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RIYA GUPTA (SHE/HER) is the Interim Executive Director at Strong Schools Maryland. She is originally from northern New Jersey, but has lived in and made Baltimore her home for the past 6 years. Recently, Riya has earned her Master’s of Science in Public Health with a concentration in child health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health where she is conducting an equity analysis of Baltimore’s 21st Century School Buildings Program as her thesis. Riya’s work is centered around both public health and data — she aims to create change through data and research that is expressed in an accessible and equitable way.
Riya's enthusiasm for high quality, safe education for all students is rooted in her work within Baltimore City school system including at the William S. Baer school and the Academy for College and Career Exploration as well as the community she found along the way. Riya enjoys exploring the nooks and crannies of Baltimore as well as experimenting in the kitchen. She can be reached at riya@strongschoolsmaryland.org
KALEA HARRIS (SHE/HER) is the Digital Engagement Associate at Strong Schools Maryland. At a young age, Kalea developed a passion for creating a better tomorrow. From early on, she fed that passion by working to organize biannual Red Cross Blood Drives through her local high school and serving on the Mental Health Emergency Fund's Mindful Ministries Collective program, where she facilitated meditations for girls of color in Baltimore and the surrounding areas.
Kalea also currently serves as a Development Coordinator for A Revolutionary Summer, an intensive, critical, reading and writing program for black girls and femmes in Baltimore. Kalea’s identity is curated by her lifelong experiences in both Baltimore City and County. Her experience in both public school systems drives her desire for educational equity and reform. She can be contacted at kalea@strongschoolsmaryland.org
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KENZIE FUNK (SHE/HER) is the Policy Advocate at Strong Schools Maryland. She was first connected to Strong Schools Maryland as an Organizing Intern, through the Pizzigati Children's Advocacy Fellowship at the University of Maryland. There, she earned her bachelor's degree in Neurobiology and Physiology, with a minor in Public Leadership. Her professional journey focused on healthcare and education, with experiences as a medical assistant and as a member of Terps for Change under her belt. Those experiences helped Kenzie realize that she wanted to advocate for change within these systems.
A lifelong resident of Baltimore County, Kenzie is excited to be working with the Strong Schools Maryland team, again advocating for a world-class school system and empowering community voices--all within the place she calls home! Outside of work, she enjoys traveling to new places and exploring everything Maryland has to offer. She can be contacted at kenzie@strongschoolsmaryland.org