Our Staff and Board

Director
Jennifer Summers

Raised in Louisville Kentucky, Jenn has lived or worked in Over-the-Rhine for 26 years. She has learned from lifetimes of Over-the-Rhine residents working for our city, raising children, tending elders and committed to building just community. Formally trained as an educator and practically raised up in activism, she feels blessed each day to be in a space of continual learning and fighting for what’s right. She loves storytelling, sitting on stoops and porches and cooking and eating with friends. When she’s not working with neighbors for justice, she might be riding her bike, hanging out with her partner or being outsmarted by her beautiful children. Two of her favorite changemakers are Angela Davis and Zora Neale Hurston.

Receptionist
Marilynn Anderson
(513) 621-5514 ext. 12

Marilynn has lived in Cincinnati for about 40 years, and worked in Peaslee’s building for 24 of them! With a background in early childhood development, she worked in the early learning center on Peaslee’s ground floor until 2021. Since then she has worked at the front desk as one of our receptionists, but seeing kids come and go is still her favorite part of the job. Marilynn also enjoys listening to jazz and visiting her son and three grandkids.

Community Education Coordinator
Jennifer Arens
(513) 621-5514 ext. 15

A transplant from the Boston area, Jenn has lived in Cincinnati since 2014. She loves learning, every day, from wise people who challenge power to do what is right, and she is deeply grateful to have a job that allows her to dig into social justice with people of all ages and backgrounds. She thoroughly enjoys sing-a-longs, puns, and Wikipedia, and she will be your best friend if you watch women’s soccer with her. She’s inspired by activists like Audre Lorde and Dorothy Day.

Custodian
Larry Fogle

Larry was born in Cincinnati and grew up in Over-the-Rhine. He loves spending time with his family and is always working to make himself a better person. Larry’s favorite pastimes include watching TV, action movies, and horror movies, and listening to R&B and gospel music. His favorite changemaker is Kehinde Wiley.

Communications Coordinator
Liz Gottmer
(513) 621-5514 ext. 10

Liz is a Cincinnati native who is passionate about equitable education and housing for everyone from everywhere. She is a member of MUSE, Cincinnati’s Women’s Choir, and loves breakfast, learning languages, and walking with her dog Lou. Her favorite changemaker is Malala Yousafzai.

Youth Program Facilitator
Rachel Hollins

Rachel Hollins is Peaslee’s Youth Program Facilitator. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Rachel takes a personal interest in local issues especially pertaining to youth advocacy. She is formally trained as a social studies educator for grades 7-12 and completed a Master’s program in Education in 2022. Rachel is inspired by June Jordan and James Baldwin.

Receptionist & Program Outreach Coordinator
Shelia Jefferson

Shelia relocated to Cincinnati in June 2022 from Huntsville, Alabama–the Space & Rocket City.   She is very passionate about helping those in need, and has served the elderly community and folks experiencing homelessness, as well as tutoring youth at various schools in Huntsville. Shelia loves everything on PBS that gives her more knowledge and challenges her thinking. She loves spending time with her kids and grandkids. Shelia is inspired by Shirley Chisolm, Bessie Coleman, and her grandfather Joseph T. Banks, who was a community servant and leader.

Piano Program Coordinator
Elena Kraineva

Elena Kraineva recently moved to Cincinnati and is enjoying living in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. She holds a Doctor of Music degree from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Ms. Kraineva actively performs internationally and in the US as a soloist and as a member of various chamber music groups, including Harmonie Universelle (USA), Musical Offering, and Duo Vitruviani. An active educator, Dr. Kraineva has given master classes and lectures in the US, Austria, Germany, Canada, Brazil, and Russia. Elena enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as traveling and learning about different places and people. In her spare time she loves painting, reading books, swimming and watching movies. Her favorite changemaker is Sofia Kovalevskaia.

Peaslee Kids Lead Teacher
Alex Okonta

Chris Heckman
Board Chair

Chris is the managing member of Losantiville Collective where he designs mementos, decorations, and awards as Hood Ornaments inspired by the historic urban architecture of OTR. He has lived in Over-the-Rhine with his wife Kristen and their children Otto and Flora since 2009, and has been a board member at Peaslee since 2011. He founded the local chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, which seeks ambitious bipartisan climate action.

Dr. Bob Donovan
Board Treasurer

“Dr. Bob” is a family physician with the Health Care for the Homeless Program and the Center for Respite Care who’s lived and worked in Over-the-Rhine for over 30 years. He is also a Marianist Brother.

Bob feels that the vision and mission of Peaslee fits well with his personal hopes for all the people of Over-the-Rhine.

