OUR TEAM | washlitcenter

Team

Our

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OUR TEAM

The Washington Literacy Center has assembled an accomplished team to carry out its mission. Our Board and staff consist of experienced professionals who bring years of experience in the areas of literacy and adult education. Our distinguished team brings passion for comprehensive change and a dedication to advocating on literacy issues, and developing and providing innovative programs to help solve those problems.

> Instructors & Staff

> Board of Directors

> Advisory Council

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

JIMMIE WILLIAMS

I joined Washington Literacy Center in 2016 as Executive Director, after a distinguished career in external affairs and brand management for Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders such as McDonald’s, Freddie Mac and Bank of America. My goal is to solidify and expand Washington Literacy Center’s 50-year history of

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empowering DC adults to achieve their education and employment goals by providing basic yet life-changing skills in literacy and technology.

I bring a seasoned business acumen with particular

strengths in strategic communications, revenue growth and operational efficiency. An ardent believer in collaboration and engagement, I have achieved success in convening and leading high-performing teams that have included federal and state agencies, Political Action Committees, trade associations, media and community groups.

I am also currently President of the Penn Branch Citizens Civic Association and serve on the boards of the Asian Pacific American Congressional Institute of Congressional Studies (APAICS) and Federation of Citizens Associations of the District of Columbia. I am a graduate of Howard University and reside in Ward 7.

INSTRUCTORS & STAFF

ROBIN BARR - INTENSIVE AND PRE-INTENSIVE INSTRUCTOR

I love helping students discover ways of bypassing the road-blocks in their brains to learn to read. I have a B.A. in Linguistics from Yale, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Linguistics from Harvard with concentrations in both Indo-European and psycholinguistics. I am the Linguist-in-Residence at American University in Washington, D.C. I am an avid amateur musician and play the oboe and English horn in the Trinity Chamber Orchestra, the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra, and many other local ensembles.

Adrienne-Danforth_edited_edited

I came to Washington Literacy Center in 2005 after having practiced First Amendment and insurance law in Washington DC. I received my undergraduate degree from Wellesley College and my law degree from the University of Virginia. When I decided to return to the work force after raising three children, I volunteered at a number of organizations, but when I started tutoring at WLC, I knew this was where I could have the greatest impact. I enjoy practicing yoga and traveling.

Allia Diamond

I am the Student Services Specialist here at the WLC as part of my apprenticeship through Public Allies Washington DC. Advocacy and education are very important to me. My enthusiasm to uplift others, compels me to work with our students in reaching their goals. Working with student’s first-hand is an uplifting, yet challenging experience that teaches me a lot and empowers me to always uplift others when in a position to do so.

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ROO GEORGE-WARREN - COMPUTER INSTRUCTOR

I came to DC from South Carolina by way of Nashville, TN where I graduated with a Bachelors in Music (Musical Arts: Voice and Composition). Today I'm helping students acquire computer skills while cultivating their critical thinking and creative problem-solving. In my free-time I can be found biking around DC to-and-from rehearsals and gallery openings.

Kristen Hagen - Instructor

TOM HAY - DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

I started as a volunteer at the WLC in June of 2012, after a career as a law librarian doing legal research at several DC law firms. I experienced the construction of the new WLC classrooms and office space at the Thurgood Marshall Center. My motivation to volunteer was my desire to help the local community. In November 2015, I joined the staff as the search for a new Executive Director began. In my free time, I enjoy travel and cooking.

Temp Johnson - Instructor

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ROBIN BARR, PH.D.

Senior Instructor

Reading for ESL Learners

ANDRIENNE DANFORTH

Senior Instructor

Reading & Math

ALLIA DIAMOND

Student Services

TOM HAY

Development Manager

ROO GEORGE-WARREN

Instructor

Digital Literacy

KIRSTEN HAGEN

Instructor

Reading

TEMP JOHNSON

Instructor

Math

Yolanda Jones - Instructor

I teach adult learners basic literacy skills to help them reach their goals and improve their quality of life. I have been a certified Wilson Instructor at Washington Literacy Center from 2013 to the present and have a BA in Communication from Pepperdine and am currently in the process of my MA in Adult Education from the University of the District of Columbia. In my free-time, I enjoy travel, reading, tennis, and running.

ROSE JOYNER - DATA OPERATIONS MGR.

I perform the day-to-day and data entry operations for the center ensuring that students and teachers can focus on their classes. Working at the WLC has been an opportunity for me because I enjoy helping other people reach their goals. During my free-time I enjoy home decorating, travel, and family.

Christina Keen

I joined the Washington Literacy Center in 2008 and have been inspired ever since by our courageous students and dedicated staff and volunteers. I'm a Licensed Graduate Social Worker, I hold a Masters of Social Work from Florida State University, and I've had more than a decade of experience in counseling, case management, and connecting students with vital resources. I enjoy riding my bike to work, writing letters and traveling.

KEISHA KING - INSTRUCTOR OF READING AND WORKFORCE LITERACY _edited

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YOLANDA JONES

Senior Instructor

Reading

CHRISTINA KEEN, LGSW

Director Social Services

ROSE JOYNER

Data Operations Manager

KEISHA KING

Instructor

Workforce/Occupational Literacy

MARTHA TANSEY

Senior Instructor

Reading

Jeff-Moore

I have a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Michigan.
I began volunteering at WLC in the spring of 2011, as a classroom literacy instructor, one-on-one tutoring, general office support, and math instructor. My wife, Kris, and I have been married for 46 years. We have three grown children and four grandchildren.

