About

Brandon Bell, is a mixed media artist and owner of a local mural company, We are Limitless Studios. He and his partner, Deserea, are on a mission to inspire and uplift others and transform communities through multiple channels including: art, sound, and movement. They are proud parents of 3 amazing children whom they homeschool personally.

Rick Briggs began his career with Wicomico County Public Schools in 1999. He has worked at Wi-Hi School, Bennett Middle School, Mardela Middle & High School and James M. Bennett High School. He is the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction – Chief Academic Officer for the Wicomico Board of Education, since July 1, 2017. Dr. Briggs lives in Salisbury with his wife, Kristen, and children Ella and Owen.

Karen Bromley is the Marketing Director/IT Coordinator for Avery Hall. She joined the agency in 2016 and works out of the Salisbury office. She coordinates all Avery Hall advertising and marketing and heads up the IT Department. Personally, Karen enjoys fundraising for local organizations and helping her children’s schools. She and her husband, Danny, have two sons together, Connor and Luke.

Heather Brooks is an Administrative Assistant for the Dave and Patsy Rommel Center for Entrepreneurship at Salisbury University, and the NEW kindSBY Kindness Commission leader and Secretary of Kindness for Salisbury, MD. Over the past 5 years, Heather has served as a kindness commissioner, designed and maintained the kindSBY website and served as the 2022-2023 Adopt-a-School Coordinator. and the Kindness Palooza Volunteer Coordinator. She has also been an Advisor for two Kindness Clubs in Wicomico County Public Schools. Heather enjoys scrapbooking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

D’Shawn M. Doughty, a native of the Eastern Shore, born and raised in Salisbury, MD. After studying at Salisbury University, he started his career in finance at Bank of America as a Loan Officer. Doughty is currently the Development Manager at Green Street Housing, and serves on the City Council for District 2. He is on the Executive Board of Directors for Junior Achievement, a member of the Salisbury P.R.I.D.E. Lions Club, a volunteer for the Building African American Minds Center in Easton, MD and Big Brothers Big Sisters, a member/advisee of the Human Rights Advisory Committee for the City of Salisbury, and the 81^st President for the Salisbury Jaycees. D’Shawn’s passion is to spread kindness throughout the community and teach everyone the importance of reciprocal outreach. D’Shawn believes in pouring himself back in the community that gave so much to him.

Gwenn Garland is a Writer/Photographer at Wor-Wic Community College and former Strategic Communications Coordinator for Peninsula Regional Medical Center. She lives in Salisbury with her family, including three active boys, a unicycling husband, a cat with a ‘tude and a quirky Pomeranian. She enjoys volunteering for hospital events and community health fairs, the March of Dimes, United Way, Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art and Chesapeake Housing Mission.

Lavern Fisher-Henry currently works at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional & TidalHealth Nanticoke as the Senior Administrative Specialist to the Director of Women’s & Children’s Division.  She also headed the March of Dimes for several years at TidalHealth Peninsula.  She is very active in her church, First Baptist Church, Salisbury, MD, with the Youth & Young Adult Ministry, Culinary Ministry, and Diaconate Ministry.  Outside of her professional and spiritual endeavors, Lavern loves being a wife, a mother, a daughter, an encourager, to cook, and spend quality time with her family.  Making sure everyone is happy and healthy are her main goals in life. Lavern resides in Salisbury, MD with her husband, Dr. Samuel Henry III, and with 1 of their 2 sons.

Samuel S. Henry, III, an experienced educator and leader in K-Post Secondary education, began his career with a Bachelor’s in Technology Education and a Master’s in Organizational Leadership & School Leadership and Instruction, focusing on empowering young African American men. After a successful tenure in education, including a role as Campus Dean at Sojourner-Douglass College, he shifted to a corporate role, significantly contributing to a holding company’s growth and success. Dr. Henry, who earned his Doctorate in Higher Education Administration, currently works as a Communication Specialist at NASA, enhancing their communication and diversity efforts. Residing in Salisbury, Maryland with his family, he is actively involved in community education through his media company, Inspire One Group Inc., aiming to inspire and uplift the community.

