Grassroots’ crisis programs are regarded as trusted resources and are represented locally and nationally. We’ve received recognition from our partners and elected officials and are honored to serve those who are in need in our community. Check out some of our notable accomplishments!
Grassroots was honored to meet with Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller who presented our team with recognition that stated: “Because of your demonstration of high integrity and ability, meriting our great trust and respect, we are most pleased to award you the Governor’s Citation in appreciation of your outstanding services to the citizens of this State.
Maryland State Comptroller Brooke Lierman presented Grassroots with a proclamation to celebrate our “transformative efforts to provide behavioral health, crisis, and homeless services for people throughout Howard County whenever needed.”
Grassroots Executive Director Dr. Mariana Izraelson was named one the Daily Record’s Top 100 Women for the work she is doing to advance the community and to help individuals who are learning to cope with and manage crises, mental health and substance use related conditions.
Grassroots received special recognition from Congressman John Sarbanes to celebrate our expansion and move to our new crisis center location. The certificate recognizes our “commitment to provide 24/7 single point access for behavioral health, crisis and homeless services for individuals and families” and offers “deep gratitude and appreciation for [our] dedicated team members and [our] continued efforts to meet to the crisis intervention demands in Howard County.”
Our team was granted a citation from Delegate Jessica Feldmark on behalf of the Howard County delegation in the Maryland General Assembly. According to the citation, Grassroots is recognized for our “unwavering efforts to provide housing, mental health services and a wide variety of emergency resources to Howard County and beyond.”
Grassroots was recognized by the Howard County Council for our expansion of services to our new crisis center at 8990 OId Annapolis Road. We were presented with an honorary resolution by County Councilperson Opel Jones. It reads, in part: “[T]he County Council of Howard County, Maryland, commends the Grassroots staff, volunteers, and donors on their exemplary commitment to the provision of emergency shelter, mental health services, and substance use disorder services to our residents.”
Grassroots Executive Director Dr. Mariana Izraelson was featured on the HoCo Community Chat podcast. Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services Dir. Jackie Scott discusses the issue of homelessness with Rose Burton, administrator of the Office of Community Partnerships; Kelly Cimino, the director of Howard County Housing & Community Development & the board chair of the Coalition to End Homelessness; and Dr. Izraelson, who is also a board member of the Coalition to End Homelessness.
WMAR-TV highlighted Grassroots and other local nonprofits that were selected to be part of the first-ever Giving Machine MidAtlantic, an innovative giving program.
Grassroots Executive Director Dr. Mariana Izraelson spoke about Grassroots’ services on the What’s the 211? podcast by 211 Maryland. She talked about behavioral health support for people in crisis, including homeless services and food support offered by our agency.
WJZ-TV/CBS Baltimore shared news about our Children’s Counseling Room, created by the Girl Scouts from Troop 1508. These young ladies designed and developed this room in order to bring comfort to the children and adolescents who visit Grassroots for mental health support or while their families seek housing or related assistance.
The Pew Charitable Trust’s Trend Magazine featured Grassroots Executive Director Dr. Mariana Izraelson who offered information about what happens when an individual calls 988. She also talks about what’s involved with running a mental health, suicide prevention and substance use disorder crisis line.
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 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 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).