A bit about me…

I’m a Baltimore City girl, proud Coppin University alum, and a die-hard Ravens fan!  I started my nonprofit career working for the Maryland Food Bank in the early 90s and since then have worked for various nonprofit organizations in New York, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, and New Jersey.   I slowed down enough in between those travels to marry a delightful man, Ebra Traore, and started a family that includes a fully emancipated 23-year-old son, Dean, and a furry Cavapoo named TonkaBoy!

I’m the family griot of my large extended family and as such I write and produce short animation stories about my childhood and the funny experiences of growing up in a large family.  It is one of my most favorite things to do along with cooking, watching great films, and day-tripping through the mid-Atlantic region.

I love the mission of VLP, and it touches a great memory for me when my sister and I would cut school on rainy days and head to the central branch of Enoch Pratt Library and spend the entire school day immersed in reading books, magazines, and newspapers from all over the world!   That was the beginning of my passion for lifelong learning.   And to now work at an organization that focuses on lifelong learning is a full circle moment and a dream opportunity for me!

I’m very excited about the direction that VLP has charted for its strategic plan that will include a comprehensive capital campaign to improve the space and service offerings of the library.  We are reimagining this space with a 21st-century lens that will include optimized functionality, comprehensive collection of books and periodicals that represents the beautiful tapestry of our community, renovated spaces for community events, and a host of other changes to elevate our presence and value to the community.  It will be an exciting phase for us and I’m looking forward to engaging with the community to make it happen!