Heather Geraldes is employed in the nonprofit sector and lives in Wicomico County.  Caring for others is truly second nature for Heather.  She enjoys engaging work & community teams with a special focus – such as kindness! In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her husband, growing lots of tropical plants and being in nature. 

Melissa Johanning, is a school counselor in Wicomico County Public Schools since 2013 and a Jaycess Foundation Board Member. She lives in Fruitland, MD with her husband and dog Jaeger. Each year she holds a “Glow for kindness celebration” at her school so the children will know kindness matters.  Her goal in life is simple, “to sprinkle kindness wherever I go because kindness is just love with its work boots on!”

Annette Johnson is the Founder of AJLEADS, LLC, a boutique consultancy specializing in leadership, empowerment, awareness, and development solutions. With over 30 years of experience as a global corporate leader in Human Resources, Annette is renowned for her unwavering dedication to championing diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as ethical leadership practices. She is the author of “Forgive & Love Yourself (FLY),” a transformative book that encourages readers to embrace self-love and personal growth. Currently, Annette serves as the Head of Cultural Programs at a leading software company based in Boston, where she continues to drive positive change and foster a culture of inclusivity and belonging. Outside of her professional endeavors, Annette finds joy in her role as a wife, mother to two daughters, and proud “grand-dog” parent to Snoop and Coal. Annette Johnson’s commitment to empowering others and creating positive change exemplifies the true essence of compassionate leadership and inclusive excellence.

Deserea Martin, a native of Texas now residing in Salisbury, MD, is the project manager and artist of a local mural company, We are Limitless Studios. She and her partner, Brandon, are on a mission to inspire and uplift others and transform communities through multiple channels including: art, sound and movement. They are proud parents of 3 amazing children whom they homeschool personally.

Nancy Mitchell is the inaugural Poet Laureate of the City of Salisbury. Her community service includes fifty or more writing workshops and hosting as many poetry readings live at Poet’s Corner, City Hall, and on Poets on the Plaza Zoom. She has represented Salisbury at numerous conferences and at the Library of Congress as a guest on The Poet and the Poem podcast.

Grace Foxwell Murdock is a Retired educator, Author, Business owner, Dance for Kindness group leader 2016-2022, founder of Wicomico Grows Kindness, Kindness Commission leader 2019-2022 and the former Secretary of Kindness for Salisbury, MD. Grace’s passion for spreading kindness & efforts led the City of Salisbury to its World Kindness USA City designation as the nations 1st World Kindness USA city.

Megan Outten serves on the Salisbury City Council for District 3. Megan was appointed to the City Council in 2023 at the age of 30, making her the youngest female to hold office within the City of Salisbury. Outside of her official capacity, Megan serves as the stakeholder manager for the Business Network for Offshore Wind, a non-profit which aims to promote and expand workforce development opportunities for local businesses. She also serves on the Wicomico County Commission for Women and the Salisbury Sustainability Committee. Megan has long been passionate about spreading kindness in the Salisbury community, and believes that even little bit of kindness can go a long way.

Susan Parker is the Communications Specialist at MAC Inc., Area Agency on Aging. Prior to her position at MAC, she was the Engagement & Community Content Editor at the Daily Times for 28 1/2 years. In her downtime, she enjoys being a musician and writing.

Ricky Pollitt currently works at Junior Achievement, serving as the organization’s Development Manager. Born and raised on the Eastern Shore, Ricky joined JA after serving as a reporter for more than four years at The Daily Times and Delmarva Now. He attended Salisbury University and studied Journalism and Public Relations. Ricky has been active in the local community, earning his Eagle Scout award and volunteering for his local church. He is also a member of the Allen Lions Club, Salisbury Jaycees and is Chair of the United Way Emerging Leaders and Young Professionals of Ocean City. Ricky enjoys the outdoors where he bikes, hikes and canoes. He is also an avid sports fan, rooting on the Baltimore Orioles and Ravens.

