Damien Baez, Case Manager, Family Stability Program
Damien joined the Southeast CDC in March 2020 and is part of our case management team. Through his work in the Family Stability Program, Damien provides support to families at Graceland Park EMS, Highlandtown 237 EMS, Highlandtown 215 EMS, Holabird Academy, John Ruhrah EMS, Tench Tilghman EMS, and William Paca ES who are risk of an eviction or utility turnoff. Many of the families that Damien serves are immigrants. Damien himself immigrated to Baltimore City from the Dominican Republic in 2017 and for that reason he resonates with many of the struggles immigrant families are facing right now.
Prior to joining us, Damien worked as a Client Access Associate with Healthcare for the Homeless where he connected vulnerable members of the immigrant community to necessary healthcare services here in Baltimore. He has over ten years of experience in the bilingual customer service industry and hopes to use those skills to better serve the immigrant community in Baltimore. Before coming the U.S., Damien worked for ten years in his country’s National General Archive digitizing and preserving priceless historical documents. Outside of work hours you are likely to catch Damien writing, painting, or drawing in his studio, as he is an award-winning artist and poet.
Contact Damien
damien at southeastcdc dot org
Johanna Barrantes, Small Business Project Manager
Johanna (she/her/ella) is part of the Neighborhood Revitalization team supporting artists and businesses in the Highlandtown Main Street and Highlandtown Arts districts. She has a background in bilingual education, advocacy, marketing, and project management. She’s worked with many B2Cs and nonprofits, supporting their marketing and growth as a freelancer. She’s an entrepreneur herself, having recently started her own initiative, and brings this entrepreneurial spirit to her role. She looks forward to helping small businesses in her community build healthier and more inclusive economies. Outside of work, you’ll likely find Johanna hiking or walking her dog, Millie, in Patterson Park.
Contact Johanna
johanna at southeastcdc dot org | (410) 670-5731
Jorge Berrios, Housing Programs Project Manager
Jorge joined Southeast CDC in 2023. He has experience in marketing and community organizing in the nonprofit sector, which he’ll be utilizing to spread the word about Southeast CDC’s home repair and homebuying programs. He has a degree in Diplomacy and Political Science from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua. Jorge is originally from Nicaragua and moved to Maryland in 2018 with his wife and children. When he is not working, he enjoys reading philosophy books and doing home improvement projects.
Contact Jorge
jorge at southeastcdc dot org
Kaylah Blake, Community School Coordinator, Tench Tilghman Elementary/Middle School
Born and raised in Baltimore, Kaylah truly loves all the diversity this city has to offer! She attended City College, where her passion for systemic justice was born and embraced by the Baltimore Algebra Project. She graduated from Towson University with a BA in Spanish Language and Literature and began working with immigrants at Esperanza Center. Before coming to Southeast CDC, Kaylah worked helping with refugee asylum and family reunification as a long-term foster care supervisor, where she was able to learn more about both the youth and herself.
In her free time, you can catch her at Karaoke or playing Bingo down at the hall. She is a super foodie and will stop at no lengths for a quick bite. Butterflies and elephants are her spirit animals, and giving back to my community keeps her waking up every morning!
Contact Kaylah
Kaylah at southeastcdc dot org | 410-493-4076
Fernanda Caballero-Salvador, Community School Coordinator, John Ruhrah Elementary/Middle School
Fernanda (she/her/ella) joined the Southeast CDC in August 2023 and serves as the Community School Coordinator at John Ruhrah Elementary and Middle School #228. She is originally from Chile and worked for two years there after graduating as a Social Worker. She moved to Maryland in 2019 with her husband and her son. Before working with Southeast CDC she served as a Client Services Representative and Safe Release Support Specialist at Esperanza Center, Catholic Charities of Baltimore. She feels great motivation to help Latino families in the community. Fernanda loves baking, making art at home and singing. When not working, you’re likely to find Fernanda trying new foods, or in any playground in the city with her family and their dog.
