We Rise mentors are Baltimore area community members and leaders who guide, direct and shape the younger generation.

 

Board Members

 
 

Tom Marudas

Tom Marudas comes to the We Rise program with nearly 50 years of professional experience in housing development, asset management, and community relations in and around the Baltimore area. He has extensive expertise in managing and implementing community outreach programs and housing policy and development in the City of Baltimore that will prove invaluable to the We Rise program.

Martin McCrae

Originally from Washington DC, Martin McCrae has stayed local to the DMV area and serves as a financial analyst for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Martin and Todd met through their involvement in the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity at Morgan State University, where Martin received his bachelor’s degree in Economics. Martin also holds a master’s degree in Management of Information Systems from Bowie State University. He brings over 30 years of financial analysis experience to We Rise and strongly believes in its mission and vision. Martin is heavily involved with his church, Matthews Memorial Baptist Church, of which he is a trustee.

 

Dolores Bellinger Deel

Dolores Bellinger Deel is a multifamily asset management team leader at The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Dolores describes her work as partnering with owners and management professionals to provide safe and affordable housing for residents in need throughout the great state of Maryland.

Dolores has spent decades working with both private and public owners and knows that a truly sustainable, successful, and financially stable neighborhood depends on all the partners doing their share and going “all in.”

Dolores has launched many connecting initiatives while working at the state, including a Non-Profit Consortium Conference, Statewide Partner Meetings, and Training Seminars. While working in the private sector, Dolores was one of the founding members and served on the original Board of Directors for the Maryland Chapter of the National Apartment Association (MMHA). She was also a trainer for the Maryland Chapter, NALP class that provided nationally recognized certification for management professionals throughout the state of Maryland. In addition to her extensive property management and marketing experience, Dolores is an experienced trainer and coach.

Dolores boasts her greatest joy is her perfect (just turned four years old) grandson Mason. She shares that Mason has autism, and it is through that new lens she has learned more about the importance of “all in” diverse thinking versus diversity training.

She believes that grassroots and rolling up your sleeves and learning from the ground up makes you confident, bold, humble, and ready. Her superpower is love.