Grassroots Adds Two New Board Members

Grassroots Crisis Intervention announces that it has elected two new members to its Board of Directors. Howard County residents Kulsoom “Kay” Kagzi and Liz Wilkinson have joined the Board, bringing diverse experience to help grow Grassroots’ impact in the community.

As a seasoned healthcare leader with 26 years of pharmacy experience across various sectors in hospital, retail, pharmaceuticals, clinical consulting, and industry relations, Kagzi has actively championed mental health and substance use disorder initiatives. Her commitment to giving back stems from a belief in the power of small, incremental actions to create meaningful change.

According to Kagzi, “I am inspired by Grassroots because of its profound and positive impact on the lives of individuals in our community. The center’s mission aligns perfectly with my passion for ensuring vulnerable populations have access to essential healthcare. Contributing to a team that addresses urgent community needs resonates deeply with my commitment to compassionate care.”

Wilkinson, who works as part of Amazon’s content acquisition team, is driven by a deep passion for using data, analytics, and innovative thinking to drive positive change. While she’s had the opportunity to help large corporations grow and evolve, she has also looked to apply those same skills to serving the greater good of her local community.

“The work of Grassroots resonates with me on a personal level,” said Wilkinson. “I’ve seen firsthand the challenges that individuals and families can face during times of crisis, and I’m inspired by the organization’s mission to provide comprehensive support and resources to those in need. As a board member, I’m honored to leverage my expertise to help expand the reach and impact of Grassroots’ vital programs.”

Joe Eldred

Director of Homeless Services

Joe Eldred joined Grassroots in 2023 as director of Homeless Services where he oversees the emergency shelter programs and the Grassroots Day Resource Center. He started his career in homeless services nearly 20 years ago, having previously worked in education, after participating in a homeless count in Seattle. He has held every position in affordable housing from Onsite Property Manager to Director of Housing and Property Management.

Over his years, Joe has run all types of housing offerings including those for individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use issues, seniors, farm workers, and those with disabilities and HIV/AIDS. He has also worked with many different types of funding programs including HUD, PRAC 202, PRAC 811, USDA Rural Housing funds and funding services designed to break the cycle of homelessness like Continuum of Care and the Maryland Homelessness Solutions Program. Joe has had the opportunity to see how housing programs differ throughout the country, working in Seattle, Chicago, Harrisburg, PA and Ventura, CA, among others.

Nancy Campbell

Sr. Director of Operations & Corporate Compliance Officer

Nancy Campbell supervises the operations of Grassroots, including HR, finance, emergency shelter, homeless services, case management and facilities. She has more than 30 years of experience in managing organizations’ operations activities, mostly in the human services field. 

Community support is a passion for Nancy. She feels that mental health and homelessness often co-occur, and her goal is to develop strong strategic plans that meet the needs of Grassroots’ clients. She looks to make a difference by effectively working with our programs and staff to explore what we can offer to the community. She pays special focus on efforts that help individuals adjust while in the emergency shelter, as well as those that help them achieve stable housing. Nancy has her PMP, master’s degree in Psychology and MBA, and is currently in school to pursue a Doctorate in Leadership and Organizational Management.

Laura Willemin, LCSW-C

Sr. Director of Clinical and Crisis Services

Laura Willemin oversees all of the clinical and crisis services at Grassroots, including the crisis line, walk-in services, 988 crisis chat and text services, Mobile Crisis Team, substance use disorder program, urgent care mental health services and Outpatient Mental Health Clinic. She joined Grassroots in 2021 having previously served as manager of the Child and Adolescent Mobile Psychiatric Services for the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. She also worked in Prince George’s Child Protective Services, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children in the community.

Laura’s career has been concentrated in intense, fast-paced, high-acuity, safety-related and high-risk areas of practice. She appreciates the opportunity to support individuals and families during the most difficult or intense circumstances they may experience through the lifespan. She has a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work and is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-C).