Contact Fernanda
Fernanda at southeastcdc dot org | (443) 836-7667
Frederique Dambreville, Outreach and Intake Coordinator
Frederique, or Freddie, joined Southeast CDC in 2023. Freddie has a passion for helping people, and throughout her life, she has participated in various humanitarian organizations, from being a member of the Association of International Students at her college, to organizing rallies, field trips, and other activities for students, to her volunteer work during the relief effort with various nonprofit like Red Cross, the UN Blue Helmet Peacekeeper Force during the 2010 Haiti Earthquake, and now with her participation in her neighborhood trash pickup effort. When not working, Freddie can be found gardening or reading, which she loves sharing on her social media page.
Contact Freddie
frederique at southeastcdc dot org | 410-342-3234 x 27
Karen DeCamp, Director of Homeownership and Family Success
Karen (she/her) has over 20 years of nonprofit experience in place-based community building, housing, community schools, organizing and advocacy. She worked as part of the Baltimore Education Coalition, which mobilized thousands of people to reverse education funding cuts and create public will to fund new and renovated school buildings in Baltimore. At Southeast CDC, Karen directs the our Housing Counseling and Community School programs. Outside of work, you’re likely to find Karen gardening, hiking or volunteering in her Baltimore City community with the York Road Partnership.
Contact Karen
karen at southeastcdc dot org | 410-342-3234 x 39
Dana Fleming, Community School Coordinator, William Paca Elementary School
Dana Fleming (she/her) joined SECDC in August 2023 as William Paca Elementary School’s Community School Coordinator. Dana brings five years of non-profit case management experience working with vulnerable populations ranging from mental health services for children to affordable housing solutions for unhoused adults in Howard County. Dana obtained her bachelor’s degree in Family and Human Services at Towson University and her master’s degree in Human Services Administration with a concentration in Healthcare Delivery Systems from University of Baltimore’s and Coppin State University’s joint program. During her free time, Dana enjoys traveling, shopping, attending concerts, and spending time with friends and family. A quote that inspires her: “there is strength in vulnerability”. She believes that helping people requires kindness, empathy, and being part of the social impact you wish to see.
Contact Dana
Dana at southeastcdc dot org | (443) 879-9330
Jared Golian, Housing Counselor
Jared was born and raised in Maryland and graduated from Towson University in 2019. After graduating, he traveled to Mexico and got certified to teach English as a foreign language and to improve his Spanish. He later spent time in Asia, teaching English in Vietnam as well as volunteering and backpacking through several other countries in southeast Asia. As of 2024 he has been to over 20 countries and territories. Before joining the Southeast CDC, Jared spent over a year at the House of Ruth as a bilingual service coordinator helping victims of domestic violence. He is passionate about languages and is a fluent, self-taught Spanish speaker and an upper-intermediate French and Levantine Arabic speaker. Jared loves cooking and trying new food. Some of his favorite restaurants in Southeast Baltimore are Samos, La Taverna Ecuatoriana, and Indoviet. When not eating out, he experiments in the kitchen and can be found on Instagram sharing his creations (@chefgolian).
As a HUD-certified Housing Counselor, he is excited to be able to help neighbors achieve the American dream.
Contact Jared
jared at southeast cdc dot org | 410-342-3234 x40
Armand Goytia, Housing Counselor
Armand is a bilingual, HUD-Certified Housing Counselor with over 25 years’ experience in helping consumers achieve their housing and financial goals. He has been featured on radio stations for live on-air business talk shows and was identified as one of the Humans of Howard County during Hispanic Heritage Month 2022. A third-generation Puerto Rican, he was born & raised in NYC but has called Maryland his home for many years. Outside of work, Armand enjoys following his NY-based sports teams, traveling, and participating in outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and kayaking. Additionally, he is an avid music enthusiast and subscribes to a wide variety of genres. Finally, Armand is a proud veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Contact Armand
armand at southeast cdc dot org | 410-342-3234 x 31
Richard Hansen, Operations Manager
Richard joined Southeast CDC in June 2023. After growing up in Las Vegas, Richard spent most of his adult life in California before coming east. From helping inmates to re-enter society in New Mexico to training English teachers in the Republic of Georgia as a Peace Corps Volunteer, he has more than 10 years of experience in education and community development that he’s excited to utilize at Southeast CDC. When not working, he can be found strolling around Patterson Park or backpacking the various forested and mountainous environs in the area with his wife Erin and their dog, Holly.
