MEET THE TEAM

STAFF

Nicole Furnace - Executive Director

nicole@brooklandvillage.org / 202-658-5958

Nicole joins GBIV with a background and passion for housing inclusion, real estate equity and community led advocacy. Prior to GBIV she founded and served as CEO to Roots Consulting, a firm that provides diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), anti-racism and allyship trainings and workshops focused on real estate, affordable housing, inclusive development and land use policies. She loves empowering future allies to embrace a culture of learning and preparedness to embrace DEI principles and anti-racist values.

She holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from The University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from The University of Southern California. She lives in the NE DC with her partner and serves as Coordinator of Chaos for three kiddos. If she’s not working on a home improvement or renovation project, you can find her experimenting in the kitchen. Feel free to share great recipes, kitchen gadgets, tips and techniques. 

Kinyofu Mlimwengu - Community Organizer

Kinyofu@brooklandvillage.org / 202-750-3601

Kinyofu has been inspiring generations of resilience from wombs to classrooms for over 20 years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Community and Human Services and Master’s Degree in Education. Combined with her roles as a Birthworker, Parent Educator, Coach, Workshop Facilitator, Author, and Public and Private School Teacher she is in a perfectly unique position to fully advocate for families.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bessie Watts - Board President

Bessie is currently a Director at a private equity firm where she manages an External Directors program and is responsible for leveraging executive relationships strategically to advance the broader firm's strategy. Prior to, Bessie worked as a Director at CARE USA serving as the Operational Lead and Chief of Staff to the Innovation team and Chief Innovation Officer. Bessie is a graduate of Spelman College and Georgetown’s Master’s in Foreign Service Program. Although a DC native, Bessie was raised in Durham, NC. Since college, she has spent her professional years in New York City, Atlanta and DC.

Lindsay Jordan - Board Treasurer

Ms. Jordan, an accounting and finance professional, has been living in D.C. since 2002. After a decade of working in the restaurant and hotel industry for brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, Ms. Jordan merged her exceptional client service and hospitality skills into a professional services career at EY. Since 2014, Ms. Jordan has served as a technical accounting and financial reporting advisor. She has been a Certified Public Accountant since 2015. Ms. Jordan is also co-owner and co-founder of Gravitas, Baker’s Daughter, and Michele’s restaurants and a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu culinary school.

Jodi Narde - Board Secretary

Jodi Narde is currently the Director of Editorial and Publications at New America, where she partners with researchers and policy experts to connect their work to broader audiences. Jodi has over 10 years of experience in strategic communications work across global nonprofits, academic publishers, and think tanks. She holds a Master of Public Administration degree in nonprofit management from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. She lives in Brookland with her partner. 

Joseph Keller - At-Large Board Member

Joe Keller is a neuroscientist turned technology policy researcher with a background encompassing academia, government, and civil society. His experience includes positions at the Brookings Institution, the American Psychological Association, the National Science Foundation, and within the nonprofit executive search sector. Joe holds a BS from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, a MA from Boston University, and a PhD from MIT. Born in DC, he has returned to the area and resides with his partner and daughter. Joe is on the GBIV Membership Committee.

Sharon White - At-Large Board Member

Sharon was born and raised in southeast Washington, DC where she worked diligently in her community. Her hard work enabled her to win a DC Federation of Civic Associations Youth trophy - featured in the Afro-American Newspaper. After moving away for 35 years, serving her community was at the forefront of her mind, so she moved back to DC. She then volunteered at So Others Might Eat, Food and Friends and AARP Experience Corps to teach reading fluency to elementary school aged children. Sharon has a Master of Arts degree in Education and Human Development from GW University. She retired following a 37 year career in teaching various subjects to pre-school through college aged students around the DMV. Sharon has a passion for community engagements - especially when it pertains to seasoned citizens. Sharon is on the GBIV Program Committee.

Laura Worby - At-Large Board Member

Laura has lived in D.C. since 1979 and in Brookland since 1990. She is a retired family nurse practitioner and is currently working part time as a forensic nurse examiner. She has served on several boards in the past, including for a non-profit medical clinic, a daycare center, a peace and justice organization, and the Nurse Practitioner Association of DC. She is also an active member of Brookland's Huddle for the Future, a group of activist women working on a wide range of local and national issues. Laura is the chair of the GBIV Program committee.

Joan Stahl - At-Large Board Member

Joan has lived in DC for more than 25 years. She holds an MA from University of Maryland and an MLS from Rutgers University. Currently working as Director, Research and Instruction, University Libraries, The Catholic University of America, she has also served as Head Librarian, George Washington's Mount Vernon and Head, Slide + Photo Archives, Smithsonian American Art Museum, among other positions. She is a volunteer at the U.S National Arboretum and the Humane Rescue Alliance and chair of the GBIV Membership Committee.

Christina Fenton - At-Large Board Member

Christina Fenton is the Assistant Director of Program Operations at the School of Public Health at the George Washington University. There she manages events and programs for adult learners. Before moving to DC, Christina lived in Austin, TX and worked at the University of Texas at Austin. During her time in Austin, she ran enrichment programs for seniors in connection with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Christina is a lifelong learner who loves plants, thrifting, and adventuring with her family. She moved to Brookland in 2014 with her husband and together they have two young daughters and a puppy.