth, and often navigating spaces and places where diversity and change are needed. Tiana’s efforts in the community are grounded in the belief that every individual deserves support, and every community member can support a young person in some way.

In addition to her commitment and focus on her home and family, Mr. & Mrs. Victor Massaquoi launched Keep Still Cares Foundation. The mission is to build communities and capacity for nonprofits focused on health, youth development,  and the arts through advocacy, grant making, professional development, and strategic partnerships.

Promise Green

Promise Green is a Senior at Linganore High, her goal is to pursue a career in clinical psychology due to her passion to bring attention to the mental health crisis in the BIPOC community. Currently she is the 2022 2023 President of the African American Culture Club, where she creates a safe space in her school for black students to speak, share and learn from one another, and Founding Member/Treasurer of the Students of Color Alliance. Promise was awarded first place in the Frederick County Teacher Association writing contest for social injustice. Her poem titled, What does social injustice mean to me was recognized for best entry on the level of depth, honesty, and eloquence. She was also selected as a recipient of FCPS 2021-2022 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award for her hard work and dedication in school and to her community. Promise will continue to write and advocate for the BIPOC community to encourage the voices of her generation. Through her advocacy and poetry she seeks to motivate others to promote equitable practices in mental health. Additionally, she aspires to help people of color overcome barriers, access mental health services and inspire others to nurture their mental health and well-being.

Ken Oldham

Ken Oldham is an energetic, experienced and passionate executive with an extensive background in non-profit management, strategic planning, and community engagement.  He possesses a comprehensive knowledge of nonprofit business practices, fundraising and leadership development.

Ken has been President & CEO of United Way of Frederick County (UWFC) since August 2016.  He is responsible for the developing the organization’s long-range vision and developing the business strategy to advance the organization’s objectives.  He and his small but capable team have developed and advanced strategies to support ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families in the focus areas of health, education and financial stability.  ALICE are those who are working but unable to afford a basic cost of living – they are among the most vulnerable to job losses, food insecurity, homelessness and sickness. Ken is the chair of the Frederick County Continuum of Care Collaborative, making homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring.

Jamontrez Williams

Hope Dealer, Mentor, Father, Activist. Frederick Native, Mr. Williams was raised in Country Hill apartments where most of his trouble began. Due to the negative choices made in life, he experienced a revolving door of juvenile detention centers throughout his juvenile years, including multiple house arrests and tracking monitors.

In 2017, Mr. Williams was arrested for his involvement in a drive by shooting. In 2018 he was sentenced to 3 years at the Frederick Adult Detention Center where he eventually crossed paths with Aje Hill. Their interactions ignited and continues to fuel his current passion for helping others. Since being released in 2019, Mr. Williams won the 2nd Chances Do-Gooders award, became a father and firefighter; all while being a hope dealer and mentor with I Believe In Me! In addition to these accomplishments, Mr. Williams also won the bronze Medal of Honor, EMS medal of valor and many other awards from the department of fire and rescue services.