OUR SENIOR MANAGERS
Jennifer Longmire-Wright
Executive Director | Cell (410) 934-7364
Jwright@SamaritanMinistry.org
Jennifer was named Samaritan’s Executive Director in March 2026, after serving as head of Development at Samaritan for two years and also spearheading important cost-cutting and revenue-generating efforts while serving for one year as Deputy Director, Development, in charge of financial and personnel operations.
Jennifer joined Samaritan in April 2024 from Fair Girls, a Washington, D.C.-based anti-trafficking organization where she served for four years, first as Development Director, and later in the role of Deputy Director for Administration and Development.
At Fair Girls, Jennifer had the opportunity to rebrand the organization and create a variety of new administrative and fundraising systems and strategies. Ultimately, the new approach increased unrestricted funds by 50% and raised $2 million of funds through a combination of major donor gifts, federal grants, institutional support, events, and sponsorships.
Early in her career, Jennifer spent a decade as a producer at National Public Radio. She transitioned into fundraising and donor relations as NPR’s Donor Events Manager, a role she held for four years.
Jennifer received an MS in Telecommunications Management and a BS in Communications Studies from Morgan State University, where she has also served as an adjunct professor.
Additionally, she holds certificates in Grants Financial Management Training from the U.S. Department of Justice, Integrated Marketing Communications from Boston University, and Facilitating Career Development Training from the National Career Development Association, among others.
Julio Da Silva
Deputy Director, Programs
Office: (703)271-0938 | Cell: (805)888-2554 Jdasilva@SamaritanMinistry.org
Julio Da Silva oversees our Programs, including Next Step, STRIVE, and Adult Basic Education (ABE).
Previously, Julio was CEO of the Williamsburg, Va., branch of the Salvation Army, the final of several positions with the organization that he has held over the last 20 years. During this time, he developed deep expertise in nonprofit management, employee supervision and development, fundraising, program development, project management, and case management.
Julio started his career in public relations, risk management, and human resources in his native Brazil. He considers Samaritan’s work giving a second chance to people who have lacked the advantages and opportunities to make a success of their lives his calling.
Julio holds a master’s in business administration as well as bachelor’s degrees in theology and nonprofit management, among other topics.
OUR STAFF
Dianne Casey Associate Caseworker, Ignatius Volunteer Corps, Arlington Office: (703) 271-0938 | Cell (757) 656-1887 dcasey@samaritanministry.org
Dianne Casey was dabbling in volunteering as a chaplain after retiring from a career in healthcare when she heard about Ignatius Volunteer Corps, a volunteer program for retired and other Americans “50 or better,” as Ignatius calls its target demographic. Dianne jumped at the chance, and Ignatius placed her in an associate caseworker position at Samaritan in spring 2024.
“I love it. It calls on all of the experience that I’ve gained over the course of multiple careers and chaplaincy,” she said, listing the listening, empathy, patient management, organizational, and interpersonal skills that she developed while working her way up to the position of intensive care nurse and then, finally, nurse practitioner at Washington Hospital Center.
Dianne, (pictured at left with a Samaritan participant), enjoys helping Samaritan Next Step participants so much, in fact, that she increased the frequency and length of per part-time commitment to Samaritan. She will be with us for 18 months.
Ignatius was started in 1995 by two Jesuit priests who wanted to offer older Americans the same chance to work for social justice and help alleviate poverty that young people had received since the 1950s through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. The Lutheran Volunteer Corps provides social-justice-oriented volunteer service opportunities to both young and older adults.
Carol Johnson
Development Associate CJohnson@SamaritanMinistry.org
Carol Johnson came to Samaritan Ministry in September of 2021 in the position of Development Associate. Carol has served variously as Database Manager and Database and Membership Coordinator for various non-profit organizations in the areas of Faith-Based, Transportation, Advocacy, Education, and Health for over three decades. She also served as Database Manager for Amtrak’s Litigation Support for ten years, managing teams of contractors building a database for one of the largest cases in Amtrak’s history.
Carol lives in Washington, DC, surrounded by three generations of family. She has two adult children, four grandsons, four great-grandsons, and two great-granddaughters.
In her role at Samaritan, Carole finds it gratifying to combine her passion for service and duty with expertise in data management and donor relations.