Contact Richard
richard at southeast cdc dot org | 410-342-3234 x 36
Jade Harper, Community Projects Coordinator
Jade joined Southeast CDC in June 2024 as the Community Project Coordinator. With a background in Corporate Communications and Non-Profit Management, Jade has more than 10 years of experience in community organizing, event planning, youth programming and fundraising. She is passionate about connecting people to resources and is thrilled to be able to bring her talents to the communities that SECDC supports.
Jade was born and raised in the southwestern district of Baltimore and loves everything about Charm City. In her spare time, you can find her listening to live music at a pop-up jazz jam, trying out a new local restaurant or visiting an art exhibit.
Contact Jade
jade at southeastcdc dot org | (667) 481-8271
Lucia Islas, Case Manager
Lucia joined the Southeast CDC in March 2022 as a case manager helping non-English-speaking clients access benefit programs, including rental assistance. Originally from Mexico City, Lucia has been living in Baltimore City since 2007. Her own personal experiences of adapting to a new country and raising children in Baltimore have made Lucia passionate about sharing information and resources with other immigrant families. Through her advocacy, she became an active volunteer and leader in several community organizations, including Mis Raices and Ángeles de Baltimore. Additionally, Lucia has been the President of the Comité Latino de Baltimore since 2018. Prior to joining the Southeast CDC, Lucia worked for two years at Johns Hopkins’ Centro Sol Program, attending to the mental health needs of Latinos in Baltimore. Lucia describes that what she is most passionate about is sharing information with and empowering the Latino community to improve their lives.
Contact Lucia
lucia at southeast cdc dot org | 410-342-3234 x37
Molly McCullagh, Deputy Director
Molly joined the Southeast CDC in December 2017 as the Project Associate for Neighborhood Programs and served as the Director of Neighborhood Revitalization from 2020-2023. Raised in Michigan, Molly lived in Detroit and Boston before settling in Baltimore. She received her Master’s degree in Urban Planning from Tufts University in 2012, with a focus on urban food systems. Outside of work hours, you’ll find Molly teaching wall repair classes at the Station North Tool Library and tending to the community park in her neighborhood.
Contact Molly
molly at southeast cdc dot org | 410-342-3234 x35
Andres Medina-Pinto, Administrative Coordinator
As part of the Southeast CDC’s COVID relief program, and in partnership with Baltimore City, Andres joined the Southeast CDC team in March 2021 as a Housing Coordinator. Born in Bogota, Colombia, he moved to the United States in 2000 to live in Takoma Park, Maryland. Growing up first in Colombia and then in the United States has allowed him to form an understanding of struggles immigrant families may have while accommodating into the new culture and society. He has worked with Baltimore City Public schools and has developed a keen eye for the needs of the Latino/Hispanic community through volunteering at various community events with Gallery Church Patterson Park. He currently resides in Southeast Baltimore in the neighborhood of Greektown.
Contact Andres
intake at southeast cdc dot org | (410) 342-3234
Ali Morris, Associate Director of Housing Development
Ali joined Southeast CDC in 2020. She has a background in nonprofit fundraising, program management, and multi-family affordable housing development. A native of Texas, Ali is a bilingual advocate for minimizing the wealth gap among marginalized communities. She holds a Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Real Estate from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. In her free time, Ali enjoys exploring Baltimore with her dog Ruby and spending time with friends in Patterson Park.
Contact Ali
ali at southeast cdc dot org | 410-342-3234 x35
Brenda Ortiz, Highlandtown #215 Community School Coordinator
Originally from Puerto Rico, Brenda moved to Maryland in 2007 and worked for Baltimore City Public Schools for 12 years. She served as a coordinator for students with disabilities and their families and as a World Language teacher. Brenda is passionate about supporting families and the community. She loves cooking, hiking, reading and walking her dog.
