Our Team
OUR TEAM & BOARD AT FLM HAITI
DIANE NEELY BATES, DIRECTOR
Diane Neely Bates is an entrepreneur, author, and speaker. She guides her life according to this saying: "I am blessed to be a blessing to Others". When she was a young woman, her parents stressed service and giving back to family and community. She has lived her life so that her children (Ken, Juan, Andrea and Charity) and her grandchildren (Drew, Jala, Jordan, Adrian and Kinny) can be proud of her giving and blessing others. She wants them to say: “I want to be like my mom/grammie when I grow up. Bates' life of service includes ministry to Light of Life Rescue Mission (Inspirational Programs and Pre-Thanksgiving Event); Urban League Women Family Services (Coat-athon program); Reformed Presbyterian Home (Ministry Events for Senior Residents); UPMC Children’s Hospital (Make-a-Wish Program) and Pre-Christmas Community Program for the Needy/Forgotten. She has been recognized by the New Pittsburgh Courier as a “Woman of Excellence,” which was an honor that she shared with others who helped/sponsored her in Ministry. She said she just wants to make her parents, George and Robena Neely proud and continue their legacy of service!
ALLEGRA JOHNSON, DIRECTOR
Allegra Battle Johnson is the Communications Manager for Propel Schools. She is an award-winning reporter, audio journalist, and blogger. Battle began her career as a morning news anchor for WAMO 106.7 FM in Pittsburgh. In 2017, she was selected as a RIAS German fellow and traveled to Brussels, Belgium, and Berlin and Hamburg Germany, where she covered the 2017 German elections and studied European politics and German history and culture. In 2018, she was awarded an Artist Opportunity Grant from the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council to research and report on the influence of African art and culture in Haiti. She has also worked as a freelance reporter for WESA 90.5 FM, where she covered Pittsburgh-related Arts and Culture stories. She holds a BA in Broadcast Journalism from Howard University in Washington, D.C.
VERNA CRICHLOW, DIRECTOR
Verna Crichlow, Elect Lady, is a retired math teacher for the Woodland Hills school district; the owner of Caribbean Vibes Steelband; a former WYEP Volunteer deejay for Caribbean Rhythms; a volunteer for Global Pittsburgh with the Pittsburgh Council of International Visitors; and a Sunday School Teacher at Holy Cross Episcopal Church. She is also a cancer survivor who volunteers at the Hillman Cancer Center. She is an organizer with the FLM-Haiti annual walk-athon.
GINA DESSOURCES BENJAMIN, DIRECTOR
Gina Dessources Benjamin was born in Haiti and grew up just outside of Boston. For almost two decades, she has served the poor and those with mental health issues as a Clinical Social Worker in Boston. She is active with the Haitian community and her local church, where she helps to meet the social service needs of Haitian immigrants at the Mount Olives Community Center. Dessources Benjamin, a licensed social work, is a seminary student at the Boston campus of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where she focuses on global leadership and missions, partnership development, and the intersection between spirituality and global mental health. She serves on the medical committee with FLM Haiti (Pittsburgh) and a board member of FLM Haiti (Boston Chapter). She speaks Haitian Creole fluently and travels to Haiti frequently on missionary assignment.
ERVIN E. DYER, PHD, DIRECTOR
Ervin Dyer is a senior editor/writer with Pitt Magazine at the University of Pittsburgh. He has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in journalism and a doctorate in sociology from the University of Pittsburgh. He serves with the communications committee on the FLM-Haiti board. When he is not traveling, writing, or playing tennis, he is thinking about and praying on how to help the people of Haiti.
THE REV. MOLLY T. GOLANDO, DIRECTOR
The Rev. Molly T. Golando’s passion is to help Haitians help themselves. She has worked with FLM-Haiti to create a summer teacher-training seminar in Thomassin for the area’s primary school teachers. Over the years, the seminar has grown to more than 100 participants. Besides the teachers’ seminar, she also joins with the education mission team to bring enrichment to students at the FLM–Haiti primary/secondary school. She has also worked on a sewing education seminar with the goal of having her Haitian women partners learn a cottage industry. To build on these efforts, she has generally traveled to Haiti two times each year since 2008. “The Haitians are such beautiful people,” Golando says, “you just can't help wanting to go back again and again!” She holds a BTSC from United Theological Seminary and a master’s degree in education from SUNY Fredonia. An ordained United Methodist deacon, Golando serves as a pastor for the United Presbyterian Church in Randolph, N.Y. She is married to her wonderful husband, David. They have three adult children and one granddaughter.
DR. ROBIN MCGUIRE, DO, DIRECTOR
Robin McGuire is an obstetrics and gynecology specialist in the Pittsburgh region. She has more than 25 years of experience in the medical field. She graduated from Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine medical school in 1996. She has traveled annually with FLM Haiti mission teams since 2014 and joined the medical committee in 2015. She joined the FLM Board in 2020.
