WHO WE ARE

Arkia Wade

CEO/Founder

​Wade comes from a family lineage whose mission is to help others and especially those in their community. Wade’s grandfather, Dr. William C. Wade, was a physician for over 40 years in Turner Station—a historically African American neighborhood and one of the few remaining Black communities founded in the county after the end of the Civil War and during segregation (chesapeakbay.net). Arkia is the founder and CEO of Neighborhood Companions, Inc. and previously was in the healthcare industry for over 20 years. She currently serves as the Turner Station Girl Scout Troop Leader (#353), Treasurer of the Turner Station Conservation Teams Inc., Board President of the Baltimore County Arts Guild, and Assistant Secretary for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Psi Phi Omega Chapter. She earned her BA from the College of William and Mary in Marketing and Sociology. In her spare time, she loves to read, travel, walk and spend time with family and friends.

Shekeitha L. Jeffries

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Shekeitha L. Jeffries hailing from New Jersey, is the eldest among her siblings and a trailblazing first-generation college graduate. With an impressive background in higher education spanning over a decade, she currently holds the esteemed position of Assistant Director of Student Life and is also an ICF certified Executive Leadership Coach at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Not only is she deeply rooted in academia, but she's also an enterprising spirit as the proud owner of My Pretty Girl Notes, a stationery company dedicated to celebrating the beauty and strength of black women.As a devoted member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Shekeitha takes on significant roles within the organization. As charter member and President of the Alpha Beta Gamma Omega Chapter, she proudly serves the Eastern Baltimore County, MD community. Moreover, she holds the distinguished position of President in the Black Girl Social Club's Washington D.C. Chapter.

Beyond her professional and sorority commitments, Shekeitha's vivacious nature shines through as she is a social butterfly who adores all things beautiful. Her profound dedication to serving others runs deep in her heart, a driving force behind her exceptional contributions to her community and beyond.

Dr. Chiquita Howard Bostic

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Dr. C. Howard-Bostic is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (DEI) administrator and Professor of Sociology and Criminology. She is Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) certified to assess intercultural competencies. She is also an Integrative Wellness Academy (IWA) certified life coach and founder of Help Bridge, a multicultural education project that has served 500+ youth and adults in West Virginia. Dr. Howard-Bostic received her Ph.D. in Sociology, teaching certificate in Women’s Studies, and a Race and Social Policy research certification at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She earned a master’s degree in Urban Planning and bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She was an executive director of a nonprofit housing and human services agency in Buffalo, New York, and has served as a community leader and justice advocate in the United States and abroad for 20+ years.

Alejandra Ivanovich

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Alejandra Ivanovich was born in Caracas, Venezuela and moved to Central Florida at age 13 with her mother and sister for a better life. Due to domestic violence, Alejandra moved to Baltimore where she found a new home and was able to receive services tailored to domestic violence victims. Later, she opened a small business and found a way to advocate for other victims of domestic violence. A friend from Guatemala, inspired her to do a community forum for immigrant women and children. She partnered with the Northwest Hospital DOVE program and other organizations and over 200 people showed up and received many services from cancer screenings to legal help for their immigration cases. Alejandra has organized rallies and community forums and became a member of the Baltimore County Democratic Central Committee, the Census Complete Count Committee and an official Community Outreach Volunteer with the Baltimore County Police Department. She been recognized for being a key link for information and services and continues to be an advocate and volunteer for the Latino community in Maryland.

David Sanders

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David Sanders is the owner/manager of Better Options Consulting LLC, an international business development and consulting firm based in Salt Lake City Utah. The firm has more than 30 years of experience in government contracting in the US and internationally across a variety of fields. He has worked for several foreign governments on US and financial contracts including Kuwait, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Switzerland, Finland, and others.

Mr. Sanders practices US government law and has cooperated with intelligence agencies of the federal government to bring financial criminals to justice. He is currently studying business, communication, film, and TV production at Salt Lake Community College. He is an excellent screenwriter and training professional.

Over the last 13 years Mr. Sanders has celebrated his recovery from Cancer and become very experienced in the critical need for transportation of the disabled through being disabled himself by the surgery that saved his life. As a senior citizen Cancer survivor, he maintains his home in Turner Station in Dundalk Maryland which he visits often.