Andrea Brown
Executive Director
Andrea Brown joins the Black Mental Health Alliance as the new Executive Director. As a seasoned senior executive, Andrea served in several leadership roles at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Those roles included Strategic Planning, Membership Development and Training. In her role as Director of Internal Affairs, Andrea provided oversight for affiliate chapters across the country and those on military installations in Germany and Japan. Andrea’s passion and expertise in leadership development, non-profit management and strategic planning afforded her the opportunity to collaborate with high-profile local and national leaders.
Throughout her career, Andrea implemented and provided oversight for a variety of direct service programs and managed federal, state, local and foundation dollars in excess of three million dollars. She developed strategic initiatives and programs for non-profit and state entities. Serving briefly as an “Executive on Loan” for the Baltimore City Detention Center’s jail-based substance abuse treatment program, Andrea developed strategic initiatives designed to enhance programming. The program was recognized as a “best practice” model and was replicated in other Maryland facilities and other state penal institutions.
Andrea co-authored a leadership training manual for juvenile detainees, which is used in juvenile facilities across the country. She holds certifications in community mediation and executive coaching. As a community activist and advocate, Andrea has volunteered her mediation services to at-risk Black and Brown communities across the country. She has written articles for BET online, Heart and Soul magazine and other periodicals.
Andrea has an undergraduate degree in Political Science and a masters degree in Legal & Ethical Studies.
Andrea serves on the Mount Washington Pediatric Foundation Board in Baltimore, Brown Girls Lead in Washington, DC, and on several other local boards and advisory committees. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc. Andrea resides in Baltimore with her husband and teenage son.
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.
Roxana Feenster
Executive Assistant
Roxana Feenster is the Executive Assistant at The Black Mental Health Alliance for Education & Consultation, Inc, where she supports the Executive Director (ED), Andrea Brown. Roxana serves as a front-line liaison between BMHA and external institutions and community organizations. Additionally, her duties include general administration, meeting/conference logistics, HR coordination, office management, and travel logistics. She is committed to advancing the mission and vision of BMHA with excellence.
Prior to joining BMHA, Roxana was employed as the Executive Assistant at Planet Fitness Growth Partners, LLC. In this role, Roxana was able to merge her passion and expertise for health and wellness with the administrative duties of supporting the executive team.
Roxana is a certified notary public and currently holds an Associates of Arts degree from the Community College of Baltimore County.
Nia Jones
Nia Jones is a consultant with the Black Mental Health Alliance for Education and Consultation, Inc. and is responsible for co-leading the Youth Wellness Initiative and other special projects as assigned.
Nia is a licensed Social Worker with a passion for organizations and the people that work in them. She provides strategic human resources business partner support, talent acquisition training, project management support, and Self Presentation strategy for individuals and businesses.
Nia has created and executed recruitment plans for large and small companies with a 100% higher rate and managed HR portfolios for over 500 individuals in product lines generating revenue of over 5 million dollars annually. She is the owner/operator of On Purpose with Nia, LLC- an organization dedicated to empowering small businesses and individuals to grow by promoting 360-degree wholeness through 1:1 consults, training, and project management.
Nia is a native Baltimorean, and received her Bachelor of Science degree from Morgan State University in 2010, and returned to her Alma Mater to receive her Masters of Social Work in 2017. Nia is a RISE Fellowship program graduate at Kennedy Krieger Institute and certified art therapy life coach.
Nia is a wife (Bryce), and mother of 1 (Jackson). She enjoys reading, writing, listening to music, learning about new technology, and making jewelry.