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The US Team Members
Armele Vilceus: Confident that, given the opportunity, many more people in Haiti will be engaged in the development of the country, Armele Vilceus decided to leave the World Bank to pursue a long life childhood desire to make a difference in her country. She has dedicated her time since November 2012 to the preparation of the CEN Program.
Her experience, during the 14 years she worked for the World Bank, reaffirmed her belief that unless the citizens of the country are involved in the development process, the desired level of progress and sustainability will not be achieved. Her goal is to contribute in increasing public awareness of development issues and creating partnership with other actors thru knowledge sharing and coordinated actions.
Armele is a founding member of the JJD Academy that provides free education to low income families in Les Cayes, Haiti. Armele is also a core team member of the community outreach program at All Souls Church in DC. She has a Master’s Degree in Financial Management and Accounting and a Bachelor’s in Finance. Born and raised in Petion-Ville, she currently lives in Silver Spring Maryland.
Contact her at Tel: 240-794-8405 or [email protected]
Ralph Belton: was born on the island of Aruba in the Netherland Antilles. His secondary education was acquired on the island of Grenada. He is a founding member of the Joint Endeavor for Welfare Education and Liberation (JEWEL). He traveled to the US for tertiary study receiving two degrees in Architecture from Howard University -- B.Arch. (Cum Laude) and M.Arch.
He is currently Associate Professor and Chair in the Department of Urban Architecture and Community Planning in the College of Agriculture Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES) at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC).
He has been a licensed practicing Architect in the State of Maryland since 1983 with major contribution to design and construction of several projects, including churches; offices and residential buildings; military installations; historic preservation and consultancies with the Embassy of Grenada. Of his many projects the Whitelaw Hotel is most significant. This project was conceived by his firm Belton-McGhee Associates, Architects. It is both on the National Register of Historic Places and the Washington, DC register of historic buildings.
He has dedicated a significant part of his life to Education. Teaching assignments are primarily in Design Theory, Architectural History and Structural Design. He has conducted student study tours to Europe and Japan and Haiti. Prior to joining the faculty at UDC he taught at Howard University. He has 34 years of experience in the teaching profession. He is also a member of the Construction Specification Institute (CSI) and an Associate Member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
Haiti is a significant passion and social justice issue for him. He has visited Haiti on a delegation of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) representing All Souls Unitarian Church. Recently he visited Haiti on a faculty and student delegation of the College of Agriculture Urban Sustainablity and Environmental Studies (CAUSES) on a service learning trip to Merge, Haiti. It is his desire to be of service to the people of Haiti as they seek to improve their housing and environmental standards.
He is currently Associate Professor and Chair in the Department of Urban Architecture and Community Planning in the College of Agriculture Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES) at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC).
He has been a licensed practicing Architect in the State of Maryland since 1983 with major contribution to design and construction of several projects, including churches; offices and residential buildings; military installations; historic preservation and consultancies with the Embassy of Grenada. Of his many projects the Whitelaw Hotel is most significant. This project was conceived by his firm Belton-McGhee Associates, Architects. It is both on the National Register of Historic Places and the Washington, DC register of historic buildings.
He has dedicated a significant part of his life to Education. Teaching assignments are primarily in Design Theory, Architectural History and Structural Design. He has conducted student study tours to Europe and Japan and Haiti. Prior to joining the faculty at UDC he taught at Howard University. He has 34 years of experience in the teaching profession. He is also a member of the Construction Specification Institute (CSI) and an Associate Member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
Haiti is a significant passion and social justice issue for him. He has visited Haiti on a delegation of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) representing All Souls Unitarian Church. Recently he visited Haiti on a faculty and student delegation of the College of Agriculture Urban Sustainablity and Environmental Studies (CAUSES) on a service learning trip to Merge, Haiti. It is his desire to be of service to the people of Haiti as they seek to improve their housing and environmental standards.
