Jessica Ellis
Director of Operations & Interim Executive Director
Jessica D. Ellis is a seasoned human services professional, with nearly twenty years of experience working with underserved communities. During her extensive career, Ms. Ellis has managed several grant-funded programs for the Baltimore County Department of Health. Her most successful program, HIV Prevention Program, has reached thousands of persons of color in Baltimore County. As the Program Supervisor, Ms. Ellis has worked with mental health professionals, the justice system, transient youth, and sex workers, assisting them with accessing resources to reduce the symptoms of HIV, reducing the stigma surrounding HIV and sexuality in communities of color, and addressing the long-lasting mental health impacts of such stigma. At the Black Mental Health Alliance for Education and Consultation, Ms. Ellis will use her grant management experience, knowledge of programmatic systems and operations, and connections to grow the organization and introduce the BMHAEC to different populations of Black people/people of the African Diaspora. Ms. Ellis holds a bachelor’s degree in Digital Communications and Marketing and is pursuing a master’s degree in Nonprofit and Association Management. She currently resides in the Baltimore metro area with her dear son and their beloved fur baby.
Richard A. Rowe
Richard A. Rowe is the Resident Consultant for the Black Mental Health Alliance for Education and Consultation, Inc. (BMHA), and is responsible for providing strategic guidance and assistance to staff in the planning and implementation of special activities/educational forums, community engagement interventions, and training sessions. This programming informs and promotes BMHA’s vision, mission and goals with youth, parents and other community members and organizations. Richard has an over 30 year history with BMHA and has served on its Board of Directors and as the Board President.
Richard is an experienced trainer and he has provided training and technical assistance in the areas of family strengthening, cultural enrichment, historical/contemporary trauma, and parent involvement to numerous public/private schools, community organizations and public/private agencies. In addition, he has provided consulting support and specialized training in leadership development, strategic programming and peer-to-peer support to public/private sector middle and senior level managers.
Richard specializes in connecting grassroots youth-led organizations with organizational capacity building opportunities that are essential to create realistic and measurable goals/objectives, to achieve “organizational readiness,” and to engage in strategic collaborations to yield positive outcomes related to the socio-economic and psychological health of Black children, youth, men, and families.
Richard is a graduate of the University of Baltimore and Morgan State University. He is also the recipient of two national Fellowships (Open Society and the Campaign for Black Male Achievement).
Richard enjoys reading, listening to jazz music, visiting African American museums and writing essays, Op-Ed articles, and poetry. He also enjoys spending time with his family.
Cheryl Maxwell
Program Manager
Cheryl Maxwell is a Program Manager for the Black Mental Health Alliance for Education and Consultation Inc. Cheryl works closely with the BMHA executive leadership to support BMHA’s programing, resource and referral assistance, trainings, events, fundraisers, and volunteers. She facilitates requirements for grant proposals; and implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programs for which grants have been received.
Cheryl, a Maryland state certified alcohol and drug counselor, is President of Serenity in Recovery Ministries (SRM) and has been a group facilitator for more than seventeen years. SRM is an organization with a 27-year history of providing support services in a therapeutic group environment to Individuals with addiction and those in recovery. Cheryl holds two advanced degrees, a Masters in Human Services from Lincoln University and a Masters in Nonprofit Management and Leadership.
Cheryl is founder and President of the Carolyn Anne Foundation Inc. (CAF). CAF’s goal through Carolyn Anne’s art works are to provide opportunities for education, exhibition, reproduction, and sales. CAF’s purpose is the development of artistic and educational vehicles, to increase knowledge, and enlighten and enhance the public’s awareness of mental health issues.
Cheryl is the mother of three wonderful adults and has eight grandchildren. Cheryl is a 32-year, lifelong companion to a wonderful partner.
Lynne Johnson
Program Manager
Lynne Johnson is a Program Manager at The Black Mental Health Alliance for Education & Consultation, Inc. She currently manages the BMHA Youth Tobacco Enforcement Initiative; this grant covers about 50% of her time and allows for time to also coordinate activities associated with BMHA’s youth wellness initiative. Lynne recruits and trains youth; coordinates and convenes youth ambassadors; and assists with program evaluation and reports.
Lynne has spent most of her career working with youth in a myriad of roles and responsibilities. She has traveled with the Coore Foundation several times to Jamaica to co-facilitate, educate and train youth about HIV Prevention Interventions with the assistance of the Jamaican Red Cross. Lynne has almost 20 years of experience in leading groups and working with women and youth at risk of, affected by and or living with HIV and AIDS. Lynne is a certified trainer in the evidence-based Making Proud Choices! And Being a Responsible Teen (BART), youth abstinence education and HIV/AIDS/STI prevention education curriculum.
Lynne is a staunch advocate for youth and looks forward to continuing this commitment by bringing innovative strategies to unserved and underserved communities. Lynne is particularly interested in attitude and lifestyle behavioral changes, competency training, and prevention intervention programs that address risk factors associated with HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), substance abuse, and mental health. Lynne is a graduate of Hampton University.