About The Founder, LaTara harris
LaTara Harris is a change catalyst with nearly 30 years of experience in both corporate and nonprofit sectors. In 2023 LaTara was appointed as the CEO & President of the longest standing organization serving teen girls, Crittenton Services of Greater Washington. Harris comes to Crittenton after a celebrated tenure at AT&T, where she served as the Director of External and Legislative Affairs in the Mid-Atlantic for almost 11 years. Harris focused on local legislative and regulatory affairs in Maryland, Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Southeastern Pennsylvania. Harris joined AT&T after over a decade of working at the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education in high-level executive roles, including Director of Partnerships and Outreach.
During her time with AT&T, Harris demonstrated exceptional leadership doing the critical work around the company’s obligation to prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace. Harris earned her undergraduate degree from Bowie State University and her MBA from the University of Maryland. She spearheaded several initiatives, including the launch of AT&T Scholarships with the nation’s oldest HBCUs – Lincoln and Cheyney Universities, and the establishment of Tech Centers at various YMCAs and Boys & Girls Clubs around the country, having provided thousands of internship and mentorship opportunities for youth.
Harris has shown a powerful commitment to elevating women’s voices in business, emphasizing the critical importance of Black and minority leadership in corporate and nonprofit sectors. She founded We Empower Women Inc., a global women’s empowerment organization that aims to uplift and motivate women of all walks to take the next step toward their full potential. She has personally mentored dozens of individuals over the years to identify their gifts and find their space in this world. This work also led to Ms. Harris becoming a co-founder, alongside her children, of Youth Leaders in Training, an organization focused on leadership development and volunteerism. In 2015, Harris was recognized as Maryland’s Top 100 Women by the Maryland Daily Record and has received several other outstanding awards:
· 2020 AT&T Women of Color Graduate
· 2019 National Congress of Black Women – Sisters Empowering Sisters Award
· 2017 Washington Business Journal – Minority Business Leader Award
· 2015 & 2014 US President’s Volunteer Service Award
· 2014 High Tea Society’s – Communi-Tea Service Award
· 2010 Maryland Daily Record – “VIP Successful by 40” Award
About the ceo, terrie hunt
Terrie Hunt is an executive nurse leader with a proven track record of success in leadership, quality, patient outcomes, fiscal management, and healthcare administration. She is an effective transformational leader and change agent capable of developing and sustaining high performing teams, driving improvements and outcomes. Her philosophy is to provide high quality care to those in need and to design care that is specific to the person in need.
She has served many roles throughout her 42- year career including Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, National Nurse Consultant, Principal Project Director, Regional Care Director, and Adjuct Professor of Nursing. She has worked in many settings including the University of Maryland Medical System, Center for Medicare and Medicaid, American Institute for Research, CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, and more.
She is an accomplished healthcare leader with degrees in nursing, counseling psychology, and healthcare administration. A graduate of the Greater Baltimore Committee Leadership Program, she also holds certifications in care management, business management, and cost containment, and was named a top leader to watch by the Community Health Centers of America. Her published work with the National League of Nursing contributed to a 95% increase in vaccination rates for underserved children in Baltimore.
Now retired, she enjoys traveling while continuing to advocate for improved healthcare, particularly for Black women in maternal health. She is married with one daughter, two grandchildren, and a legacy of mentorship as a mother figure to many.
About the board chair- Nona Carroll
Nona Carroll is an executive leader and systems strategist with over 15 years of experience advancing workforce development, educational equity, and cross-sector collaboration. She currently serves as Chief of Talent Ecosystem at Baltimore’s Promise, where she leads the design and implementation of a citywide career pathways system, aligning K–12 education, employers, public agencies, and community organizations to expand economic mobility for young people across Baltimore.
Prior to this role, Nona served as Deputy Director & Chief Program Officer at the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT), and as Interim CEO, where she guided the organization through a leadership transition while strengthening statewide partnerships and securing multi-million-dollar investments to scale career-connected learning and workforce initiatives.
Nona’s leadership extends across multiple boards and advisory bodies. She is a Board Member of the Pearl Foundation, Inc., serves as Co-Chair of the Youth Committee and is a member of Executive Board and for the Baltimore Workforce Development Board, and previously Chair of the Justice, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee for Maryland Nonprofits. She also contributes to statewide strategy as a member of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Pillar 3 Advisory Committee.
A resident of Anne Arundel County, Nona is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.®, Iota Lambda Omega Chapter. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Webster University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Public Accounting) from Colorado State University.
As Board Chair of We Empower Women, Nona brings a vision centered on leadership, access, and collective impact. “For me, this role is about more than leadership—it’s about creating space for women to lead boldly, to be supported in their growth, and to ensure that our collective voice drives meaningful change in our communities.”