Greg Foster has 20 years of experience in health services research and health care quality improvement. He has worked with a wide variety of health care data; including developing data collection tools and managing databases for primary data collection, analyzing data from national surveys, and using administrative data from service providers and payers. He is a proficient data analyst who can also lead projects, consult with funders and other research partners, and has a history of co-authoring manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals and preparing reports for a wide variety of audiences. Greg received a Master of Public Health, Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University in 2006 and a Master of Arts in Experimental Psychology from Towson University in 1999.
Rollie Smith: Most of Rollie’s experience is in Nonprofit, Nongovernmental Organizations providing community organization and development services and support.
Rollie lived in the Jesuit community for 13 years where he learned, wrote, taught in the area of philosophy and social ethics. He finished a doctoral program when enrolled in Saul Alinsky's Chicago Institute for further training in Community Organization. He left Academia to take Community Organizing positions in Chicago, Toronto, and San Jose and led Nonprofit Planning and Community Development Organizations in Hawaii, Cleveland, and Fresno.
Rollie joined HUD as Community Builder and Field Office Director for 14 years where he honed skills in public-private partnerships, sustainable urbanism, regional development, public and private resource development. He retired from HUD in 2011 and moved to DC to be close to his children and grand-children and now works as a volunteer with All Souls Church in their housing and community development sections.
Rollie lived in the Jesuit community for 13 years where he learned, wrote, taught in the area of philosophy and social ethics. He finished a doctoral program when enrolled in Saul Alinsky's Chicago Institute for further training in Community Organization. He left Academia to take Community Organizing positions in Chicago, Toronto, and San Jose and led Nonprofit Planning and Community Development Organizations in Hawaii, Cleveland, and Fresno.
Rollie joined HUD as Community Builder and Field Office Director for 14 years where he honed skills in public-private partnerships, sustainable urbanism, regional development, public and private resource development. He retired from HUD in 2011 and moved to DC to be close to his children and grand-children and now works as a volunteer with All Souls Church in their housing and community development sections.
Linda Bidlack is a Georgetown University certified leadership coach and consultant passionate about helping people use whatever adversity they’re facing as an active laboratory for learning.
She has been consulting to and/or coaching in mission-driven organizations for 30 years across the federal government, business, and academia including the American Red Cross, Congress, Constellation Energy, Honest Tea, the Intelligence Community, Loyola University, NASA, the National Peace Corps Association, Paypal, Sodexo, and the White House. She has given workshops and helped to launch all kinds of initiatives on peer coaching, resilience, neuroscience, engagement, leadership development, and organization effectiveness. Her design and delivery of a 3-day offsite on changing paradigms for 150 NASA project managers won an award.
She has been consulting to and/or coaching in mission-driven organizations for 30 years across the federal government, business, and academia including the American Red Cross, Congress, Constellation Energy, Honest Tea, the Intelligence Community, Loyola University, NASA, the National Peace Corps Association, Paypal, Sodexo, and the White House. She has given workshops and helped to launch all kinds of initiatives on peer coaching, resilience, neuroscience, engagement, leadership development, and organization effectiveness. Her design and delivery of a 3-day offsite on changing paradigms for 150 NASA project managers won an award.
Barbara Myers has a long standing career in international development in a variety of domestic and overseas settings. She worked for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) for 28 years, including 13 years based in Latin America. Key roles included Regional Director for Europe, for South America, Global Strategy Director, and Senior Director for Overseas Program Quality. Prior to joining the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) in 2014, Barbara served as CRS’ Director of Major Gifts Stewardship, where she led a team responsible for donor communications, proposal development, stewardship, and special events to engage major donors. She was also responsible for coordinating activities of the agency’s Foundation Board, comprised of donors at the highest giving levels. Previous to that, she led the establishment of five CRS regional offices in the U.S. and the creation of a system to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of U.S. programs.
During her years as Chief Development Officer at LAYC, Barbara was responsible for the design and implementation of comprehensive fundraising and communications strategies in accordance with community needs and LAYC’s strategic priorities. Barbara has three children and five grandchildren and currently lives in Riverdale, MD, where she shares a home with an exuberant chocolate Labrador retriever.
