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.
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 foStaffunder 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.