Staff
Momodu Jalloh
Momodu Jalloh has always believed that education is a fundamental human right and all children should have access to basic education regardless of their socio-economic background. Over the years, he has supported a number of children in his native land, Sierra Leone, by sending schools materials and supplies, used clothing and toys, and providing tuition assistance.
Momodu migrated to the United States in 1996 to advance his education and seek greener pastures. After being away for a decade, in 2005, he visited Sierra Leone and realized the country had been devastated by a decade-long war that left its infrastructure in ruins – schools, colleges and universities, and libraries were destroyed. Moreover, many children had been orphaned; they were mentally disturbed, psychologically traumatized, had suffered amputated limbs, and were displaced and uneducated, not counting the thousands that had innocently lost their lives.
This disastrous conflict left the educational system, particularly in the rural areas, in complete ruin. Many schools had been razed to the ground; many of those left standing have no roofs or furniture. In other words, basic school amenities such as pens, pencils, sharpeners, and notebooks are not available or are very expensive to buy; teachers do not have the materials they need to teach. One can say that education for many children in Sierra Leone is becoming a luxury they cannot afford instead of a basic right that all deserve to enjoy.
Despite the outpouring of support from donor countries and non-profit organizations, still more needs to be done. The educational system is in ruins and many children are not attending school due to lack of resources. Armed with this reality and understanding of the needs in Sierra Leone, Momodu co-launched Education for HOPE to focus on improving the educational system. The organization now collaborates with the Sierra Leone Library Board, individuals, communities, and organizations to transform education in this war-torn nation.
Momodu currently works in Washington, DC for the U.S. Federal Government; prior to that, he worked for the Dow Jones Company. He did his undergraduate studies at West Virginia University Institute of Technology and graduate studies at the University of Maryland.
Phebean Williams
Phebean Williams avidly believes that education plays a pivotal role in defining one’s trajectory in life. She volunteers on weekends teaching /mentoring elementary aged children, pouring values into them that will help build a strong foundation. She has over a decade of consulting experience, managing stakeholder expectations in both private and government sectors. She is a brand ambassador for The George Washington University, where she served as the Vice President of Strategic Relations for the Project Management Association.
Andrea Portillo Medeiros
Andrea Portillo Medeiros has a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from the University of Central Florida, a Masters of Public Health from Nova Southeastern University and is a Certified Health Education Specialist. She has worked in the public health field for several years, merging health education, communications, and marketing. She is an active member of the American Public Health Association working with the communications committee and assisting with the program planning for the Public Health Education and Health Promotion section. Andrea hopes to combine her programming, health education, and communications skills to further her interest to increase the amount of education in our society.
Karen Plummer
Karen graduated with a B.A. in Criminal Justice at Marymount University and worked as a certified Salesforce Administrator for a mobile analytics company in San Diego. She transitioned into motherhood when her first son was born and returned to her native state Virginia to be close to family. Karen is actively using learning platform Trailhead to advance her knowledge in Salesforce configuration. She looks forward to using her previous work in sales operations to implement a successful nonprofit Salesforce platform for Education for Hope.
Jon Raedeke
Growing up in a family of artists and educators, Jon Raedeke is a believer in the importance of design and the transformative power of education. Jon studied art at Indiana University and went on to work at a stationer for 7 years, learning the craft of letterpress printing and design. He has worked as a print designer in commercial firms and a web designer for the US Government. Being a father has inspired him to help create opportunities for young people without access to education.