Staff and Board

Darryus Johnson joined the Maryland Nonprofits staff in April 2013. He manages all customer retention activities and takes initiative in customer satisfaction via process improvement plans and efficient reporting and flow of information. He acts as a “first-responder” handling feedback from customers, advocating their concerns, resolving and escalating as needed. He develops an understanding of member issues, offers suggestions and identifies alternatives and develops unique solutions. He also maintains database information as well as assists members with using fundraising databases.

Before Maryland Nonprofits, Darryus worked for the MVA, Air Tran Airways, and Danya International. Darryus’ work as a Communications Coordinator for Danya International and as a flight attendant for Air Tran Airways afforded him the opportunity to support global as well as domestic business operations, and to work with all levels of employees, from frontline staff to executive leadership.

Gabriela Lemus is the Executive Director of Maryland Latinos Unidos and the CEO of Revolution Strategy, a management and communications strategy consultancy. Prior to Revolution Strategy US, she was the President of Progressive Congress and adviser to the co-Chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Raul Grijalva and Rep. Keith Ellison. As an Obama Administration appointee, she served as Senior Advisor and Director of Public Engagement for Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis and was appointed by Mayor Vince Gray to serve as a Trustee of the University of the District of Columbia – an HBCU.

Dr. Lemus is a passionate advocate for justice –social, economic, environmental, gender– whose career spans more than 15 years in senior strategic leadership roles in congressional and government affairs, non-profit management, policy advocacy and community/civic engagement. She has built and managed nonprofits, has a wide range of experience in building multi-racial coalitions and advocacy campaigns, advancing public policy and civic engagement. She is an innovator in voter engagement and civic participation for the Latino community.

Gabriela has a PhD from the University of Miami, where she studied international political economy and political theory and wrote her dissertation on the drugs war and the US-Mexico border, implications for bilateral relations. She serves on numerous boards. She is the President of the Mi Familia Vota Education Fund (MFVEF), the co-Chair of the Center for Common Ground, and sits on the board of American Family Voices (AFV). She serves as the Chair of the Development Committee at Netroots Nation and the Chair of the Audit Committee at the National Institute for Reproductive Health. She is a certified Climate Reality Leadership Trainer.

Tyryn is a dedicated professional with a deep passion for the arts, rooted in the vibrant cultural landscapes of Washington, D.C., and Virginia. He holds a degree in Fine Arts from Marymount University, where he honed his skills and developed a strong foundation in artistic principles. Over the course of his professional journey, Tyryn has cultivated a unique ability to help businesses and organizations amplify their internal culture, drive strategic growth, and enhance team performance through creative and artistic approaches.

His commitment to the arts extends beyond his education, as he actively engages in various creative projects and initiatives. With a keen eye for detail and a profound appreciation for artistic expression, Tyryn brings a unique perspective to his work, seamlessly blending his artistic background with his professional endeavors.

Yuliana Macey is a proud Latina from Peru. Yuliana studied Psychology in Peru and here, she completed an Associate Degree in Addiction Counseling and Associates Degree in Human Services/ Mental Health. She is also trained in Phycological First Aid. She is passionate about empowering Latinos in any way or form possible through education and networking.

Yuliana currently works in Maryland Latinos Unidos as a Community Health Organizer where they create connections between non-profit organizations and listen to the voices of all those Latinos who want to be heard, they share information by creating networking opportunities among other organizations and sharing resources for the Latino communities.

7 years ago, a group of friends and Yuliana, created a foundation called Fundación Puro Peru, whose mission is to promote Peruvian culture in the metropolitan area. They focus on educating the next generation, the Peruvian American kids. Their goal is to teach them why they are so proud of the Peruvian people and their culture.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Yuliana started doing outreach to the Latino community with the Anne Arundel Department of Health. She would help by giving resources to Latino families, providing any information about the virus and being a resource to anyone who needed it, and educating families about the vaccines when they were available.

