Our Team
Tom Pollak
Director
Tom is the founder of the Civic Leadership Project, including the DC Tutoring & Mentoring Initiative and the Civic Leadership Fellows program among other projects. Prior to this, he spent 20 years at the Urban Institute’s Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy where he most recently led the National Center for Charitable Statistics. If this Ironman of Canvassing is not at farmers markets bringing out people’s passion for bettering our community, he’s probably zipping around DC/Arlington on his bike or at a local Trader Joe’s.
thania villatoro
Operations Director
Thania Graduated from Trinity Washington University with a major in Business Management in 2022. Thania manages DCTMI’s database of volunteers and partner organizations. She also runs farmers’ markets and other outreach events in the community and oversees interns and Fellows. Thania loves to meet new people and help them in any way she can. Her hobbies include painting, discovering contemporary upcoming artists, and yoga. A native of El Salvador, Thania speaks English and Spanish and is currently learning French. Watch this Staff Spotlight featuring Thania!
Aaron Shires
Communications Director
Aaron is finishing up his Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Political Science at American University. He has extensive experience acting and directing theater. He is also the founder of a nonprofit organization that he started when he was a teenager to bring students together for dialogue across idealogy and to get to know one another.
Tull Osman
Outreach Director
Tull is currently a Master’s student at American University, studying International Development. Growing up in the UAE as a Sudanese girl, Tull has always enjoyed being active in her communities, and was drawn to DCTMI’s community-centered objectives. She joined the team in February 2023, and supports DCTMI’s outreach work and partnerships. Tull’s favorite forms of self-care are running, Pilates, and meditation/prayer!
Amina Wague
Civic Leadership Fellow
Amina comes from Philadelphia and joined the DCTMI team in February 2023! She is currently studying Human Development and Psychology at Howard University, and has always been a strong advocate and supporter of her community, volunteering with her neighborhood library for over three years. Amina aspires to become a clinical social worker and is passionate about community involvement because she knows that it can make a real difference. Her favorite form of self-care are crocheting and skateboarding!
Aniré Nikoro
Civic Leadership Fellow
Aniré, a Senior Sports Medicine Major at Howard University from Las Vegas, NV, has spent her time in DCTMI supporting canvassing work, as well as significantly contributing to social media and to the CivLead Project since February 2023. When it comes to community building, Aniré is passionate about making everyone feel like they are a part of a whole. She says, “the kids are a reflection of the future, for that reason we must pour into them”. For self-care, Aniré appreciates a good nap!
desirae Rawlings
Civic Leadership Fellow
Desirae is a sophomore psychology major & criminology minor at Howard University. She originally comes from a small town called Surry, VA so she enjoys nature walks and community bonding. Desirae was first introduced to DCTMI through a DCTMI canvasser outside of Black Burn on Howard University’s campus. She started volunteering with one of DCTMI’s partners, Malcom X Elementary School, and was eventually recommended to join the DCTMI team. Currently, Desirae supports DCTMI’s administrative work, outreach and volunteer recruitment. Her go-to self-care activity? Therapy!
Heaven Upshaw
Civic Leadership Fellow
Heaven Upshaw-Peters is a sophomore elementary education major at Howard University from Macon, GA by way of Orlando, FL. She currently supports DCTMI’s administrative and canvassing work, and actually started as a volunteer through DCTMI in January 2024 before becoming a Civic Leadership Fellow in September 2024. She was drawn to DCMTI because as a future educator, she understands and deeply values the impact that education and support can have on a child’s life and their community. Her favorite self-care activities are cooking, reading, and napping!
Josh Chrobak
Civic Leadership Fellow
Josh joined DCTMI in September 2023 after working with a youth mentoring program in Baltimore City, looking to make an impact on DC youth! He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Arts Infusion at Towson University and will be graduating in May 2024. Originally from Massachusetts, Josh has resided in the DMV area for 9 years. His favorite form of self-care is doing full body stretches for 30 minutes when waking up and before bed!
Makena Umoja
Civic Leadership Fellow
Born and raised in Baltimore, MD, Makena joined the DCTMI team in August 2023 and is currently a Marketing major at Howard University. Makena has been invested in community work since she was in high school, where she volunteered at a local food pantry. Self-care is something both Makena and DCTMI prioritize, convincing her that becoming a Civic Leadership Fellow here was not a coincidence. Her favorite form of self-care is reading!
Maurice Green
Civic Leadership Fellow
Maurice joined DCTMI in December 2022, and is currently a senior at Howard University, majoring in Political Science. Maurice comes from Virginia Beach, VA, bringing with him a passion for community building which stems from the belief “that, in today’s interconnected world facing global crises, fostering solidarity is the first step towards overcoming challenges”. Maurice’s background includes community organizing, canvassing for political campaigns, and collaborating to form a tenants union to protect rights. His go-to forms of self-care are sleeping, reading, and meditating!
Moolu Tesfai
Civic Leadership Fellow
Moolu is a graduate student from Silver Spring, MD, who is exploring the digital world at Indiana University as a Cybersecurity Risk Management major. Moolu, who joined DCTMI in December 2022, supports our administrative work, as well as our outreach & communication with volunteers. She believes in the power of community building to unite people from all walks of life, creating a space where everyone thrives together. Her favorite self-care activities include walking and reflecting!
Sani Watkins
Civic Leadership Fellow
TBA
Sydney Johnson
Civic Leadership Fellow
TBA
Mamadou Keita
Animation Consultant
Mamadou Lamin Keita is from the Gambia in West Africa, and moved to the US when he was 5 years old. He’s lived in Maryland ever since then, and visits the Gambia often, usually once a year. Mamadou is currently a banker at M&T Bank, but is passionate about animation, which is what he consults for at DCTMI. His favorite self care activity is meditating: “It really helps clear my mind and calm any unnecessary anxiety!”
Colleen Kiernan
Social Media & Marketing Consultant
Born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colo., Colleen Kiernan joined the DCTMI team in October 2023. She is the founder and owner of Pink Sheep Co., a social media marketing agency that helps brands stand out from the crowd. She believes that every person should be proud of the things that make them different and unique and is passionate about mental health awareness. Her go-to self-care activities including listening to music, running, and spending time outdoors with her family.
Matthew Mullenix
Board Member
Based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Matt Mullenix is a writer and communications consultant to nonprofits, municipalities, and small businesses. Prior to this, he directed Louisiana’s statewide nonprofit association, a state government job search website, a university research publication, and the daily activities of two small children who have since grown up. Mullenix is honored to serve on the Civic Leadership Project’s board of directors and to help support its much-needed work.
Johanna Schneider
Board Member
Johanna Schneider has played a key role in successfully managing communications, moving from a CBS reporter and anchor to top government and private posts. Schneider was a Leadership Press Secretary in Congress; a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs in the Cabinet; the Senior Advisor to the National Institutes of Health Director. She also spent 18 years as the Executive Director of the Business Roundtable, an organization representing hundreds of Fortune 50 CEO’s. She currently commits her time to her position as Board Member for DCTMI and tutoring DC public school students.
Sarah Ribaldo
Civic Leadership Fellow
Sarah is a student at American University (Class of 2023) majoring in psychology.
Anjali Singh
Civic Leadership Fellow
Anjali is a student at American University majoring in political science.
Anjali Singh
Civic Leadership Fellow
Anjali is a student at American University majoring in political science.
