Rochelle Ingram, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Director, Urban School Partnerships, School of Professional Studies in Business & Education

Rochelle Ingram has spent more than two decades as a leader and advocate working for educational equality for children of all socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds.

As chair of the Leadership Development Task Force for the Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS), Ingram is responsible for guiding university and business leaders to create effective career development programs for BCPSS educators. Ingram helped develop the BCPSS principal intern immersion program, which prepares under-represented minorities to become effective principals.

She has also helped craft national standards for teacher edcation and diversity through her work with the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Philip Leaf, Ph.D., Professor, Mental Health, School of Public Health.

Leaf initiated the Child Deveopment-Community Policing (CD-CP) Program, a partnership bewtween the Baltimore City Police Department, Johns Hopkins Department of Psychiatry and Baltimore City's neighborhoods. This program trains community members, mental health professionals and police officers to respond to incidents of violence immediately in order to help children heal.

Leaf works with the Maryland State Department of Education and Sheppard Pratt Health Systems to train teachers and school administrators throughout Maryland to implement more positive and supportive learning environments in schools. He also works with family groups to support families with youth involved in the juvenile justice system.

Jennette Logan, Research Nurse, Program Supervisor, Pediatric Immunology, School of Medicine

Ms. Logan uses her professional experience as a nurse to educate families in impoverished neighborhoods throughout Baltimore City about the seriousness of asthma and what changes family member can make in their homes to combat this deadly disease.

Logan coordinates Thanksgiving baskets and blanket, coat and school supply drives for the needy. Sometimes digging deep into her own pockets, Logan also conducts toy drives for the less fortunate and for children whose parents are incarcerated.

John Shearin, Support Services Technician, Finance and Administration, SON

A preacher, Sunday school teacher and head of the evangelical ministries of Mt. Pleasant Church, Shearin volunteers to serve his church. He tirelesly conducts evangeical outreach by preaching and donating needed items to low-income communities throughout Maryland and has mentored more than 50 young men.

Darryl Stephens, Special Response Officer, Corporate Security, JHH

When a fire claimed the lives of five of eight of a Baltimore City family, Darryl Stephens rallied around the surviving neighbors with a restoration program to provide food, clothing and shelter.

Stephens also began a tutoring program through his church in which he mentors people to become productive citizens.

Monica Taylor, Patient Financial Coordinator, Patient Financial Services

Monica Taylor coordinates multicultural enrichment programs and activities that motivate youth and equip young people with the skills needed to become contributing members and leaders of society.

She was recently saluted for her dedication to "Build the Dream," in which she raised nearly $2,000 towards building a National Memorial in Washington, D.C. honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Taylor was recognized in 2001 as Youth Worker of the Year by the House of God Church in Baltimore. She has also been recognized for her commitment to the Hopkins BOND to BOND Career Developement Youth Mentoring Program.

Maura Walden, Director of Corporate Training & Community Relations

Thanks to her dedication, a holiday gift drive and mentoring have been implemented at North Glen Elementary School in Anne Arundel County (A.A.)

Ms. Walden is also noted for having organized a successful fundraiser for her injured brother after a diving accident, is co-founder of the A.A.County Mentoring Roundtable and an active member of Leadership A.A., the AA County Board of Education Community Collaboration Commitee and the North County Business Advisory Board.

Polly Walker, M.D., M.P.H., Associate Director, Center for a Livable Future, Bloomberg School of Public Health

Ms. Walker, a volunteer with the Rose Street Community Center in East Baltimore since 1998, initiated the center's mentoring program and matches and supervises JHU student volunteers who tutor children from the center.

Walker has used her professional experience to achieve national recognition and funding for the center. Thanks to a nomination from Walker, Rose Street leaders Clayton Guyton and Elroy Christopher won the Robert Wood Johnson Community Health leadership Award, which included a $120,000 prize to use to continue their efforts.

Valerie Whitaker, Protective Services Officer, Corporate Security, JHH

For the past eight years, Whitake has assisted her minister and the Gospel Messengers International Outreach Ministry with a soup kitchen and fundraising activities to support programs for the homeless, addicts and senior citizens of her community. She also coordinates special events and discussions for the ministry's children. During the holidays, she coordinates the collection, assembly and delivery of Thanksgiving and holiday baskets for house bound and needy families of the Power House Church of Praise.