March 2022 - The Children's Guild

The Children’s Guild Welcomes Agnes Kibirige, Chief Information Officer, And Hughes Johnson, Chief Of Staff, To Senior Leadership Team

The Children’s Guild (TCG), a nonprofit organization serving children, families, and child-serving organizations, is proud to welcome Agnes Kibirige as the new Chief Information Officer and Hughes Johnson as the new Chief of Staff to their senior leadership team. In her new role, Agnes Kibirige will drive quality IT services and allow TCG to utilize data in the strategic nature that will become the cornerstone of how the organization operates. As Chief of Staff, Hughes Johnson will create and monitor quality systems and procedures to help TCG be effective and efficient in achieving the organization’s mission and vision.

“It is with great excitement and pleasure, I welcome two new exceptional leaders to the Senior Leadership Team of The Children’s Guild who will both be essential in driving our organization into the future, and an integral part of the new strategic plan and vision set forth by The Children’s Guild Board of Directors emphasizing effective, efficient, and quality operations across all TCG service areas,” says Jenny Livelli, president, and CEO of The Children’s Guild. “Agnes and Hughes were selected based on their expertise in areas that we have identified as critical to developing, enhancing, and delivering the services we provide for the children, families, and communities we serve.”

Hughes Johnson brings experience in training, compliance, and a clear focus on developing and measuring quality systems that will immediately impact the Guild. Hughes’s expertise will positively impact The Children’s Guild operations as Chief of Staff as he focuses on creating and supporting quality operations across the entire organization.

Hughes comes to The Children’s Guild following a 30-year career at Youth Villages, a non-profit organization providing treatment programs for troubled youth in Memphis, Tennessee. He completed a tenure that included several impactful roles. In addition to serving as the Managing Director of Compliance and Performance Improvement, Hughes has held several other positions at Youth Villages, including Assistant Director of PI and Interim Director of Memphis Boys Town, a residential treatment program. Hughes also served as a Recreation Therapy Supervisor, where he planned and

facilitated experiential learning for young people with conduct disorder problems, sex offenders, and mentally challenged children. Hughes holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from The University of Tennessee at Martin and a Master of Science, Recreation Therapy from Memphis State University.

Agnes Kibirige comes to The Children’s Guild with a range of professional experiences that will be vital in shaping the organization’s direction. With over 20 years of experience designing, developing, and delivering IT solutions for fortune 500 clients, Agnes mixes her knowledge of technology with a unique understanding of how it all fits on an individual human level.

Agnes’s prior experience includes a 14-year career at Accenture (a Fortune Global 500 company specializing in information technology services and consulting), culminating in her position as a senior manager. In October 2019, Agnes founded ExperTribe LLC, which allowed her to bring expertise to a broader range of clients, including the world of non-profits. Through this new endeavor, Agnes first became connected to The Children’s Guild and was immediately impressed by the importance of the work taking place in the organization.

In her role as Chief Information Officer, Agnes will be implementing a plan of action that directly connects to and supports the transformation of the Guild information technology team to a strategic department where accessible and shared data will drive the organization’s mission and vision. To achieve the goal of moving to a strategic focus, Agnes and her team will shift to the role of leveraging the expertise needed to address the critical IT needs of the organization. Agnes holds a BS in Engineering from Loughborough University, UK, and an Executive MBA from the University of Maryland.

Affiliates of The Children’s Guild include The Children’s Guild, Inc., Baltimore Campus, The Children’s Guild DC Public Charter School, The Janet and Frank Kelly Autism Center, Monarch Academy public charter and contract schools, The Outpatient Mental Health Center, Treatment Foster Care, The Children’s Guild- Transformation Academy, The Children’s Guild School of Prince George’s County, Monarch Preschool College Park, TranZed Academy for Working Students (TAWS), and TranZed Apprenticeships. For more information, visit https://childrensguild.org/.

The Honorable Carl O. Snowden And Charles James From The Caucus Of African American Leaders Will Speak At Monarch Academy Glen Burnie About Equity Work

Civil rights activist and politician the Sr and Honorable Carl Snowden will visit Monarch Academy Glen Burnie along with Elder Charles E. James, who is on the Caucus of African American Leaders to address the school’s teachers and discuss needs for equity in education from their perspective. Snowden and James will visit the school on Wednesday, March 9th from 3-4 pm in the café of the Monarch Academy Glen Burnie campus, 6730 Baymeadow Dr, Glen Burnie, MD 21060. 

The Monarch Academy is part of The Children’s Guild, a nonprofit organization serving children, families and child-serving organizations whose mission is helping children and families to thrive. One of the ways they provide these critical services is to bring in experts to help educate their team. The Children’s Guild recognizes that it is important for their staff community to come together and celebrate diversity as well as talk about difficult topics. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not simply things to check off; they are core to The Children’s Guild’s mission of transforming the lives of those it serves.