Sy Jones
Volunteer and Partner Council Manager sjones@samaritanministry.org
Sy Jones has an extensive background working with students and volunteers in university settings. She holds a B.A. in Communication from the State University of New York at Buffalo as well as advanced degrees in education administration. For the past several years, she has served as Samaritan’s Volunteer Manager.
Doris McRoy
Lead Caseworker,
Congress Heights, DC office
Cell: (240) 917-4795
dmcroy@samaritanministry.org
Doris leads all of Samaritan’s Next Step program casework for Samaritan’s Southeast DC office.
She holds a Master’s degree in Psychology and Counseling and is a board-certified addictions counselor, anger management specialist, mental health specialist, and peer specialist.
Before joining Samaritan in early 2024, she worked in the social services field for 15 years, gaining experience in individual counseling, group counseling, case management, client support, and addiction counseling. Among the settings where she did this work are Goshen Health Care and CATAADA House, both in Washington DC.
“It’s always a pleasure to work with other people who want to help people achieve their goals,” says Doris.
Previously, Doris worked for several years in project and program management in the private sector. For that work, she earned a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from GWU School of Business
She also holds a Certificate of Ministry from Calvary Bible Institute.
Dr. Cheryl Mercer
Strive Employment Readiness Trainer | Cell: (571)616-0427 | cmercer@samaritanministyry.org
It was a mutual blessing when Dr. Cheryl A. Mercer came on board at Samaritan Ministry as our STRIVE Employment Readiness Trainer in December 2023.
“This next chapter for me — working as an advocate for people gaining their foothold in life again — is so exciting because it combines everything I’ve done and everywhere I’ve been with where I am now and where this is taking me,” Cheryl said.
Among the diverse experiences that have prepared Cheryl for her post at Samaritan was the one she held immediately before — serving as a college professor for inmates seeking their baccalaureate degrees through Goucher College’s Prison Undergraduate Studies Partnership in Maryland.
Cheryl has also taught life skills and job readiness to recently released inmates and served as Chair of the Board at Fairview Residential Reentry Center for Women in Washington, DC. At Prince George’s Community College, she instructed youth and young adults in skills needed to enter the workplace.
An ordained minister, Cheryl especially appreciates that Samaritan is a faith-based organization.
Demetria Savoy
Education Coordinator/ABE Instructor
Congress Heights Office
(240)273-4635 | dsavoy @samaritanministry.org
Demetria Savoy was born and raised in Washington, DC’s Ward 7. She joined Southeast Ministry in 2016 as a full-time ABE/GED instructor. In 2020, she was promoted to the Director of Academic Development and Student Affairs. She became a Samaritan employee when Southeast and Samaritan merged in late 2022.
Demetria earned her B.A. from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, in health science and policy/sociology. She also has twenty-plus years of case management experience with out-of-school youth and 28 years of experience teaching math through her tutoring service with youth and adults. Ms. Savoy has a well-earned reputation for transforming learners who fear and hate math into learners who love it.
Sarah Wood
Communications Manager | Cell: (831)238-1217 swood@samaritanministry.org
Sarah Wood is a skilled and versatile communications and fundraising professional as well as an award-winning reporter, writer, and editor. In all these things, she is passionate about using great storytelling to help make the world a better place.
At Samaritan, she manages communications and is also very involved in planning and executing Samaritan’s fundraising and events.
Prior to joining Samaritan, Sarah founded and for seven years edited and published Edible Monterey Bay, a quarterly magazine covering the food community of the Monterey Bay region of California with an emphasis on sustainability.
She has developed deep expertise in covering many topics, including business and finance, which began with an inquiry into how the owner of a Central New Jersey apartment building was obtaining cutting-edge Wall Street financing despite letting his tenants go without heat and hot water. Her investigative series on the real estate investor-owner won a state journalism award for public service and eventually led to new landlords and better living conditions for the tenants living in his more than 50 apartment complexes.
Sarah learned about Samaritan through St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square, a Samaritan partner congregation where she is a parishioner.
In addition to her work at Samaritan, she volunteers for Washington Interfaith Network and other local social justice organizations. When she has time, she also freelance writes and edits on topics including climate, environment, food, agriculture, food systems, and health.