Dominique Sessa is a disability advocate. She shares her advocacy & journey as a young disabled woman living on the Eastern Shore on her site, The Girl in The Pink Wheelchair. She is a Commissioner for the Maryland Commission on Disabilities & serves on Salisbury’s Disability Advisory Committee, Salisbury’s Parks & Recreation Committee, Salisbury’s Arts & Entertainment District Board & Water’s Edge Museum’s Advisory Committee. In January 2023, she was named 1st runner up Miss MD Wheelchair. She founded Delmarva Crafters: a charity crafting club that provides handmade items for those in need. She believes in spreading love and kindness to all.

Dr. Amy Stewart, originally from Anne Arundel County, moved to Salisbury in 2001 to pursue her bachelor’s degree in English education at Salisbury University before earning her master’s degree in special education from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. She spent nine years serving Somerset County Public Schools before following her passion for early childhood development by opening Night Watch Child Care Center, which she has successfully operated alongside her husband for the past seven years. In addition, Dr. Stewart serves as Executive Director of the Owl’s Nest Learning Hub, a nonprofit organization where she continues her mission of supporting and empowering families across the Delmarva region.

Dr. Sharon Milbourne Washington is a native of Somerset County, Md, and holds a PhD in Christian Education, Master’s of Divinity and a dual Bachelor’s in Organizational Psychology and Development & Business Administration. She is a Chaplain at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional, a Licensed/Ordained Elder, a Board Certified Life Coach and is the author of the reference book “Greek Philosophy in Christian Theology, An Intellectual Synthesis Shapes the West.” She was named one of the Top 100 Women in Maryland by the Daily Record. She is also proud to be a Veteran of the US Army. Sharon is an avid supporter of the “Dance for Kindness” initiative and is honored to serve the community with love and kindness for all people. 

Sonya Whited works at Perdue Farms Innovation Center as the Senior Director of Retail Research & Development.  Sonya was honored as one of The Daily Record’s Maryland Top 100 Women in 2018 due to her work at Perdue, as well as her community service including: co-chair of Wicomico County-City of Salisbury Complete Count Committee (CCC) for Census 2020, Board Member of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Community Foundation & Salisbury University Foundation and Chairperson of United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, where she served as 2013 – 2017 president of the Princess Anne Alumnae Chapter & currently serves on the Eastern Region Leadership Team. She is also the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Chapter Social Action 2023 – 2025 Co-Chair and Technology Committee Co-Chair. A recent point of pride is the Visionary Founder of the Black Excellence Community Fund, a giving circle of CFES that celebrates Black Philanthropy including awarding grants to black founded and led non-profits.

Worthington Realty Group is a Maryland licensed real estate brokerage specializing in the representation of buyers and sellers. Their mission is about serving the community and the client, without corporate concern or high franchise fees. Worthington has built a network of real estate professionals focused on the customer/client by reimagining spaces, and structures while helping clients get the most value from their real estate investment. 

Amy Zaprowski, born in Jamestown, New York, has lived in Salisbury, Maryland, since 2001. She and her husband, Brent, have raised their two daughters here, sending them first to Wicomico High School and then to Salisbury University. 

Amy worked at the Downtown Salisbury Visitor Center for many years and often volunteered at 3rd Friday, the National Folk Festival, Wicomico Goes Purple, and PFLAG. She also served on the Salisbury Human Rights Committee and is the Johnson’s Lake Neighborhood Association treasurer.

In her spare time if she’s not on the beach, Amy likes to knit and garden, love on puppies and babies, and to fight for equal rights for all. She knows that this world needs more love and kindness, and is so excited to get back out there and continue on spreading love in our community!