“We look forward to welcoming Elder James and the Honorable Carl Snowden to speak with our staff about their work in our district and state. Their focus will be on education and the necessary work of schools to provide equitable educational experiences,” said Kim Jakovics, Principal. “Monarch Academy Glen Burnie believes that learning for children and adults must include the incorporation of experts as they deepen our understanding of complex issues.”

Carl Snowden was raised in Annapolis, Maryland, where he attended Annapolis Elementary School. As a student, Snowden was greatly influenced by The Autobiography of Malcolm X. In 1970, Snowden, along with fourteen other students, was expelled from Annapolis High School after they boycotted classes to protest the school’s lack of African American teachers and African American studies courses. Local benefactors raised funds for him to attend the private Key School. While still a young adult, Snowden organized an African American group called VOTE.

Snowden has campaigned for numerous local candidates, including Janet S. Owens, the first woman elected as county executive in Anne Arundel County, Maryland; and Annapolis Mayor Josh Cohen. Snowden, who spearheaded a successful two-year $800 thousand capital fund campaign to create the first Coretta Scott King Memorial Garden and the first Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in the State of Maryland. Snowden was honored with an award at the 23rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Dinner in Glen Burnie, Maryland in 2011.

Affiliates of The Children’s Guild include The Children’s Guild, Inc., Baltimore Campus, DC Public Charter School, The Janet and Frank Kelly Autism Center, Monarch Academy public charter and contract schools, The Outpatient Mental Health Center, Treatment Foster Care, The Children’s Guild- Transformation Academy, The Children’s Guild School of Prince George’s County, Monarch Preschool College Park, TranZed Academy for Working Students (TAWS), and TranZed Apprenticeships. For more information, visit https://childrensguild.org/

Jerry Partlow Appointed To The Board Of Directors For The Children’s Guild Alliance

The Children’s Guild Alliance, a nonprofit organization serving children, families and child-serving organizations, announced the appointment of Jerry B. Partlow, founder and CEO of The Partlow Insurance Agency, Inc., to join the Board of Directors.   In his new role, Partlow will join an outstanding board who are responsible for setting goals, determining policies, hiring senior leadership, and setting budgets for the 67-year-old organization with an $86-million budget.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jerry to our esteemed board with our goal of improving the organization’s operating effectiveness and building organizational capacity.  He brings years of experience in board leadership and a commitment to social service and education, ” says Jenny Livelli, president, and CEO of The Children’s Guild Alliance. “The Children’s Guild is a strong and dynamic organization, and we look forward to Jerry supporting our growth and our mission of putting kids first and transforming the way America cares for and educates its children.”

Partlow has more than 40 years of experience in commercial insurance.  Mr. Partlow is recognized nationally for his innovative designs and development of Association related insurance programs for Non-Profit 501(C)3 organizations across the U.S.

The Partlow Insurance Agency, Inc. has longstanding endorsements from the National Association of Private Special Education Centers (NAPSEC) in Washington, D.C., the Virginia Association of Independent Specialized Educations Facilities (VAISEF), the Association of Schools and Agencies for the Handicapped in New Jersey, the Arizona Association of Private Special Education Providers, and the Illinois Association of Private Special Education Centers.

A recognized expert in malpractice insurance and related services for the medical industry, Mr. Partlow serves on the National Agents Advisory Council for Philadelphia Insurance Company and is a past member of the Commercial Insurance Round Table for Erie Insurance.  He has received numerous state and national awards from various insurance industry associations.

Mr. Partlow has served on numerous Non-Profit Boards of Directors.  He is currently Chairman of the Board for Grafton Integrated Health Network and serves on the Leary Educational Foundation Board of Directors.  He was elected to three four-year terms on the Winchester City Council chairing the finance committee, social service, and education committees.

Mr. Partlow attended West Virginia University on a full football scholarship.  He is an IFR rated pilot, a motorcycle enthusiast and enjoys traveling.   He has three grown children and seven grandchildren and currently resides in Winchester, Virginia.

Affiliates of The Children’s Guild include The Children’s Guild School of Baltimore, DC Public Charter School, The Janet and Frank Kelly Autism Center, Monarch Academy public charter and contract schools, The Outpatient Mental Health Center, Treatment Foster Care, The Children’s Guild- Transformation Academy, The Children’s Guild School of Prince George’s County, Monarch Preschool College Park, TranZed Academy for Working Students (TAWS), and TranZed Apprenticeships.  For more information, visit https://childrensguild.org/.