2010/2011 Fellows

Allison K. Stearns, The Center for Adoption Support and Education

Allison K. Stearns, Deputy Director at The Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.), is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Maryland. She has more than 15 years experience in leading programs and initiatives that serve children, youth and families in community and school-based settings. Prior to joining C.A.S.E. in 2008, Allison spent four years as the Director of Kensington Wheaton Youth Services, a program of the Mental Health Association (MHA) of Montgomery County, and previously, she served as the Administrative Coordinator of substance abuse, violence prevention, and student anti-bias education programs for Prince William County Public Schools from 1996-2004. Allison holds a Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Boston University and a Master of Public Health from The Johns Hopkins University. She is a member of the Leadership Montgomery Class of 2010.

Artherelle K. West, East River Family Strengthening Collaborative

Artherelle K. West is a licensed social worker in Washington, DC and an active member of the National Association of Social Work. Ms. West graduated from Elizabeth City State University with a Bachelors of Art in Sociology/Pre-Social Work in 1979. In 1982 she received her Master in Social Work from Howard University. Ms. West is currently the Resources Development and Special Initiative Director at East River Family Strengthening Collaborative where she has been employed since January 2004. Ms. West is a community advocate and committed to invoked positive change in the Ward 7 community. She actively participated in the Ward 7 Core Team Meeting, and Far Southeast Weed and Seed Advisory Committee. Ms. West has been employed in child welfare for twenty-four years in various capacities, which include Adoption, Foster Care, Early Child Care, Youth Development, and Community Capacity Building. From 1983 through 1991 she was employed at various Consortium of Child Welfare Agencies as a social worker; assessing families and children in the areas of Adoption and Foster Care.

 In 1991 through 1992 she was the Supervisor of Group Homes at Family and Child Services were she provided staff supervision and program over site. From 1992 through 1998 she worked at the Child and Family Services Agency as an Adoptions Social Worker. From 1998 through 2001 she worked as the Director of Family Child Care and Youth Development for Family and Child Services of Washington DC and Nations Capitol Child and Family Development Organization. In this capacity she was responsible for the hiring and training of staff who worked with children and youth, program development and supervision of family Childcare Homes and After School Care Centers.

Ashley Stewart, National Summer Learning Association

Mr. Ashley B. Stewart directs the Baltimore City Comprehensive Community Initiative to Advance Summer Learning with the National Summer Learning Association. In this role, Stewart works to expand access and participation for low-income youth and families in summer programs through increased political support, alignment and sustainability of resources, enhanced knowledge and data sharing practices, and improved program quality. Prior to joining the Association, Stewart was as a Foreign Service officer serving in Mexico and the Dominican Republic where he administered public awareness services and developed innovative practices to strengthen U.S. border security. He also worked at the U.S. Department of Education as a speechwriter to the Secretary and has direct-service experience in education and after-school and summer programs. He earned a master’s degree in public policy with a concentration in education policy and leadership from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Morehouse College.

Catherine Crum, Miriam’s Kitchen

Catherine Crum is the Deputy Director of Miriam’s Kitchen, a social services, meal, and arts program for individuals who are homeless in Washington, DC. She has been a clinical social worker in DC since 1994, having spent nine years at the Whitman-Walker Clinic and seven at Miriam’s. Catherine has served on the Boards of HIPS and Miriam’s House, and she is currently the Board Development Chair of SpeakeasyDC. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Edinburgh, and a Master of Public Administration degree from American University. Catherine loves facilitating poetry and ESL groups at Miriam’s Kitchen, and her passion is bringing arts to underserved communities.

Charles Evans, DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation

Charles J. Evans is totally committed to serving his community and helping young people find success and fulfillment. Charles is a Senior Program Officer for the DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation.  In this role, he advises, assists, and monitors the progress of local community-based organizations that work with youth in the District.  He also provides managerial support and supervision to Trust program officers and manages several of the Trust’s strategic partnerships with District government agencies.  Prior to his work with the Trust, Charles was the Program Officer for Communications for the Gates Millennium Scholarship (GMS) program which is administered by the United Negro College Fund.  In this role he conducted nationwide outreach to youth, parents, school administrators, and community based organizations about the GMS value proposition and  developed a male specific outreach strategy designed to increase the number of African American, Native American, and Latino boys that applied for and received the Gates Scholarship.

Charles is a 2009 Connecting Leaders Fellow with the Association of Black Foundation Executives.  Charles also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing from James Madison University and a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from George Mason University.