About The Civic Circle
The Civic Circle is a Silver Spring, Maryland-based nonprofit that brings civics alive for very young children with music and drama shared in assembly and after-school programs. For more information, please contact Eliza Newlin Carney at ecarney@theciviccircle.org.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Cesar Anaya-Delgado
Cesar Anaya-Delgado advises clients on nonprofit law and governance at the Mill Law Center, which helps nonprofits achieve sustainability and impact. He has supported legal aid, health care, and education nonprofits in underserved communities, and held posts during his legal studies at Smartsheet Inc., and at the
U.S. Court of Appeals in Boston. A first-generation Mexican American, Cesar is passionate about advancing community empowerment through legal knowledge and guidance.
Rick Cohen
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Rick Cohen is Chief Communications Officer and Chief Operating Officer for the National Council of Nonprofits (NCN), the nation’s largest network of charitable nonprofits. His focus includes media relations, finance, and human resources. He previously served at the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers (now United Philanthropy Forum). Rick holds a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Quinnipiac University. He is The Civic Circle’s Board Vice Chair.
Ann Levin
Ann Levin is an international health economist and president of Levin and Morgan, LLC, which provides expert public health technical assistance to such clients as the Asian Development Bank and the World Health Organization, among others. She has served on the boards of the Capital Interfaith Hospitality Network, Friends of Families with Children from China, and the D.C. Rape Crisis Center. She is The Civic Circle’s Treasurer.
Daniel Obregon
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Daniel Obregon brings more than 20 years of experience leading marketing, communications, and go-to-market strategy for education technology companies and national nonprofits in the education and workforce development sectors. He is the founder of Market Simply, a marketing consultancy partnering with mission-driven education organizations. Previously, Daniel held executive and senior leadership roles at Leading Educators, Jobs for the Future, and the Common App. He holds a Master’s in Communications from American University, and a Journalism BA from the University of Maryland.
Kathleen Schmermund Pavich
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Kathleen Pavich is a seasoned democracy practitioner who brings expertise in the nonprofit sector, civic education/engagement programming, organizational strategy and fundraising. Kathleen currently serves as Director of Programs and Operations at Street Law, Inc., a civic and law-related education nonprofit. She previously served as a legislative aide for several members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Adam Peyman
Adam Peyman has been leading programs, operations, people management and strategic planning in the international environmental and biodiversity nonprofit sector for close to 15 years. He most recently served a Global Director of Programs and Campaigns for Earth Day Network. His work has included broad outreach, engagement and educational programs and some have incorporated original art and music. Adam holds a Masters of Science in Environmental Sciences and an MBA.
Catherine Sheehy
Catherine Sheehy is an associate director of sustainability disclosures at United Therapeutics, the Silver Spring-based biopharma public benefit corporation. For more than three decades, she has worked at the intersections of business, economics and society to advance corporate responsibility efforts and LGBTQ+ workplace policies. She previously held posts at UL, Accenture, The Human Rights Campaign, and the Investor Responsibility Research Center. She chairs The Civic Circle’s Strategic Planning Committee.
Neetha Tangirala
Neetha Tangirala serves as the Protect Dissent Network Manager at Proteus Fund, where she supports and strengthens a national network of local, state, and national partners working to protect the right to protest and dissent as a cornerstone of an inclusive democracy, through relationship-building, strategy convenings, shared learning, and resource coordination. A longtime advocate of global youth civic engagement, she’s held roles at the U.S. Agency for International Development, Amnesty International, the National Endowment for
Democracy, and IREX.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Mady Chalk
Mady Chalk is a senior consultant at The Chalk Group with extensive experience in strategic planning and leadership development, including civic education, for nonprofit organizations. She is a well-known behavioral health expert focusing on quality and improvement in the organization, financing, and delivery of mental health and addiction treatment services. In her current post, she consults to Medicaid agencies as well as private and public health plans.
Theodore Goldstock
Theodore Goldstock is a business attorney with Lerch, Early, & Brewer Chtd. in Bethesda, practicing in the areas of corporate law, commercial transactions and commercial litigation. He also has extensive experience advising nonprofit entities on all aspects of their governance, including mergers, joint ventures, and obtaining exemptions from income tax.
Carlos Orbe Jr.
Carlos Orbe, Jr. is the Senior Communications and Public Affairs Specialist for Maryland Latinos Unidos, spearheading initiatives in education, health, and environmental policy. He earned a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, and has held a variety of posts with The Maryland General Assembly’s Legislative Latino Caucus, The Judicial Proceedings Committee of the Maryland State Senate, and the Offices of the U.S. Attorneys at the Department of Justice.
Margo Reid
Margo Reid brings decades of experience as a writer and producer in documentary film to her current consulting work with Capacity Partners in nonprofit governance, strategic planning, and consensus facilitation. Her clients include arts, social service, and educational organizations. Volunteer work includes board positions with Glen Echo Park Partnership, Bethesda Cares, and Community Bridges. Her work to advance social action through film included the Oscar-nominated documentaries BULLY, and How to Survive a Plague.
Trevor Schmutz
Trevor Schmutz is a Grants Management Specialist at ServeDC, Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Office on Volunteerism and Partnerships. He previously worked in donor services and event production at the Art Institute of Chicago, and also provided operational support to one of Chicago's larger restaurant groups. He was The Civic Circle’s AmeriCorps VISTA team member in 2021-22, and has a Master's in Public Policy from George Washington University. He is part of The Civic Circle’s Advisory Council.
Ericka N. Stevens
Ericka Stevens is a native Washingtonian with more than 15 years of experience supporting nonprofits and grassroots groups in grants management and capacity building. As Director of Contracts & Operations at Employ Prince George’s, she leads contractual and operational processes and policies that govern the administration for workforce and economic development throughout Prince George’s County and the D.C. region. She is part of The Civic Circle's Advisory Council.
YOUTH COUNCIL
Will Fermaglich
Will Fermaglich is a sophomore at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School (B-CC). At B-CC, he is involved in cross country, track, and basketball. Away from school, he is the State Chair of Maryland High School Democrats and Chair of his local chapter. Will is very excited to join the Civic Circle Youth Board and promote civic values.
Angelle Mbongwo
Angelle Mbongwo is a junior at Albert Einstein high school and she is very excited to be a part of The Civic Circle's Youth Council! She is very passionate about civic engagement through the arts. Angelle is also a part of her school's Poms and dance team.
Aashita Thakar
Aashita Thakar is a senior at Springbrook High School. Her extracurricular activities include playing on her school’s field hockey team, and volunteering at alocal hospital. She has a passion for social change and helping her community.
Savannah Thompson-Jones
Savannah Thompson-Jones is a current junior at Thomas S. Wootton High School. She is excited to be a youth council member of the board. She is passionate about the importance of civic engagement and learning how to run a non-profit. Savannah is a member of her school's Model UN and her Amnesty International Club.