Beatriz Barros is an education leader currently at AppleTree, where she supports the organization’s work to expand access to high-quality early learning for young children and families in Washington, DC. She brings more than two decades of experience across early learning, K 12 education, and community-based programming.

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Beatriz spent over ten years at Martha’s Table, where she began in the Out-of-School Time program as an Education Group Leader in the organization’s original home on 14th Street NW. In a director role, she led the Maycroft education team in achieving and maintaining a High-Quality designation for four consecutive years, played an integral role in a community-led strategic planning process, and consistently identified opportunities across the organization to strengthen support for team members, families, and the community. She also helped advance older youth programming to align with community priorities and needs.

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Beatriz began her career in education in 2001 as an AmeriCorps Team Member and later worked in both DC Public Schools and DC charter schools. She holds a Master’s in Elementary Education from Trinity University.

Stephen O’Connor is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Masters in Somatic Psychotherapy. He is currently Branch Chief with the Healthy Futures Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation program at the D.C. Department of Behavioral Health. Steve has been with Healthy Futures since its inception in 2010 and was an early childhood mental health consultant for the first 6 years of the program. Steve has worked with children and young adults for over 30 years as a therapist, director of a program for homeless young adults in Oakland, CA., and as a high school teacher in New York City, and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Dale Brown brings decades of leadership experience in early childhood systems, family support, and large-scale human services administration. She currently manages the District of Columbia Child Care Resource and Referral program, with a focus on strengthening family engagement and collaboration among educators and partner agencies.

Throughout her career, Dale has led and supported major initiatives, including the implementation of DC Universal Pre-K, the DC Head Start Collaborative, and programs within the Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Administration. Her experience also includes statewide and multi-state leadership roles related to training, staff development, public information, and the implementation of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) systems across the District of Columbia, Maryland, Florida, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and other states.

With over fifty years of experience, Mrs. Brown has overseen human service programs that have impacted families nationwide.

Johnathaan L. Pannell is a seasoned human capital, equity, and organizational strategy executive with over a decade of experience leading people-centered transformation across nonprofit, public, and mission-driven organizations. He is the Chief Executive Officer of District Partnerships & Consulting, where he provides executive search, DEIB strategy, organizational design, and leadership advisory services to organizations seeking sustainable and equitable growth.

Johnathaan also brings deep operational leadership experience, having served in senior roles overseeing HR, finance, programs, compliance, and large-scale workforce initiatives. His work is grounded in building inclusive systems that balance accountability, compliance, and humanity, particularly for organizations serving historically marginalized communities. Known for his strategic rigor and relational leadership style, Johnathaan partners closely with boards, executives, and teams to align people strategy with long term mission impact.

Arshad Ali is a highly accomplished professional with a strong background in program management, technical consulting, and community engagement. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics from Morehouse College, he has cultivated a versatile skill set that combines technical expertise with a deep commitment to social impact.

Driven by a passion for improving early childhood education and fostering positive outcomes for children and families, Ali currently serves as Deputy Operating Officer at Southeast Children’s Fund. Ali also actively contributes to various organizations that support child development and education as a member and contributor to the Black Child Development Institute - District of Columbia (BCDI-DC) and as a founding member of the District of Columbia Men in Early Childhood Education (DC Men in ECE).

Ali is elated to serve as a board member of the District of Columbia Association for the Education of Young Children (DCAEYC), championing equity in education and ensuring financial accuracy within the early childhood education landscape.

Brandon Howard is Senior Vice President at Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services where he oversees retail leasing and sales for the Washington, DC and Northern Virginia region with a specialization in child care real estate.  He has over 15 years of experience representing landlords and tenants throughout the metropolitan area.  Brandon also served as a commercial real estate portfolio manager at EagleBank, overseeing a loan portfolio exceeding $100 million. 

Brandon is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Howard University School of Law. He is a frequent presenter on commercial real estate issues impacting early childhood programs and has spoken at national and statewide conferences, including the Association of Early Learning Leaders National Conference and the Maryland State Child Care Association Conference.

In 2021, Brandon was appointed by Montgomery County Executive Mark Elrich to the Montgomery County Commission on Child Care, where he served as co-vice chair. His extensive civic and professional service includes roles with NAEYC, Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day, and several Montgomery County and Bethesda-based boards and advisory committees.

Austin Lee has dedicated over 13 years teaching and advocating in early childhood education. Austin holds an Early Childhood Education Background from the University Of the District Of Columbia. Austin believes in helping create warm,supportive spaces where all young children can learn and grow.

He currently serves as a Child Development Associate Success Coach, guiding new educators as they build their skills and confidence in early learning environments. Austin also serves on the Children’s National Patient Family Advisory Council, where he collaborates on initiatives that improve the overall experience for patients,families and staff of the hospital. His personal journey as a two-time kidney transplant recipient deepens his commitment to advocacy, equity, and ensuring that every child and family has access to

compassionate, developmentally appropriate care.

Rosa Moraes is a Professor and Program Coordinator in the Division of Education at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), with more than 25 years of experience in early childhood and adult education. Her work centers on serving children, families, communities, and fellow educators, with expertise in leadership development, instructional coaching, curriculum integration, special education, and professional development. She has held a wide range of leadership roles, including Head Start Program Director, Compliance Officer, Disabilities Coordinator, Program Developer, and CDA Instructor.

In her current role, Rosa leads the Higher Education Initiative and Tuition Assistance Program (HEI-TAP), which provides early childhood educators with scholarship opportunities to earn an Associate of Arts degree in Education, with concentrations in Infant and Toddler Development or Pre-K to 3rd Grade. She partners with community organizations, government agencies, and education stakeholders to design and implement high-quality programs, and she brings strong experience in curriculum planning, educational technology, human capital development, and early intervention. Rosa holds a Master’s in Early Childhood and Special Education from The Catholic University of America and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development from Trinity University in Washington, DC, and is fully bilingual in Spanish and English.

Kamren Rollins has dedicated his life to servant leadership and creating pathways to ensure underserved communities have opportunities and access to high-quality education and holistic support. Kamren attended Morehouse College, where he served as the President of the Student Government Association, a member of the Board of Trustees of the college, and co-founder and President of LYTEhouse, a mentoring and community engagement organization.

Since moving back to Washington, DC, Kamren has hosted and planned workshops around financial literacy, career development, black masculinity, and academic success at local schools featuring hundreds of students. In July 2019, Kamren began his role as Chief Operating Officer of Southeast Children’s Fund. He co- convener of DC Men in Early Childhood Education.

He is eager to continue to change and impact communities of color through his passion for writing, education, policy, mentorship, and storytelling. Kamren has a great love for education and believes that it is the key to Black liberation. In the future, he plans to open additional schools worldwide and write novels and short stories. He lives by a quote from Maya Angelou, “If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities,” which reminds Kamren to accomplish goals while simultaneously changing lives.