Carmen knows first-hand how transformative it can be when people get serious about confronting racism, sexism and the other isms and schisms that divide us in the workplace and community. Informed by her work in civil rights, Carmen is dedicated to working with world changers – organizations and leaders – who are serious about making progress in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). “As a country, we don’t necessarily do a good job talking about racial issues.  It’s hard.  It challenges everyone to look at themselves and the systems of oppression that plague us.  And, if we can’t bring ourselves to talk about it, then it becomes doubtful that we’ll do anything about it”, she says.

Through her coaching, facilitation and consulting, she helps those who are committed to establishing an environment or culture where individuals can succeed, grow and thrive regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender. Whether at the beginning of their journey or in the midst of a full-blown crisis, Carmen steps into the fire with you. She helps CEOs, boards of directors and teams, to find their way through sensitive conversations about racial and ethnic disparities, board diversity, for example, to bold and progressive action. In addition, she can often be found facilitating workshops on DEI, racial equity, unconscious bias and managing racial conflict in organizations. Clients appreciate how she manages these sensitive conversations with finesse and deep respect for the life experiences that all participants bring to the table. Consequently, Carmen has been honored to do this work not only with the Black and White but also, Asian, Asian American, Native American and Latino communities.

Her passion is integrating coaching, facilitation, and training to call upon the giftedness and greatness in others who work in the nonprofit sector.

Specifically, her work is aimed at helping:

• Create an awareness, deepen their understanding, then move to corrective action
• Organizations to fulfill their missions
• Organizations to deliver greater service to the community
• Organizations to raise more money
• Boards and staff to step into their power, calling and responsibility.
• Organizations to develop systems and processes, with built-in accountability that lead to success and sustainability.

Carmen is also the creator of Uncovering and Confronting Racism:  Laying the Foundation for Transformative Change, a program designed to help organizations in their equity and inclusion work. Her work with CEOs, boards of directors and teams has earned her the reputation of peaceful gatekeeper and master facilitator.

Carmen is also a Standards for Excellence ® Institute licensed consultant. She has served as a member of the Ethics Committee at the Standards for Excellence Institute and is a professional coach certified by Coaching for Transformation (accredited by the International Coaching Federation).

Carmen is the former Executive Pastor of the historic Bright Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (formerly led by the late Congressman William H. Gray III). In that role, she shouldered both the executive and senior pastor responsibilities in the absence of a senior pastor. She is the first woman to lead the congregation in 107 years. She is also the former Executive Director of the National Black Media Coalition.

Kimmy Ortiz Thai is a community health organizer with Maryland Latinos Unidos. She enjoys working with underserved communities throughout the DMV region. Kimmy is especially well connected with resources for the Latino communities in the area. She is a proud daughter of a Salvadoran mother and Vietnamese father who both migrated to the United States for a better future. She is also a proud young mother.

Kimmy loves to network with other organizations who serve similar goals. She is a member of Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc., a Latina-based, but not exclusive sorority at the University of Maryland, College Park campus. The sorority is recognized for their community service and leadership. She is also a co-founder to a respectable mutual aid group called The Audelia Community Response Team who was recognized and awarded by Prince George’s County. They managed to provide over 3,000 families with essentials during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2020, Kimmy was named and photographed in the Baltimore Sun for protesting alongside CASA de Maryland against ICE at the Howard County detention center. Her mutual aid group was also interviewed by AJ+ in 2020.

Kimmy’s most self-rewarding work has been mentoring teen mothers because looking back, she would’ve wanted the same support. She enjoys helping them strive to reach their academic and career goals. Kimmy has done case management in the past where she provided bilingual support for families. She has vast knowledge in applying for governmental resources such as SNAP, Medicaid, rental assistance, etc.

Her goal is to live a full, happy, and well-traveled life. She wishes to see her career flourish by becoming a feminine leader within her community.

Padraic (“Paddy”) McSherry Morton has been providing legal services to Maryland Nonprofits’ members since 2002. Prior to her work with Maryland Nonprofits, Ms. Morton was an Associate with Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, LLP and Law Clerk to the Honorable William M. Nickerson of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. As General Counsel, Ms. Morton provides startup services, advises on strategic partnerships including structural reorganization and corporate integration, negotiates critical contracts, and consults on governance and management strategies and implementation.

