Mark has nearly 40 years of leadership in poverty and health-related initiatives. He has founded and led multiple organizations that have impacted hundreds of thousands of people in poverty. Honored as Washingtonian of the Year and inducted into multiple halls of fame in our nation’s capital region, Mark has received numerous regional, national, and international awards. He also recognizes that these hold little meaning unless we solve the problems in front of us. Mark received his Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and his Masters and Doctoral degrees from American University, where he also taught for 15 years.

Katherin worked for many years studying the reach and effectiveness of policies that support low-income working families. Katherin has written and taught on myriad aspects of poverty, and her experiences have helped shape everything we do at The Shared Humanity Project. Katherin received her Bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and her Masters and Doctoral degrees from Syracuse University

Amra is the daughter of Bosnian refugee parents who arrived in the U.S. after fleeing the war there. Though a young child when her family settled in Connecticut, she carries vivid memories of scarcity, resilience, and the generosity of her neighbors and fellow community members. Amra and her family navigated housing insecurity, language barriers, and deep uncertainty, all of which instilled in her a fierce determination to succeed and a lifelong commitment to service. Amra is focused on amplifying unheard voices and collaborating across sectors to motivate action. At Yale University's Economic Growth Center, Amra led digital engagement for global research on poverty, and in her previous work has built community-rooted outreach strategies that elevated lived experiences.

Sam brings to the Shared Humanity project a strong background in communications, research, and community engagement. As a mental health counselor, she has worked closely with diverse populations, many of whom have faced long-standing barriers to rising out of poverty. This has inspired Sam to pursue substantive, data-driven solutions. Sam also brings to SHP a background in managing digital communication strategies and overall campaign logistics.

Derek oversees all website and website-related content for SHP. With more than a decade of experience, he has become a specialized expert in coding design and development. Derek attended the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith for Communications.