During her years as Chief Development Officer at LAYC, Barbara was responsible for the design and implementation of comprehensive fundraising and communications strategies in accordance with community needs and LAYC’s strategic priorities. Barbara has three children and five grandchildren and currently lives in Riverdale, MD, where she shares a home with an exuberant chocolate Labrador retriever.
Serena Lowe has spent the past twenty years focused on furthering public policies that promote the socioeconomic empowerment of low-income working families, individuals with disabilities, seniors, children, immigrants, refugees and other at-risk populations. Serena has served as a Senior Policy Adviser for both the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), and more recently at the Administration for Community Living within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Prior to entering the federal executive branch, Serena served in a variety of leadership roles in the field of federal government relations, working for a Fortune 100 global biopharmaceutical company, a top 20 national lobbying firm, and two former Members of Congress. In 2009, Serena was the Founder of AnereS Strategies LLC, a dynamic government relations consulting enterprise focused on developing innovative public policy strategies and sophisticated systems-change initiatives focused on improving the quality and outcomes of publicly-financed long-term supports and services for at-risk populations.
Serena received the Winston Churchill Scholarship to attend Westminster College in 1993, and completed a B.A. in International & Public Affairs in 1997. During this time, Serena was also the 1995-96 recipient of the Cranshaw Scholarship, which she used to study at an academic program in England jointly led by Cambridge University and the London School of Economics. Serena was later awarded the prestigious Harry Truman National Scholarship in Public Service, which she used to complete a joint-graduate degree (M.P.H. in International Health Policy and M.A. in International Development Policy) from George Washington University. Serena also holds a PhD in Public Administration from American University, and teaches part-time on the faculty of Rutgers University’s School of Public Affairs and Administration. She has held a number of volunteer leadership positions for the American Red Cross, and has served on the governing boards and in a variety of advisory roles for several local and national non-profit organizations. Currently, Serena lives in Washington, D.C. with her thirteen-year old daughter, Isabella Lowe Theriot, and their adopted schnoodle, Rosie.
Serena received the Winston Churchill Scholarship to attend Westminster College in 1993, and completed a B.A. in International & Public Affairs in 1997. During this time, Serena was also the 1995-96 recipient of the Cranshaw Scholarship, which she used to study at an academic program in England jointly led by Cambridge University and the London School of Economics. Serena was later awarded the prestigious Harry Truman National Scholarship in Public Service, which she used to complete a joint-graduate degree (M.P.H. in International Health Policy and M.A. in International Development Policy) from George Washington University. Serena also holds a PhD in Public Administration from American University, and teaches part-time on the faculty of Rutgers University’s School of Public Affairs and Administration. She has held a number of volunteer leadership positions for the American Red Cross, and has served on the governing boards and in a variety of advisory roles for several local and national non-profit organizations. Currently, Serena lives in Washington, D.C. with her thirteen-year old daughter, Isabella Lowe Theriot, and their adopted schnoodle, Rosie.
Allan Michel: received a Bachelor’s degree (BBA) in International business and finance from Howard University. Most of his work experience has been in accounting, tax, and finance. He has held various positions in the accounting field that spanned from staff accountant to controller and to project manager. For the past 7 years he has been managing his own Accounting and Tax Practice in Silver Spring, MD.
Allan strongly believes in the transforming power of education as well as solid moral and spiritual values. He also believes that philanthropy is a healthy activity that everyone should seek to perform due to its rewarding nature. For the past three years he has been involved with an organization that seeks to cater to the educational, spiritual, and health needs of disenfranchised Haitian communities. He collects and promotes Haitian arts and paintings. It is his goal to retire a teacher. He sees this as a sure means to pass onto the next generation important life experiences, knowledge, advice and the like.
Allan strongly believes in the transforming power of education as well as solid moral and spiritual values. He also believes that philanthropy is a healthy activity that everyone should seek to perform due to its rewarding nature. For the past three years he has been involved with an organization that seeks to cater to the educational, spiritual, and health needs of disenfranchised Haitian communities. He collects and promotes Haitian arts and paintings. It is his goal to retire a teacher. He sees this as a sure means to pass onto the next generation important life experiences, knowledge, advice and the like.
