Board Member

Samantha Rose Balaba is a National Honor Society senior at Paint Branch High School in Burtonsville, MD, where she actively engages in numerous extracurricular activities such as the Varsity Cheer Team, The Community Service Club, and STEM Club, where she currently holds the position of Vice President..

Her outstanding organizational and interpersonal skills have enabled her to successfully serve in various leadership roles including two-time Captain of the Fashion Bootcamp program in Montgomery County MD, Student Body president, and camp counselor.

Ms. Balaba has recently been accepted into the Scholars Program at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she plans to pursue her studies in Business Management starting in fall 2023. Throughout her childhood

Ms. Balaba has been dedicated to serving her community in various capacities such as volunteering with the DUNN Foundation to pack backpacks for students in need, donating canned goods to the Washington DC Food pantry to combat food insecurity, organizing clothing drives with A Wider Circle to collect professional clothing, and contributing as a brain development research study participant at the National Institutes of Health, an activity that has been a significant part of her life since the age of eight.”

.

Board Member

Dr. Lillian Agbeyegbe is a public health practitioner with over decades of experience in program planning and implementation. She earned her Doctor of Public Health degree from University of North Texas Health Science Center, and her Master of Public Health (MPH) in Community Health Education from The City University of New York – Hunter College. She earned her Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Economics from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.

Dr. Agbeyegbe has worked on the issues that disproportionately affect women including human trafficking, healthy housing, homelessness, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, and female genital mutilation.

Dr. Agbeyegbe is the founder of The Rest Of A Life (TROAL) and has served on many boards including the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV) and Court Watch Montgomery County. She is currently serving a second-term as the Maryland Governor's appointee on the state Family Violence Council. 

Dr. Agbeyegbe is an adjunct faculty at the HBCU, Bowie State University, where she teaches a graduate class in domestic violence crisis counseling. She is the Community Engagement Manager on the Strategic Initiative on Sex Trafficking team at Polaris, a leading national anti-trafficking organization.

Dr. Agbeyegbe is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and is also Certified in Public Health (CPH).

Deputy Public Relations Officer

Ms. Vivian Idowu received her Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Biology from Morgan State University, in Baltimore, MD and Masters of Arts (MA) Degree in Strategic Communications and Public Relations from Trinity Washington University, in Washington, DC. 

Ms. Idowu has a passion for marketing and public relations especially towards supporting women to become better than they were yesterday hence, her alliance with She Rises Int’l, Inc. 

Professionally, Ms. Idowu currently works as a Communication Specialists at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with HR&A. 

Secretary

Dare Nwaka was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in Physiology. She then pursued a Post baccalaureate program at the George Washington University in 2003 where she obtained her certification in Diagnostic Ultrasound. She is registered with the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography in General and Vascular Ultrasound (RDMS, RVT). With a passion for people’s health, Dare decided to pursue a Master’s in Public Health from Capella University and graduated in 2017.

She is the Founder and CEO of Divine Scanning, a company tailored to tutoring new students and cross training present ultrasound technologist to perform vascular studies.  She has a passion to educate and provide expert hands-on training to those interested in pursuing a career in vascular ultrasound. Dare Nwaka is also the author of Vascular Technology Made Simple

During her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children. She also volunteers her time with the community outreach program at her local church.

Board Member

Josephine Akintonde is currently a nursing professor, a board-certified maternal child educator. Her role as a professor provided the opportunity for mentoring student for professional success. Josephine has over 35 years mentoring experience in both non for profit and for-profit organization. She has served as a health consultant for non-for-profit organization helping to reduce infant mortality, advocating for the children and their families. 

Josephine has extensive experience in community development, Program evaluation and Advocating for the female optimal wellness. She has served on the executive board of many organizations (on economic, education, social issues) including the National Association of Female Executive and Mercy Medical Inc. Josephine was an active member of the Rose Court Inc and organization that focuses on developing girls into professional women.

She has strong passion for collaborative work, capacity building and positive social

impact.

Josephine earned her B.S.N and M.Sc. degree from University of Maryland and currently pursuing her doctoral degree. She is married with three children, one grandchild and enjoying listening to music during her spare time.

Director of Finance

Tiwa is an attorney with a heart for humanity and is passionate about causes that promote equity, particularly for girls and women. Born in the United States and raised in Nigeria, she earned her law degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria and her LL.M in Taxation Law from the Villanova University School of Law in Pennsylvania, USA. She started her legal career 25 years ago in Africa with brief stints in a mid-size law firm and an Oil & Gas multinational company, before relocating to the US.

Her commitment to community service has placed her in various roles including serving as a Girl Scout volunteer for more than a decade and at her local church. As a proud mom with kids interested in Robotics, she served as secretary on the board of her local Robotics chapter. Professionally, Tiwa has held several positions including as a Regulatory Compliance Consultant advising charitable and nonprofit organizations. She owns a tax and business consulting practice which focuses on providing IRS and Tax Court representation to individuals and small businesses as well as representing nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations on federal tax regulatory issues.

Presently, she also works as an International Tax Law Analyst for a leading research platform tax technology company where she also serves as the lead Technical Editor for the Transfer Pricing Forum.

Tiwa enjoys cooking, playing the piano, and is a lover of music. She happily married and is mom to three college kids, including twin girls.

Deputy Director of Communication/Board Secretary

Mercy O. Idoko is a Legal Analyst with years of experience in  public Safety and law, Immigration and community development. 

Mercy has worked in the field of Legal mediation and held various  positions with Maryland county Courts, she currently Coordinates  a few Government programs.

Mercy is the Founder & Success planning Coach/Immigrant Consultant at Seehomeland Agency, an Immigrant financial Planning Agency. Mercy is the author of two children’s book – “Social Norms for Teenagers", and "The Adventures of the Young" Politician”. Mercy is popularly known as America's Immigrant Coach.

Director of Legal Affairs

Sade Dada is an Attorney with extensive policy and civic engagement experience. She is currently the Director of Legal Affairs/Chief Legal Officer of SHE RISES International, Inc.—a non-profit organization that proactively advocates for gender justice and equity locally and throughout the developing world. She also serves on the African Diaspora for Good Governance DMV Capitol Area Leadership Team—a non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure that Africans in the diaspora are educated and organized to participate in political activities, both as voters and as candidates for elected offices and promoting good governance in the diaspora and on the continent of Africa. 

Through roles such as serving as the Chairwoman of United People for African Congress, serving on the Civic Engagement and Community Service Committees and as Director of Political Engagement of local National Urban League auxiliaries, and partnering with various organizations and projects in Prince George’s County and throughout the country, Sade has dedicated herself to serving and advocating on behalf of the community before local, state, and federal policymakers. She is committed to ensuring that EVERYONE, not only has their individual needs met, but also has a seat at the decision-making table.

Sade is a former candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates representing the 26th District of Prince George’s County. She is the recipient of several awards including Prince George’s County Forty under 40, Umoja Award, Excellence in Activism, and Outstanding Woman in African Diaspora.

Professionally, Sade is Public Policy Manager, (Global) Connectivity and Access at a top technology company where she works on broadband deployment policy to ensure communities have access to the internet and its economic and social benefits. Sade believes that increased access to information and modes of communication can significantly improve the lives of people and propel communities into economic and social success. Sade has utilized her extensive legislative and regulatory experience to achieve great policy objectives on the job and in communities.

Sade earned her B.S. in Journalism from Georgia Southern University, her M.S. in Telecommunications from Indiana University, and her J.D. from Indiana University Maurer School of Law all before the age of 24.

She is licensed to practice law in the U.S. District of Columbia.