Ms. Morton has served in a leadership capacity on numerous boards and community activities. Ms. Morton gained her law degree at the University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., 1991. She holds a B.A. in English and Philosophy from Georgetown University. She is a licensed consultant with the Standards for Excellence® Institute.

Rachel Mygatt oversees Maryland Nonprofits’ group buying and contract training programs and manages event sponsorships and logistics for signature events including the annual conference and Legislative Preview. She also provides program support to the Standards for Excellence Institute, is a member of the Strategic Engagement Team, and manages the volunteer intern program.

Before coming to Maryland Nonprofits, Rachel worked in nonprofits in New York City, served in leadership positions on several Baltimore nonprofit boards, and in development for KIPP Baltimore. A social worker by training, Rachel earned a master’s degree in social work from Fordham University Graduate school of Social Service in 1994. She also holds a B.A. from Dickinson College.

Carlos Orbe, Jr. is an alumnus of Manhattan College in Riverdale, NY where he majored in Communications/ Marketing with a concentration in Public Relations and minored in Philosophy. After completing his legal studies/ work at the Department of Justice, Carlos moved his focus to policy and legislation.

At the University of Maryland, College Park, Carlos completed his Master of Public Policy, specializing in Social Policy and Leadership Management. Carlos has held multiple senior-level fellowships with The Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus, The Judicial Proceedings Committee, United States Attorneys Office, and Rubenstein Public Relations in New York.

Currently, he is the Public Affairs Specialist with Maryland Latinos Unidos working on education, health, and environmental policy initiatives. Carlos is both creating and developing Latino policy programming with the Executive Director from the ground up.

Patty Prasada-Rao has worked with U.S. and international non-profit organizations to develop communities, organizations, leaders, ministries, and national associations.  She has over 25 years of management experience including strategic development, fundraising/resource development, organizational infrastructure and operations, program development, board/staff development, and finance.

Patty’s background also includes work in public health (technical assistance to state and local health departments), geriatric research, corporate marketing, psychiatric program management, college campus ministry, and in leadership development/support for non-governmental organizations in India and Kenya. A large focus of her work has been on issues that impact underserved communities both domestically and abroad and how marginalized community members can take the lead in transformation and renewal.

She was born to Indian parents in the U.S. with an extended family network, which instilled in her a strong value for the community and what it means to belong together.  Patty received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/Pre-med from Johns Hopkins University and a Masters of Public Health in Health Education/Community Development from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Walter Saba has worked in public health for the last 30 years managing health communication programs, building partnerships for health, and providing technical support on public health issues to more than twenty countries. During most of his career, Walter worked with Johns Hopkins University as a Senior Program Officer implementing behavior and social change communication programs on HIV and AIDS, maternal health, and family planning,

He has also worked in the Department of State / Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator as Team Leader for Latin America and the Caribbean supporting the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in the Region. In 2009, Walter joined United Nations as Regional Consultant for UNICEF/West and Central Africa Office on Global Polio Eradication and worked with the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) on technical support, community mobilization, and partnerships.

Mr. Saba currently works as a Senior Program Manager for Maryland Latinos Unidos managing the health equity portfolio of projects for the organization. He completed a Master of Health Sciences (MHS) degree at the Johns Hopkins University / Bloomberg School of Public Health (1993), and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the Johns Hopkins University / School of Business (2008).

Juliana Thomas is an accomplished financial and human resources manager with experience in nonprofit and for-profit businesses. She served as accounting and human resources manager for Juele Enterprises, PTC International, and Mid-Atlantic Lifespan and its subsidiaries. She was also tax associate for Reznick, Fedder and Silverman CPAs.

Juliana attended Coppin State College and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Management Science. Outside of work she is stays busy in ministry work with her church and spending time with family and friends, all of which she enjoys. Juliana enjoys traveling with her family and friends also.

Ms. Umaña is a public health professional with over eight years of experience in public, private, government, and non-profit settings. She has worked across multiple public health topics with expertise in implementing community-based programs and community engagement, focusing on health equity. Kelly has worked in maternal and child health, neuroscience research, community health center value-based care programs, grassroots community health worker initiatives, and migrant and preventative health.