Robert (Bob) Bonner: lives in Takoma Park, MD with his wife of Laura Lester. They have three adult children and are expecting their first grandchild.
Bob retired in 2014 after 37 years at NIH. For the last 17 years Bob was Senior Scientist and Section Chief at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD. In his career, he invented a number of medical optical devices and developed applications in many different areas of medicine working with cross-disciplinary teams of doctors, scientists and engineers both at NIH and in industry. He served on the Science Advisory Board of Incubic, LLC, a Silicon Valley start-up incubator. He received his PhD in biophysics from Johns Hopkins in 1973.
Bob has long been active in community affairs within DC. In the early 1980’s he was a founding officer of the Carter Barron East Neighborhood Association. From 1987 to 1991, he was elected and served as Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for district 4C01. He led a computer technology committee at Oyster Bilingual Elementary School in the early 1990s. He is member of All Souls Church Unitarian in DC, and served on various committees. Bob currently is the Chair of the Investment Committee, which manages the All Souls Church Endowment.
.Bob has long been active in community affairs within DC. In the early 1980’s he was a founding officer of the Carter Barron East Neighborhood Association. From 1987 to 1991, he was elected and served as Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for district 4C01. He led a computer technology committee at Oyster Bilingual Elementary School in the early 1990s. He is member of All Souls Church Unitarian in DC, and served on various committees. Bob currently is the Chair of the Investment Committee, which manages the All Souls Church Endowment.
Bob retired in 2014 after 37 years at NIH. For the last 17 years Bob was Senior Scientist and Section Chief at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD. In his career, he invented a number of medical optical devices and developed applications in many different areas of medicine working with cross-disciplinary teams of doctors, scientists and engineers both at NIH and in industry. He served on the Science Advisory Board of Incubic, LLC, a Silicon Valley start-up incubator. He received his PhD in biophysics from Johns Hopkins in 1973.
Bob has long been active in community affairs within DC. In the early 1980’s he was a founding officer of the Carter Barron East Neighborhood Association. From 1987 to 1991, he was elected and served as Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for district 4C01. He led a computer technology committee at Oyster Bilingual Elementary School in the early 1990s. He is member of Portland Unitarian Universalist Church.
Bob retired in 2014 after 37 years at NIH. For the last 17 years Bob was Senior Scientist and Section Chief at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD. In his career, he invented a number of medical optical devices and developed applications in many different areas of medicine working with cross-disciplinary teams of doctors, scientists and engineers both at NIH and in industry. He served on the Science Advisory Board of Incubic, LLC, a Silicon Valley start-up incubator. He received his PhD in biophysics from Johns Hopkins in 1973.
Bob has long been active in community affairs within DC. In the early 1980’s he was a founding officer of the Carter Barron East Neighborhood Association. From 1987 to 1991, he was elected and served as Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for district 4C01. He led a computer technology committee at Oyster Bilingual Elementary School in the early 1990s. He is member of All Souls Church Unitarian in DC, and served on various committees. Bob currently is the Chair of the Investment Committee, which manages the All Souls Church Endowment.
.Bob has long been active in community affairs within DC. In the early 1980’s he was a founding officer of the Carter Barron East Neighborhood Association. From 1987 to 1991, he was elected and served as Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for district 4C01. He led a computer technology committee at Oyster Bilingual Elementary School in the early 1990s. He is member of All Souls Church Unitarian in DC, and served on various committees. Bob currently is the Chair of the Investment Committee, which manages the All Souls Church Endowment.
Bob retired in 2014 after 37 years at NIH. For the last 17 years Bob was Senior Scientist and Section Chief at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD. In his career, he invented a number of medical optical devices and developed applications in many different areas of medicine working with cross-disciplinary teams of doctors, scientists and engineers both at NIH and in industry. He served on the Science Advisory Board of Incubic, LLC, a Silicon Valley start-up incubator. He received his PhD in biophysics from Johns Hopkins in 1973.