MARTHA TANSEY - INSTRUCTOR

It has been wonderful to see the world of reading open up for the students at WLC. I started volunteering at WLC and eventually became a Wilson certified instructor and now teach classes. I have a BA from DePauw University and a Masters in Library Science from the University of Minnesota. I have taught English in public schools and ESL with the Peace Corps, but most of my life has been spent as a librarian in a public library. In my free time I love to cook, read, and garden.

Lisa Wishman

I was raised in Greenville, SC. I am a Foreign Service Officer whose last assignment as Press Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi ended in August. I am currently in Washington training for my onward assignment as the Director of the American Center in Jerusalem. I have lived and worked in Haiti, Zambia, Senegal, Sweden, Canada and Israel. I am the mother of a 22 year old recent college graduate; I have also taught English as a Second Language and as a high school teacher.

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JEFF MOORE, PH.D.

Instructor

Math

LISA WISHMAN

Instructor

Driver's Education

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Daniel Hayden

Daniel Hayden is the Managing Director of Blue Green Ventures. Previously, Daniel served as the Senior Director of Business Operations at the Digital Impact Alliance at the UN Foundation. He was responsible for finance, grant management, contracting, IT and human resources, and developed the systems and process to grow the organization from 4 people to over 40 people. Daniel is on the Grantmaking Infrastructure Advisor Council of the Paradise Foundation.

Louis Costantino

Lou Costantino is EVP and Managing Director for Government Relations of the Managed Funds Association. Lou has more than twenty-five years of experience in financial services public policy at the Federal and State levels. He has served as senior policy and legislative staff for two major trade associations (MFA, SIFMA) and one of the country’s largest financial services companies (Merrill Lynch). He maintains a broad network of meaningful relationships in the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S.

Francis Creighton

Francis Creighton is President & CEO of the Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA), is a long-time veteran of Capitol Hill. Francis served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Chris Murphy and began his career in the office of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Prior to joining CDIA, Francis was EVP of Government Affairs at the Financial Services Roundtable Vice President and Chief Lobbyist at the Mortgage Bankers Association. Francis is an adjunct faculty member of Georgetown University.

Candace Cunningham

Candace Cunningham is a Community Organizer and Workforce Development Coordinator at the Restaurant Opportunities Center in Washington. Candace has a long history in the teaching profession as a tutor, mentor and instructor at the Orr and CW Harris Elementary Schools and more recently served as an adult literacy instructor and volunteer coordinator at WLC.

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LOUIS COSTANTINO

EVP and Managing Director Government Relations

Managed Funds Association

CANDACE CUNNINGHAM

Workforce Development Coordinator

Restaurant Opportunities Center

DANIEL HAYDEN

BOARD CHAIR

Managing Director

Blue Green Ventures

FRANCIS CREIGHTON

President & CEO

Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA)

Laisha Dougherty

Tony Gittens

Tony Gittens is Founder and Director of the Washington, DC International Film Festival. He served three Washington, DC mayors as Executive Director of the Washington, D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities. His major recognitions include Knight in the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture, Professor Emeritus of the University of DC, winner of the Mayor's Award for Excellence in Service to the Arts, and Public Humanist of the Year by DC Humanities. The Eyes on the Prize

Delese Harvey

Sara Karrer

Sara Karrer is the Senior Development Officer for the Library of Congress, where she leverages her professional fundraising experience to develop and implement strategies to secure major gifts for exhibitions, scholarly programs, capital projects, and literacy initiatives, including the annual National Book Festival.

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LAISHA DOUGHERTY

Community Relations Coordinator

DC PLUG

SARA KARRER

Senior Development Officer

Library of Congress

TONY GITTENS

Founder and Director Washington, DC International Film Festival

DELESE HARVEY

Deputy Director

Disabled Veterans National Foundation

Michele Lieber

Michele Lieber is President of Blue Point DC, a boutique government relations, public affairs and crisis management practice. Michele is a government relations attorney with 25 years of expertise in the financial and auto industries and has served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University School of Business.

Mary Panetta

Liz Ryan

Liz Ryan is President of Sapphire Enterprises and brings over 25 years of assurance and advisory experience. Liz served in an external audit and advisory role with Deloitte and an internal audit role with Freddie Mac, Altria Group, the Washington Post and the Federal Government. Liz is a Certified Public Accountant, licensed in the state of Virginia, and a Certified Information Systems Auditor.

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MARY PANETTA

Director of Practice Operations Litigation Department

Winston & Strawn LLP

MICHELE LIEBER

President

Blue Point DC

LIZ RYAN

President

Sapphire Enterprises

WENDELL FELDER - CHAIR

MARKUS BATCHELOR

AJAN BROWN

ASHLEY CARTER

MELVIN CLAYTON

MARIA IBAÑEZ

TRAVIS NEMBHARD

BRAKEYSHIA SAMM

ARTHUR SIDNEY, ESQ.

NAOMI SHELTON

SHASHRINA THOMAS

KAREN L. WILLIAMS

ADVISORY COUNCIL

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It is not true that we have only one life to live; if we can read, we can live as many more lives and as many kinds of lives as we wish.

- S.I. Hayakawa