During the pandemic, she led a team of community health workers serving our most underserved communities and those who were significantly impacted by COVID-19. At the grassroots community level, she partnered with faith-based organizations, local government, health systems, and the community to enable access to the COVID-19 vaccine, testing, and education to curb the pandemic.

Under her leadership, her team organized over 30 vaccination clinics, leading to more than 500 community members getting vaccinated. She also led a COVID-19 test hotline where she trained CHWs on how to utilize at home kits to bridge health literacy among the Latino and Immigrant populations. She has advocated the enhancement of the community health worker workforce both at the local and state level.

In October 2023, she completed a Health Equity Fellowship at the Bureau of Primary Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration (BPHC-HRSA) and is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Public Health program at the Milken Institute of School of Public Health.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Public Health Science and Master of Public Health in Public Health Practice and Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a Certified Community Health Worker through the Maryland Department of Health and was appointed to the Maryland Department of Health, Community Health Worker Advisory Committee in 2022.

Having found fulfillment in volunteering for several nonprofit organizations and building a career in customer service, Dylan transitioned to Maryland Nonprofits in 2024 as a Membership Support Specialist. Raised in South Florida, he developed a deep passion for plants, animals, and the outdoors. During his leisure time, Dylan frequently enjoys being near the water or hiking alongside his dogs.

Mara Winters provides training, technical assistance, and consulting in the areas of board governance, nonprofit management, organizational development, board development and engaging boards in fundraising. She has provided board training and consulting services to hundreds of nonprofit organizations over her 35 year career in the nonprofit sector. Thousands of individuals have attended her training through local and national conference sessions as well as Maryland Nonprofits ongoing training programs. She has a high energy, entertaining and engaging training style.

Prior to joining the staff of Maryland Nonprofits, Ms. Winters worked for several nonprofits in Buffalo, New York including the Greater Buffalo Development Corporation and the World University Games. She has served on numerous boards and committees throughout her career. She holds a Masters of Urban Planning, a MS in Applied Public Affairs, and a BA in Human Environmental Design from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Conner Wolfe is a nonprofit professional with a strong commitment to advancing social justice and the common good. In his current role at Maryland Nonprofits, Conner provides administrative, correspondence, fundraising and technology support to the President & CEO and Board of Directors. He is involved in advocacy efforts, particularly at the federal level, working to shape public policy impacting the nonprofit sector. With a Master’s degree in Museum Studies from The Cooperstown Graduate Program at SUNY Oneonta, Conner has a background in development, capacity building, and public policy across the sector, including arts and culture, higher education, and advocacy organizations.

Conner contributes to his community as a board member of the SUNY Brockport Alumni Association and St. Mary’s County Government Museum Division. Conner completed the Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant Training Program in 2021. Originally from Western New York, he enjoys backpacking and remains dedicated to volunteering, embodying a holistic approach to making a positive impact on society.

Activating and coordinating community responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic was how Wendy Wolff began her career in the nonprofit sector. Her early career helped her to build a strong understanding about the value and role of the community in program planning and policy development. She brings nearly 25 years of diverse consulting experiences to her role as Director of Strategic Engagement for Maryland Nonprofits. Wendy has collaborated with government agencies; universities; non-profit organizations; and faith-based organizations to enhance the quality of life within many communities throughout the United States. She uses her strategic thinking skills to help clients synthesize information from wide-ranging sources, reframe problems while uncovering root causes to find refreshing, creative and effective solutions.

Over the past two decades, Wendy has helped thousands of organizations and their people to create brighter futures for the communities in which they serve. Her excitement in working with the members of Maryland Nonprofit’s is infectious. She values the genius that each and every person brings to their role in the sector and works diligently to elevate any person that she engages with.

Ms. Wolff holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from New York University. She has resided as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Denver and as an Associate Faculty Member at Indian River State College. Wendy is a licensed consultant with the Standards for Excellence® Institute. Ms. Wolff’s first book, The Letter Writing Project (Blooming Twig Books), was published in August 2014.