Community Team
Walkiria Pool, MSc
Walkiria is the President and founder for Centro de Apoyo Familiar or Center for Assistance to Families (CAF), a non-profit organization with offices in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Massachusetts. The mission of CAF is to transform communities and families through economic, social, and educational empowerment in collaboration with community and faith-based organizations. Her professional career spans more than 20 years of experience in community development, community engagement and outreach, and the housing industry with a focus on affordable housing, wealth and asset building. Walkiria has implemented numerous community outreach projects and has extensive experience developing, launching and managing environmental health awareness and literacy projects in historically underserved and under resourced communities. She has served in several leadership roles including serving as Chair for the Maryland Governor’s Hispanic Affairs Commission, Co-chair for the state of Maryland’s Complete Count Committee, Board member for Maryland Cash Campaign, Advisory Board Member for the Lakeview Community Capital LLC; Advisory Member for the University of Maryland, School of Public Health Community Research Advisory Board, and other local non-profit agencies and academic institutions.
Damaris Batista, MA
Damaris is co-founder of Centro de Apoyo Familiar or Center for Assistance to Families (CAF). She is the Executive director of CAF’s Lawrence, Massachusetts office and oversees The Connectors, a national capacity building program for clergy serving Latino churches that prepares them to serve as a bridge between their congregations and their communities. Damaris brings over 15 years of experience in the area of leadership development, management, and program development. She holds a BA in Psychology from University of Massachusetts at Boston and a MA in Mental Health with specialty in children, youth and families from Southern New Hampshire University. She has served at her local church as youth, children, and family minister director.
Katrina Randolph
Katrina is an experienced hairstylist and with over 32 years of expertise and a Certified Community Health Worker (CHW) in the State of Maryland, she has served as a frontline public health worker bridging the gap between health and social service entities and her community to improve access to essential services. Katrina played a pivotal role during the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as one of the lead hairstylists for the Black Coalition Against COVID, Shea Moistures Hair Care Products and The Hair Network initiative. She helped recruit 1,000 barbers and stylist to complete a COVID response training and spearheaded the only vaccine clinic in a salon for teenagers aged 12-18, combating misinformation within her community. Additionally, she was instrumental in transforming numerous barbershops and salons into vaccine clinics across Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, and Baltimore City. This engagement improves the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. She is also responsible for building individual and community capacity by increasing health, knowledge, and self‐sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, education, social support, and advocacy in marginalized communities. She has assisted in multiple public health campaigns in underserved communities, including serving as lead instructor for a White House Covid-19 mitigation initiative. Beyond her work during the pandemic, Katrina is also a certified prediabetes lifestyle coach and has received other certifications to promote better health outcomes in communities of color.
During her free time: she enjoys self-care, spending time in nature, family time, dancing, shopping, and traveling.
Elsa Kerry
Elsa is a Hair Salon Owner, an entrepreneur and an influential community leader who greatly emphasizes her family and is deeply rooted in her faith. She holds the position of CEO and founder of Kery’s LLC. This prominent business oversees the operations of two flourishing beauty salons and a highly regarded small business consulting firm in Maryland. Elsa is the co-founder of SafeTech, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to empowering small businesses through the implementation of cutting-edge technology. Before embarking on her entrepreneurial journey, Elsa accumulated an impressive 20 years of experience in a variety of critical business functions including business administration, payroll management, contract and grant accounting, accounts payable, human resources, employee training, logistics, and employee relations during her noteworthy tenure at the University of Maryland College, where she occupied several pivotal roles over 18 years. Elsa’s unwavering commitment to personal and professional growth is evident through her pursuit of a Management Studies degree with a minor in Business Administration from UMUC, and her current endeavor, pursuing an MBA. Her entrepreneurial spirit drove her to establish her own business a decade ago, and under her proficient guidance, the company has experienced continual success and growth.
During her free time: she enjoys hiking and loves to take long walks.
Sarrah Davis, MPA
Sarrah is hair salon owner and hairdresser by training and the Founder and Executive Director of Taino Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides vital mental wellness tools and resources to underserved populations. Sarrah has a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science Pre-Physical Therapy with a minor in Psychology from Florida A&M University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a Health concentration at the University of North Florida. Before founding Taino Inc., Sarrah held major roles in the non-profit sector. As the Director of Operations at the YMCA of Northwest Florida in Pensacola, Florida, and the Associate Executive Director of Community Health Strategies at the L.A. Lee branch of the YMCA of South Florida in Ft. Lauderdale. Sarrah’s work at YMCA was focused on addressing critical community issues, ranging from food insecurity and transportation challenges to unemployment, health disparities, education gaps, and mental health concerns. Sarrah’s personal and professional mission centers around her dedication to helping individuals facing health disparities, including mental health issues, mental disabilities, and women’s health. Her vision is to empower them to lead active and fulfilling lives by providing access to essential resources.
During her free time: she enjoys cooking, dancing, and outdoor adventures!
Academic Team
Lesliam Quiros-Alcala, PhD, MSc
Dr. Quirós-Alcalá is an engineer, exposure scientist, and environmental epidemiologist by training. She received her PhD in Environmental Health Science from the University of California at Berkeley and is currently faculty at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Quirós-Alcalá research focuses on the critical intersection of chemical exposures and human health, particularly in vulnerable populations. She spearheads investigations into the impact of chemicals found in everyday consumer products, including personal care and beauty products, on the health of vulnerable populations. Together with community team members, she led some of the first studies to assess exposures to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) among hairdressers of color and continues this work today, integrating an environmental justice, community-based participatory approach. Her work aims to inform public health policies and address environmental health disparities to improve the lives of vulnerable populations.
During her free time: she enjoys traveling, dancing, hiking, and participating in salon community health events.
Anna Z. Pollack, PhD, MPH
Dr. Pollack is an environmental and reproductive epidemiologist by training and her research focuses on endometriosis and endocrine disrupting chemical exposures. Anna is on faculty at George Mason University. Her research addresses endometriosis risk in relation to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS, chemicals common in nonstick cookware, clothes, and other products) in uterine tissue. She has experience investigating how chemical exposures affect women’s health, specifically studies of the menstrual cycle and reproductive hormones.
During her free time she enjoys hiking and gardening.
Magdalena Fandiño, PhD, MSc
Magdalena is a Research Associate in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Magdalena is from Colombia and has worked extensively in evaluating exposures to endocrine disrupting chemicals, including phenols, phthalates, volatile organic compounds, and how these exposures affect different health outcomes, including inflammation, oxidative stress, lung health and reproductive health among hairstylists and low-income children in low-income communities.
During her free time: she enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and dancing.