Bob has long been active in community affairs within DC. In the early 1980’s he was a founding officer of the Carter Barron East Neighborhood Association. From 1987 to 1991, he was elected and served as Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for district 4C01. He led a computer technology committee at Oyster Bilingual Elementary School in the early 1990s. He is member of Portland Unitarian Universalist Church.
Jean Ronald Jean Baptiste: Prior to moving to the US, Jean Ronald worked for the United Nations in Haiti for more than 8 years in peace keeping. From 2000 to present, he’s worked for AC&R Insulation LLC as a Sales consultant. He is currently financing the construction of a catholic church on the southeast of Haiti. Now that the church is almost completed, he has started working on a primary care clinic for the people in Bainet, his home town.
Olga Jean-Baptiste: Born and raised in Haiti, Olga has been an activist and a lifelong Social Entrepreneur since her days as a primary school student in the Petion-Ville community. Sparking imagination and strengthening citizenship in children, she seeks to enable young adults to contribute to decision-making and problem solving in society. For the past fifteen years, she has been working with special need kids at District of Columbia Public School, in what many have considered a hostile environment. She is fluent in French, Creole and English.
Ernestine Ward: A renaissance professional, Ernestine Ward, Esq., has extensive community, non-profit, and governmental experience identifying, building, and maintaining relationships and resources to help organizations grow. Ernestine earned her B.A. from Bryn Mawr College and her J.D. from New York Law School. She is passionate about the intersection of law, community organizing and neighborhood development. Ernestine has held policy, fundraising, grant management, and advocacy positions at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, and Partnerships for Parks. However, she is most passionate about making a difference in her home community and regularly participates in local volunteer opportunities. Ernestine truly abides by the Ephebic Oath, and endeavors to “not leave my city any less but rather greater than I found it.” Ernestine is excited to learn more and be a part of Haiti CEN.
Alexandra Bernard: is a Credentialing Specialist at Health Net, Inc. She graduated with a B.S. in Community Health and Human Service. She has worked with various organizations such as Job Corp (WICS) and Covenant House DC helping to redevelop an existing transitional living program for homeless youth. Alexandra generously gives her time to the Bread of Life Ministry where she is able to minister to the young people by spreading the word of God and providing assistance not limited to food, clothing and counseling services. Alexandra has a passion for working with organizations which seek to make a difference in communities and/or in the lives of the people who are affected by economic hardships.
Adrien N. Ngudiankama is is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was ordained by the London Baptist Association and the Baptist Union of Great Britain at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church in London in 1994. He has a Master’s Degree in Systematic Theology from King’s College and a PhD in Health Education and Health Promotion from the Institute of Education, London University. He did his Post-doctoral research in anthropology and sociology of religion at the University of Kansas and Princeton University.
His interests are in global mission, pastoral counseling, conflict resolution, health promotion, migration, and conflict resolution as related to Africa and the African migrant contexts. He taught sociology and anthropology at Bowie State University, George Washington University and the University of Kansas.Adrien works as the Faith-Based Project Manager with the American Cancer Society. He is a member of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and of the African Association of Pastoral Care and Counseling. He has been appointed a regular member for the Baptist World Alliance Commission on Peace. He is also pastor with Salem Gospel Ministries, a church affiliated with the District of Columbia Baptist Convention and the Baptist Convention of Maryland and Delaware.
His interests are in global mission, pastoral counseling, conflict resolution, health promotion, migration, and conflict resolution as related to Africa and the African migrant contexts. He taught sociology and anthropology at Bowie State University, George Washington University and the University of Kansas.Adrien works as the Faith-Based Project Manager with the American Cancer Society. He is a member of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and of the African Association of Pastoral Care and Counseling. He has been appointed a regular member for the Baptist World Alliance Commission on Peace. He is also pastor with Salem Gospel Ministries, a church affiliated with the District of Columbia Baptist Convention and the Baptist Convention of Maryland and Delaware.