ROSE ELLEN MOCOMBE, DIRECTOR
Rose Ellen Mocombe of Oviedo, Florida is a happily married housewife with two teenage boys. Her desire is to make the world a better place for all. She enjoys reading, eating good food, and spending time with family and friends. As a Functional Literacy Ministry of Haiti board member, Mocombe hopes to use her administrative skills to collaborate on current and upcoming fundraising projects that will benefit the people of Haiti. Mocombe’s work experience varies and includes positions across multiple industries, everything from being a class coordinator, support representative, community director, and administrative assistant. She holds an M.Ed. from the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, and a Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University, Hamilton, NY.
LYNN MORAN, PHARMD, DIRECTOR
Lynn Moran has been a Joint Commission surveyor since 1990 and also serves as faculty for The Joint Commission in-home care and hospital pharmacy programs. Previously, Dr. Moran was Pharmacy Manager for Caremark in Columbus, Ohio, managed two hospital-based infusion companies in the Columbus area, and was employed as a pediatric pharmacist with Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. In addition to other pharmaceutical roles, she worked as a clinical pharmacist for UPMC St. Margaret’s from 2010-2014. She received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Pittsburgh, and her PharmD from The Ohio State University. She has served as the pharmacist on the medical team many times in Haiti. She loves Haiti and its people.
DANIELLE M. SMITH, DIRECTOR
Danielle Smith is an award-winning audio journalist and on-air personality with WGBN AM 1360 Gospel Radio Station in Pittsburgh. Smith hosts a weekly community affairs show called Good News. The show spotlights individuals that are making a positive impact in Pittsburgh and globally. In 2012, she organized a Church of God in Christ annual luncheon to educate local churches about the organization and the work needed to assist the Haitian people. Smith captured first place honor in the Radio/Public Affairs category of the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation 2017 Robert L. Vann Media award for her feature interview “SisterFriend Provides Feminine Care Products to Homeless Women.” In 2016, Smith was selected as one of the 50th Women of Excellence by the New Pittsburgh Courier. Smith holds a bachelor's degree in broadcasting from Point Park University.
RHONDA TALIAFERRO, PHD, DIRECTOR
For more than 35 years, Rhonda Taliaferro was a teacher and administrator with the Pittsburgh Public Schools. Though retired, she continues to serve in education as a part-time university supervisor in the Education Department at Chatham University in Pittsburgh. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Duquesne University, and master’s and doctorate degrees in educational administration and policy studies from the University of Pittsburgh. She has served on the Education Committee with the FLM-Haiti Board for two years. Some of her favorite pastimes include international and domestic travel, cooking, theater, sharing with friends, classical music, and jazz, jazz, jazz. In gratitude, she serves with FLM-Haiti’s educational colleagues to empower children in Haiti.
BOSTON FRIENDS OF FLM HAITI
SUZE F DEJARNETTE, PRESIDENT
Suze F. DeJarnette was born in Haiti and grew up in Boston. She speaks fluent Haitian Creole. She has a Bachelor of Arts from the College of the Holy Cross and master’s degrees from Tufts University and UMass Boston in teaching and applied Linguistics. A teacher for more than 15 years, she also loves serving on the worship team at Jubilee Christian Church. She is a board member and educational committee member of FLM Haiti (Pittsburgh).
FRANNCIA CHARLOT
Franncia Charlot was born and raised in Haiti. She moved to Boston in 1996. She graduated from Eastern Nazarene University with a bachelor’s in Christian ministry and an associate degree from Bunker Hill in Culinary Arts. For 15 years, she worked as a special needs teacher. For 10 years, she was active with Jubilee Christian Church. She moved to North Carolina in 2016 and attends Cleveland Community Church, where she serves with the First Step, choir, and prayer ministries and is a connect group leader. She is a special needs teacher and multiple group home manager. She also volunteers with Meals on Wheels, Salvation Army, and Library of the Blind. She has been foster-parenting for two years. In addition, she leads Sisterhood Ministry in North Carolina, and is a liaison of FLM Haiti Boston Friends.
BARBARA JOHNSON
Barbara Johnson is a member-at-large in FLM Haiti Boston Friends.
KATANI SUMNER
Katani Sumner is a veteran educator with the Newton Public Schools in Massachusetts, and has served as counselor, teacher, literacy specialist and gospel choir director. She has an EdM from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education and is a certified reading teacher. As an associate pastor at Jubilee Christian Church, she is happy to bring her passions for ministry and literacy to the FLM Boston Friends.
MAGDA C MORRIS, MSLIS
Magda C. Morris is a librarian and has been working in libraries since she was in high school. She also volunteers with the middle school ministry at Jubilee Christian Church. Currently, she serves as secretary of FLM Boston Friends.
ALLIANCE d’ ACTION CHRETIENNE
(BOARD OF DIRECTORS, HAITI)
OFFICERS
Bishop Leon D. Pamphile, Executive Director
Pastor Osse Paul, Deputy Executive Director
Saincal Renestil, Board Chairman
Reverand Romilus Louis, Secretary
Guerlande Jean, Treasurer
Dr. Dieudonne Catule, Director
Patrick Canon, Director
Eluid Louis Jacques, Director
Reverand Duriel Clermont, Director