BPA is pleased to announce the election of seven new members to our board. This board election marks the first time we have opened up board membership to nonprofit leaders as well as professionals in philanthropy. Our new members bring significant collective experience and expertise in philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, and community service. Please join us in welcoming Kensei H. Brittain, Council on Foundations; Laura M. Chambers, Global Aids Alliance; E. Bomani Johnson, Community Foundation of the National Capital Region; Melissa Johnson, Neighborhood Funders Group; Ashley McSwain, Our Place DC; Glen O’Gilvie, Center for Nonprofit Advancement; and Omar T. Woodward, George Washington University.
Kensei Brittain helps community foundations and corporate giving programs as manager of community foundation services for the Council on Foundations. Her decade of nonprofit and philanthropic service includes serving as associate director of Figure Skating in Harlem, Inc. an afterschool educational skating program for underserved youth in New York City. She also worked for the American Chemical Society.
Laura Chambers promotes a comprehensive and compassionate response to the global AIDS crisis as deputy executive director of the Global AIDS Alliance. In her 25 years of advocacy for social change, Laura has been chief operating officer for Civic Ventures, vice president for the Advocacy Institute, president of the board of Hannah House, director of affordable housing programs and homeless shelters in DC and Baltimore, and a Peace Corps Volunteer in Senegal.
E. Bomani Johnson enables donors to make wise investments in DC area organizations as director of the DC Office of the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region. He has more than 20 years of nonprofit experience in program development, fundraising, grantmaking, workforce development, and youth development. He has worked for Philanthropic Advisory Services, the DC Children & Youth Investment Trust Corporation, the Latin American Youth Center, among other institutions. Bomani has served on many advisory boards and committees including as the Americas Co-Chair of the International Youth Caucus of the United Nations’ Third World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerances and as co-chair of the Older Youth Task Force of the Children, Youth and Families Working Group of Washington Grantmakers.
Melissa Johnson strengthens the capacity of philanthropy to improve low-income urban and rural neighborhoods as the newly appointed executive director of the Neighborhood Funders Group. Previously she served as field director for the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. She has helped seed giving circles, develop models of community philanthropy, and advised foundations on issues of social justice and racial equity. Melissa’s volunteer service has included work with Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy, Guatemala Human Rights Campaign-USA, North Carolina’s Youth for Tomorrow, and the United Way of Greensboro, among many other organizations.
Ashley McSwain helps women leaving prison to successfully re-enter society in her role as executive director of Our Place DC. She is a 20-year veteran of human services organizations with a master’s degree in social work. Previously she directed the Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition and served as deputy director of the Bucks County Housing Group, Inc. Prior to that she was a parole officer.
Glen O’Gilvie strengthens, promotes, and represents DC area nonprofits as CEO of Center for Nonprofit Advancement. Previously Glen served as president of Earth Conservation Corps, as a program officer for the Community Foundation for the National Capital region, and as a national coordinator for the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial.
Omar T. Woodard works with 3,000 hospitals and universities to advance their business intelligence in his role at the Advisory Board Company. Previously he was a lobbyist advocating for sustainable prosperity in Africa. Omar also served as deputy regional field director for the Obama for America campaign. He serves on several boards, including the Board of Trustees of The George Washington University, and is former chair of the DC Chapter of the NAACP International Affairs Committee.
Board members continuing their service to BPA include Chairperson Miyesha Chappell, Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Vice Chair Edward Jones, Council on Foundations; Treasurer Carmen James Lane, Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation; and ex-Officio member Lee Christian Parker, Community Foundation of the National Capital Region.