Past member: Fritzie Leroy, MS - brings more than 15 years of innovative experience in designing and developing training programs for Haitian government officials, students and professionals, with a specialty in E-Learning solutions. Her capabilities include planning and budgeting for on-site and distance-learning sessions. Her expertise is in leveraging technology, using the internet and cutting edge technologies to position clients as creative, effective and state-of-the-art in their respective fields. As an instructor, facilitator, trainer and coordinator she has planned, set up and led video conferences for international programs simultaneously in the Caribbean, Europe and Africa for audiences ranging from 5 to over 100 participants dealing with a variety of IT subject matters.
Fritzie earned her Master’s degree in IT Education and Training from Louis Pasteur University, Strasbourg, France 2001, a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Infrotronic University, Haiti, 1998 and a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Haitian State University, 1996. In addition, she is certified in Security+, Network+ and has just completed two levels of Cyber Forensics training.
As a small business owner, Fritzie successfully helped more than 100 first-time entrepreneurs develop their leadership and business skills. Currently she is the Fall Conference Chair of District 36 - Toastmasters International - and a member of the Lewis Smith Toastmasters Club. She is past vice president of Compassion International’s Advisory Committee for the leadership development program in Haiti. She is fluent in English, French and Creole.
Fritzie earned her Master’s degree in IT Education and Training from Louis Pasteur University, Strasbourg, France 2001, a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Infrotronic University, Haiti, 1998 and a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Haitian State University, 1996. In addition, she is certified in Security+, Network+ and has just completed two levels of Cyber Forensics training.
As a small business owner, Fritzie successfully helped more than 100 first-time entrepreneurs develop their leadership and business skills. Currently she is the Fall Conference Chair of District 36 - Toastmasters International - and a member of the Lewis Smith Toastmasters Club. She is past vice president of Compassion International’s Advisory Committee for the leadership development program in Haiti. She is fluent in English, French and Creole.
Past Member: Robert (Bob) Johnsen: lives in Washington, DC with his wife of 42 years, Linda Gustitus. They have two adult children. His son, RJ, teaches 4th grade at St. Alban's School and is the assistant baseball coach for the High School. His daughter Sandra is in her last year at Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland, OR. RJ and his wife Sarah have a 13 month old daughter, Lillian. Bob and his wife provide child care for Lillian at their home 5 days a week.
Bob retired in 2005 as Growth Director for the Joseph Priestley District of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). During his eleven years in that position he organized six new congregations, grew the Chalice Lighter program, supported growth in existing congregations and led workshops. Since retirement Bob serves as Chair of the Unitarian Universalist (UU) Fund for UU Social Responsibility and continues to organize new congregations. He is a member of All Souls Church (ASC), Unitarian in Washington, DC and a member of the ASC Washington Interfaith Network (WIN) Core Team.
His previous employment included founder and director of the Washington Area Training Center (WATC), founder and director of the Center for Community Organizations (CCO), field operations coordinator for Volunteer: The National Center for Citizen Involvement, director of field operations for the National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs, community organizing consultant and trainer, and director of three community organizations. He started as a community organizer at the first of those three. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, CA.
Bob retired in 2005 as Growth Director for the Joseph Priestley District of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). During his eleven years in that position he organized six new congregations, grew the Chalice Lighter program, supported growth in existing congregations and led workshops. Since retirement Bob serves as Chair of the Unitarian Universalist (UU) Fund for UU Social Responsibility and continues to organize new congregations. He is a member of All Souls Church (ASC), Unitarian in Washington, DC and a member of the ASC Washington Interfaith Network (WIN) Core Team.
His previous employment included founder and director of the Washington Area Training Center (WATC), founder and director of the Center for Community Organizations (CCO), field operations coordinator for Volunteer: The National Center for Citizen Involvement, director of field operations for the National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs, community organizing consultant and trainer, and director of three community organizations. He started as a community organizer at the first of those three. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, CA.