JENNIFER COOPER
Hood College
Jennifer Cooper has been an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Hood College for six years. She loves being able to connect with students as they begin the program and see them grow into their role. Her favorite part is teaching community public health nursing.
Hood has a “Million Hearts” initiative, which comes from a National initiative led by the CDC and works to prevent cardiovascular disease. Jen works closely with this group to make a difference at the local level. To date, there have been 90 participants, receiving a free blood pressure monitor. Each student goes through self paced modules to learn about cardiovascular disease and how to coach someone through self monitoring and screening. This initiative, and Jens guidance, has made a measurable difference in our community through improving long term blood pressure, weight loss, and other cardio management. The program has expanded to include the YMCA, primary care practices, and Frederick Health outpatient services.
Jen loves being able to work with students. She is happy to still be connected to the nursing profession every day. She enjoys working with public health, counseling, and social work. There is a great opportunity to collaborate across disciplines. It has been fun getting to know the community and its partners.
TERI KWIATEK
Frederick Rescue Mission
Teri Kwiatek is the Outreach Coordinator for the Frederick Rescue Mission. When the cafeteria first opened, she was the face of the Mission. She would meet with people coming in for meals to see what needs they had, what connections they had, or just to pray with them. She tried to build relationships with people – that was her main function.
Now Teri operates the Backpack Ministry providing 300 plus backpacks for kids in schools, coordinates haircuts for $1.00, runs the Harvest Festival, oversees bible studies and ministries among numerous other activities. The summer enrichment camp that she oversees benefits lower income students in first to fifth grade who are at risk of not making grade level or risk of homelessness. The summer enrichment camp makes such an impact on kids and volunteers thanks to Teri’s leadership.
Teri loves that the Frederick Rescue Mission is an organization of integrity, that it’s Christ centered, and that they don’t depend on government money but instead depend on the hearts of Frederick residents. Terri expressed, “I love watching what God does here, I get to show up and He does the rest.”
TRAVIS WALTER
Mental Health Association of Frederick County
Travis Walter has worked at the Mental Health Association of Frederick County since 2016 and has been the Administrative Director of Crisis Services since September of 2020. In this role, Travis oversees the counseling clinic and walk-in clinic at MHA.
Helping staff feel confident and competent in the work they do is what brings Travis into work everyday. Having everyone where they need to be and feel comfortable only benefits the community. No two days are the same in the crisis field and Travis likes crisis work because he’s able to help folks move forward into their next adventure. Travis loves all the different opportunities and community members that MHA impacts across the entire life continuum. Children, adults, elders – the entire Frederick population! MHA recently expanded their hours, renovated space, and took an open floor plan and turned it into clinic spaces among other changes.
Travis stressed that he has an AMAZING team and even though he was nominated for the Touching Lives Award, he feels his entire staff should have the award.
“The power of community to create health is far greater than any physician, clinic or hospital.”
– Mark Hyman, MHA of Frederick County
ALLISON LANHAM
United Way of Frederick County
Allison Lanham has been working with United Way of Frederick County since 2016. Alli joined the United Way team at a time when the Unity Campaign was transitioning to being managed by the United Way team where she had been involved with multiple Unity Campaign activities to support participating nonprofits. She has been working in the nonprofit sector for 15 years. Alli has always had a heart for helping people. She explained that it is a joy to work professionally in the nonprofit sector, to be able to learn new things just by raising your hand and being willing to work extra hours.
Alli describes her greatest accomplishment as being able to navigate having a growing family while working in a professional capacity aligned with work that has a collective impact and coming back to projects that she loves. Alli recently joined Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership (COIPP) in January this year as their first employee. She finds that it is a great fit as she is passionate about kids and women raising kids.
“It has been a pleasure having Alli on the United Way team, both in her previous full-time capacity and now as a consultant. She does an excellent job garnering community support for our programming to benefit local ALICE households on their pathway to financial stability.”
– Executive Director, United Way
JENNIFER SZABO
Literacy Council of Frederick County
Jennifer Szabo has worked with the Literacy Council of Frederick County as its Program Manager for three and a half years. In May, Jennifer began a new job as Director of Adult Education and ESL, Frederick Community College. Jennifer describes her work at the Literacy Council as helping people connect because it is the foundation for everything – needing encouragement, referrals, food, clothing. You can’t get your needs met without connection.
Jennifer describes one of her biggest accomplishments as earning the trust of the people she serves, when they ask for help and trust you enough to follow your advice and wholeheartedly believe that you have their best interest at heart.
Jennifer stated, “There are so many things I love about working in this field. Ultimately, we are equipping adults to better their lives, make decisions, build confidence, and choose the path for their own life. We get to be a part of that.”
“I have witnessed the transformation that takes place between the time when adults first arrive at the Literacy Council and after they have been with us for a year in our programs. They are smiling, have a new-found confidence, knowing that here is a safe space where they can take risks in learning to speak and be understood. This is the direct result of Jennifer’s hard work, dedication and leadership which is integral to our mission.”
– Laurie Fisher, Executive Director, Literacy Council of Frederick County
Our gratitude goes out to the Ausherman Family Foundation for their commitment to helping to recognize our unsung heroes of nonprofits in Frederick County!
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