Elizabeth Burnside

Though originally from Chicago, Elizabeth has discovered a deep sense of purpose and community during her years in Cincinnati. She serves as a Community Mentor in Peaslee’s community education program, and as an Over-the-Rhine resident has played a leadership role in the Keep Our Courts/Do Development Differently coalition. Elizabeth has a background in early childhood education, and has been working for the last five years in the Imani after-school program at Rothenberg Preparatory Academy, where she is also a dedicated volunteer in the Parent Resource Center. She graduated from Chatfield College with an Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts, and is now working on a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Colorado Christian University. Her hope for the community is that they realize they can make it in life no matter their situation. Elizabeth’s endless desire to learn and deep well of compassion are life-giving resources at Peaslee and beyond.

Danielle Evans

Danielle is the Director of Development at The Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio. As a Cincinnati native, Danielle enjoys the arts and connected community that Cincinnati offers. She lives with her husband, Anthony and their children Jaelynn and Irie. Danielle is a passionate fundraiser who loves raising awareness for worthy causes and programs making the most impact in our Cincinnati community. Outside of work, Danielle enjoys writing poetry and motivational content.

Bonnie Neumeier
Board Member, Co-Founder of Peaslee

Bonnie is a community activist, a teacher, a storyteller, a poet, a listener, and one who includes everyone. She is one of the women who founded Peaslee, the Drop Inn Center, Over-the-Rhine Community Housing, and the Over-the-Rhine People’s Movement.

Yet beyond Bonnie’s many accomplishments in fighting for affordable housing and basic human rights, her integrity, untiring efforts, and compassion to include and nurture the voices of those who get dismissed has impacted countless families and individuals.

Tamika Odum

Tamika Odum began her professional career in higher education administration, where she spent most of her career focusing on student and academic affairs. She provided advocacy and support for women, people of color, and LGBT students, faculty, and staff. After spending close to 10 years in higher education administration she decided to change career paths to become a scholar-activist. Her research interest focuses on women’s experiences with and access to reproductive healthcare with a specific interest in Black women and communities who live below the poverty line. Throughout her career, she has built strong connections with the community by serving on local community boards, church affiliations, and working with women’s advocacy groups in the city of Cincinnati. In the classroom, her teaching expertise includes a variety of sociology courses, including but not limited to Introduction to Sociology, Sociology of Race, Sociology of Sex and Sexuality, Gender and Society, Sociology of the Family and Health, Medicine, and Society. She is committed to speaking truth to power wherever she finds herself. She is a mother, mentor, teacher, scholar-activist and servant leader. She currently serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Behavioral Science at the University of Cincinnati.

Mark Samaan

Mark is a transit service planner for Cincinnati Metro and resident of Northside. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Urban Studies from Tufts University and a Master’s of Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati. He is a near life-long Cincinnatian and co-founder of the Better Bus Coalition, which worked to improve the bus system around riders’ needs and demand investment in the local public transportation system. His work and interests in transportation as well as housing are centered around designing an equitable city for longtime residents and newcomers alike. Mark also serves on the Northside Community Council as the Membership Secretary.

Ed Slater

Ed is a longtime neighborhood resident and lives just around the corner from Peaslee on Main Street. Ed works for the Center for Respite Care located on the third floor of the St. Anthony Center at Liberty and Republic. The Center for Respite Care is a 24/7, 20-bed medical facility providing medical care and case management to folks experiencing homelessness and needing a place to recover after a stay in the hospital.

Ed and his partner, Stephen, share their place with three dogs – Charlie, Juliet, and Ramiro. Long walks through the neighborhood are always delightful. Activities outside of work include singing with the Cincinnati Men’s Chorus and volunteering as a mural tour guide for ArtWorks.

Sr. Terry Thorman, SC
Board Member

Sister of Charity Terry Thorman met Peaslee Neighborhood Center in 1990. Bruce Weil, who directed the amazing Peaslee Steel Drum Band, was hiring a piano teacher to instruct the steel drummers to read notes, so he called Terry and the rest was history! In 2022 after thirty-some years, Terry retired from teaching piano at Peaslee—but didn’t want to retire from Peaslee, and has stayed connected by attending Women’s Writing Circle and recently by also becoming a board member.

Jae Washington

As the Senior Community Manager at
Headspace, Jae Washington designs and leads community-rooted initiatives that connect B2B clients with Headspaceʼs offerings. Through strategic engagement and innovative content, Jae fosters meaningful connections, enhances
program visibility, and drives lasting impact.
Jae is also the owner of Birdie in the Hand, LLC, where she partners with organizations to redefine company culture. As a consultant and coach, Jae specializes in cultivating mindful leadership, cross-functional alignment & accountability, and strategies that yield measurable results. Through individual coaching and leadership development training, she facilitates both personal and professional transformation.

Christopher Wilkey

Chris is faculty at Northern Kentucky University. In addition to his duties as a Peaslee board member, he co-directs the Over-the-Rhine Community Writing Collaborative, a partnership between Peaslee and NKU’s Department of English. The Collaborative promotes writing activities that honor and celebrate the voices of OTR residents and workers that have often been denied a space in public discourse and policy-making.

Chris also pursues ways for others to share their voice. Chris is the embodiment of everything Peaslee wants for Over-the-Rhine and Cincinnati… thoughtfulness of others and pride in your roots.