Contact Brenda
brenda at southeast cdc dot org
Carla Paisley, Executive Director
Carla joined Southeast CDC in July 2024. Carla grew up in Baltimore City and enthusiastically supports the rich diversity of the city that she loves. She is closely aligned with city-wide efforts to broaden arts education, promote cultural events and ensure access to critical resources for systematically underserved communities. Her professional background includes multi-state work with federal entities providing important support to immigrant and refugee families as well as the provision of trauma-informed therapy in private practice. She can often be spotted throughout the city, attending performances, running, spending time with her family and supporting her peers in the active Baltimore fitness community.
Contact Carla
carla at southeast cdc dot org | 410-342-3234 x 29
Andréa Reneau, Community School Coordinator, Highlandtown #237 Elementary/Middle School
Andréa joined the Southeast CDC team in 2021 and serves as the Community School Coordinator at Highlandtown #237. Previous to working with Southeast CDC she served as a Community Health Educator for the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic. Most recently she was a Baltimore City Public School Teacher at Commodore John Rodgers. Andréa has a strong desire to help strengthen the connection between African American and Latinx communities. In her free time you can find Andréa gardening at home or eating pupusas with friends.
Contact Andréa
andrea at southeast cdc dot org | 410-493-4120
Nairoby Rodriguez, Case Manager
Nairoby joined Southeast CDC in October 2023 as a case manager helping non-English speaking clients access benefit programs. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Nairoby began her life as an immigrant living in New York City, and has been living in the city of Baltimore since 2018. Her passion for sharing information and resources with other immigrant families comes from having lived similar experiences when she started to live in the USA. Nairoby has dedicated her entire life to activities and work helping families. She worked as a nurse for more than 8 years in Santiago, Dominican Republic. When she emigrated to the USA, she began working providing services at Park West Health Systems, then at Baltimore Medical Systems, and finally at Healthcare for the Homeless where the Hispanic community has always felt confident and open in expressing their needs to her. Nairoby loves to motivate the community/families to move forward with the best of their lives and trust in the process without losing hope for a change for the better.
Contact Nairoby
nairoby at southeast cdc dot org | 410-342-3234 x 30
Amanda Smit-Peters, Highlandtown Main Street Manager
Amanda has worked in Southeast Baltimore for over 10 years. Before joining the Southeast CDC she was the Community Outreach Coordinator at the Enoch Pratt Free Library. She holds an MA in Community Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art and BS in Visual Communication Design from Stevenson University. Amanda has also provided graphic design services for businesses, non-profits and events throughout Baltimore.
Contact Amanda
amanda at southeast cdc dot org | 410-342-3234 x 26
LaKia Williams, Housing Development Manager
LaKia (Kia) joined Southeast CDC in August 2024 as the Housing and Development Manager. Kia graduated from North Carolina A&T State University (AGGIE PRIDE) with a Bachelor’s in Electronics and Computer Technology. She also received a Master’s in Human Services Administration from the University of Baltimore and Coppin State University’s joint program. Kia went off on her own to invest in real estate and start her own Property Management company. Now she’s found a role at Southeast CDC doing the two things she loves… real estate and community work. Outside of work, you can find Kia reading a good book, hanging with friends, volunteering, or traveling.
Contact LaKia
lakia at southeastcdc dot org | (540) 251-7847
Media inquiries
For any media inquiries, please contact Carla Paisley, Executive Director, at carla at southeast cdc dot org.
Fiscal sponsorship inquiries
We offer fiscal sponsorship for community projects on an extremely limited basis to projects and partners who are closely aligned with our mission. We require at least one month advance notice prior to a grant application deadline to consider new fiscal sponsorship requests. To schedule an in-person meeting to discuss fiscal sponsorship, please contact Molly McCullagh, Deputy Director, at molly at southeast cdc dot org.
Requests for letters of support
Southeast CDC often writes letters of support for partners’ projects and initiatives that are aligned with our mission. For land use projects (like rezoning a building), we defer to the local community and encourage applicants to reach out to nearby neighbors or the neighborhood association. Please reach out at least two weeks in advance to Carla Paisley, Executive Director, at carla at southeast cdc dot org.