Our Team

Raine is new to the non-profit sector. She decided to forgo her corporate job in the Paralegal and Criminal Justice field, to pursue her passion and purpose to be of service to others. A recent graduate of Cincinnati Christian University with her BAS in Ministry, she wishes to serve in every capacity that is presented or allotted to her. She is excited to make the non-profit sector her new home. Raine believes that investing in people returns the greatest profit. They will either return the investment or pay it forward. Outside of work, she loves to spend time with her husband of 25 years and shopping.

e: sanctuary@cmcincy.org

Julia (aka Jalelu) is an entrepreneur and founder of B.YOUnique Soulistic Healing Center, a social enterprise with the mission to enhance, empower & enlighten the disempowered by providing resources, education, support and soul power tools. As an active member of the LPH Community Council, Neighborhood Action Team, Your Store Queen City, and The Collective, Julia is passionate about shifting the narrative of Lower Price Hill to reflect the beauty and love that the LPH Family radiates throughout the community. Her vision is to create an environment that allows You to Be You, which is reflected in her Mantra, “Be You, Be True, B.Younique!”

Julia is both grateful and excited to be a part of such a great community, and plans to use her life experiences and gifts as tools to teach the art of love.

e: julia@cmcincy.org

Crystal is a graduate of Oyler School. She has lived in the Price Hill area all of her life– first in Lower Price Hill and later in East Price Hill. Crystal is now married and has 2 children, a 4-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son. Crystal is a Certified Community Health Worker and a Certified Ohio Chemical Dependency Professional. Crystal not only lives and works in Price Hill, but she will soon own her own home in the community.

e: crystal@cmcincy.org

Ailleen attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA and earned her B.S. in Psychology with a focus on Behavioral Studies. She currently handles social media, marketing, and event coordination at The Sanctuary.

In her spare time, she is a fitness instructor for Cincinnati Hip Hop Spin and a Virtual assistant assisting other small businesses as needed. She is on the Board of Directors for LULAC Cincinnati and holds the position of Director of Membership. Ailleen is the founder of Heroe, a non-profit organization created to provide empowerment and mentoring opportunities for women of color in the Cincinnati area.

e: coordinator@cmcincy.org

Mary has worked in the Lower Price Hill community since 2010 as an educator, organizer, and non-profit leader. In 2014, she helped found Community Matters. As a community organizer, she believes in the power and potential of the Lower Price Hill community. Mary leads Community Matters with a focus on investing in the strengths and assets within the community to build a thriving and equitable future. Mary holds a BA in International Affairs from Xavier University, with a focus on international economic development. In addition to her work at Community Matters, Mary currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Leadership Council for Nonprofits, the Ohio CDC Association, and the WCPO Community Advisory Board.

e: mary@cmcincy.org

Felicia has lived in Cincinnati her entire life. Born in Evanston, she has resided all over the city, including the neighborhoods of Clifton, Avondale, Over-the-Rhine, and Westwood.  She has lived in Lower Price Hill now for 4 years and enjoys being part of this community. As a future owner of the Washing Well, Felicia is excited to own her own business and serve as a community leader. In her free time, Felicia has a passion for cooking, old movies, and for her two kids and seven grandchildren.

e: felicia@cmcincy.org

Emily worked in the nonprofit sector for 6 years before joining the team at Education Matters in 2008. She is driven by a strong passion for people and community. Her belief in complete transparency in the non-profit sector makes her one of the strongest professionals in non-profit finance. On a daily basis, Emily manages our accounting and finances. She holds a BS in Communications from Cumberland College.

e: emily@cmcincy.org

Emily is married and has 3 boys. She has lived in the Price Hill area all of her life, and she has worked in Price Hill for almost 6 years! Emily went to school to be a Medical Assistant, and she is also a Certified Home Health Worker. As a former staff member of Healthy Homes Block by Block, Emily is excited to be a part of the Community Matters team!

e: emily.goodman@cmcincy.org

Tracy has worked in the non-profit sector for over 15 years and has a passion for community organizing. She loves working with residents and seeing strengths emerge in people, which in turn, strengthens the entire community. Tracy is a licensed social worker in the state of Ohio and has a BA in Social Work from Mount St. Joseph University. Her hobbies include hiking, spending time in nature, and reading.

e: tracy@cmcincy.org

Jenna is passionate about empowering community members to create change through relationships and shared strengths. She is a licensed social worker in the state of Ohio. Her previous social work experience includes providing emergency assistance to immigrants, case management for men and women experiencing homelessness, and program design and evaluation.  Originally from middle Tennessee, she enjoys crocheting and camping in her free time.

e: jenna@cmcincy.org

As a resident of LPH for 3 years, Alicia is excited to be working in the place she calls home. Getting to see how our work directly impacts individuals and families inspired her to join our team. After studying art and social justice at Bellarmine University, Alicia spent two years as an AmeriCorps volunteer, serving at Community Shares and Price Hill Will. During this time she developed a passion for fostering empathetic community relationships, which she continues to employ through the LPH Community Gardens and LPH Artist Collective.

e: alicia@cmcincy.org

Patty holds a BS in Business Administration from Berea College and a Master of Public Administration in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Walden University. It was while living in Berea that her passion for empowering communities through service began. Her previous nonprofit experience includes program and project management, event planning, grant writing, and marketing, public relations, and graphic design for art, public art, environmental, and local history organizations. A native of western Pennsylvania, her personal interests include hiking, photography, bird-watching, and cooking. Patty also oversees business development of the Washing Well laundromat.

e: patty@cmcincy.org

Colleen has over 15 years experience working to develop programs, curriculum, and community-based projects with youth and creative professionals. She studied Photography at the University of Dayton and Visual Arts Administration at New York University and is interested in the intersection of arts and community. Additionally, she is involved in creating public events in her community through Second Sunday on Main, Cincinnati Art Museum, and Northside Community Council. Her main joy come from spending time with her 3 children and husband going to museums, parks, listening to music and watching movies.

e: colleen@cmcincy.org

Valerie has worked in the non-profit sector for nearly 7 years. She believes in being “boots on the ground” and meeting people where they are. Valerie is a wife and mother of four children, 2 boys and 2 girls, and she has lived in the Price Hill area for 10 years now. She sees this community as her home, and she is very proud to be apart of such a diverse and culture-driven community.

e: valerie@cmcincy.org

Previously, Karla had a 30 year career in television news and worked in newsrooms in Cincinnati, Dallas,  and San Francisco before moving abroad to work as a TV news manager on Grand Cayman island in the Caribbean. She’s experienced a myriad of stories- some sad, some uplifting. Karla believes that she has been blessed to see much of own her own country first hand, meet many different kinds of people, and also to view the United States from afar through the eyes of people from other nations.

Now, Karla is back in the city she loves, Cincinnati, working at a job she loves and that gives her the opportunity to support families in our community.

e: karla@cmcincy.org

A lifelong resident of Lower Price Hill, Brandon is one of three community members who lead the daily operations of the Washing Well laundromat. Brandon is glad to be a part of the Washing Well team because it meets an important community need, is a space for him to connect with his neighbors, and invests in him as a future small business owner.

e: brandon@cmcincy.org