KENDRA JOHNSON
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Motown native Kendra Johnson began her musical journey in the church, where her childhood passion for singing first took root. Over the years, she’s blossomed into a dynamic and versatile artist, seamlessly blending gospel, jazz, neo soul, R&B, and more. Her sound is a rich tapestry woven from these influences, reflecting both depth and soul.
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She’s graced stages across the East Coast, Midwest, Carolinas, and the DC area, with notable performances at The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, The Fillmore, Twins Jazz Club, Montpelier Arts Center, and the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival.
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Kendra’s voice has been featured at high-profile events including AT&T’s Black History celebration, the National Association of Broadcasters gala honoring Jon Bon Jovi, and programs for Howard University Law School, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the U.S. Naval Academy, FDA, and The Victim’s Rights Foundation.
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Kendra has graced the airwaves on WPFW 89.3’s LIVE @ 5, performed at the Strathmore Arts Complex, and lent her vocal talents to a broad range of local artist projects across the DMV. After collaborating with a diverse array of gifted musicians, she’s now stepping into the spotlight with her own recording project in the works.
CORAE YOUNG
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Corae Young is the Chief Executive Officer of Young Consulting Services, Inc. (YCS). YCS is a consulting firm that provides training and technical assistance to faith based and nonprofit organizations that help to build organizational capacity.
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While this business has been in existence for three years, Corae has been providing
these services to organizations across the DC metropolitan area for more than 15
years due to her expertise in the field.
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In 2022, Corae was selected as one of the top 13 “Southern Maryland Women to
Watch” by Southern Maryland News. She is currently part of the 2026 cohort for
Leadership Southern Maryland. As part of her role with Young Consulting, she serves
on the planning committee for the Nonprofit Institute at the College of Southern
Maryland’s annual Nonprofits Conference, and on the Nonprofit Institute’s Strategic
Partner Council. She is an independent, licensed consultant trained by the Standards
for Excellence Institute, to help nonprofits improve accountability and best practices,
using the Institute's resources and expertise.
She also operates as a Certified Church Consultant through Thom Rainer’s Church Consultation University, helping churches to fulfill their mission in a strategic way. Corae also serves faithfully at her home church, Free Gospel Church of Bryans Road. Due to her two children’s history with premature births, she also serves on the NICU Patient and Family Advisory Council for Quality and Safety (PFACQS) at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.
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Corae has a double Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Sociology from the College of
William and Mary, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a
concentration in Nonprofit Management from American University.
Corae has a sincere heart for those who are most vulnerable and believes that collaboration is key in serving people effectively. She currently resides in Waldorf with her husband, Louis, daughters, Jada & Joanna and retriever Sky.
SHADAE PAUL
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Shadae brings 15 years of global health experience to Cornerstone for Women Leaders, having worked across five continents to improve the health and wellbeing of women and children worldwide. Before founding Cornerstone, she led pediatric care studies in Kenya and contributed to publications at the University of Washington. While working at the START Center, she consulted on global health projects for the Gates Foundation focused on reproductive health, health systems strengthening, vaccine delivery, and improving access to maternal and child healthcare. Her leadership and expertise reflect her dedication to advancing global health and empowering women.
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Shadae held her senior-most leadership position as President of the Washington County Commission for Women, having previously served as Vice President and Commissioner. In this role, she represented over 76,000 women across nine municipalities in Washington County, Maryland. During her tenure, she guided the commission through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under her leadership, the commission launched and coordinated multiple community-based initiatives in partnership with local nonprofits dedicated to supporting women and girls. In collaboration with fellow commissioners, she played a pivotal role in leading the commission through its milestone 35th anniversary, which resulted in a series of public-facing events, a comprehensive marketing campaign to elevate awareness of the commission’s impact, and strategic community engagement efforts. Additionally, she spearheaded the launch of the first-ever TEDx event in Western Maryland, a groundbreaking initiative that continues to thrive and inspire thought leadership in the region.
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Shadae has served on several nonprofit boards, including as a Founding Board Member of The Brighter Horizon, which provides financial literacy to women in recovery and survivors of domestic violence. She was also a member of the Maryland Maternal Health Task Force, chaired by the Maryland Department of Health, which unites key stakeholders to address the needs of pregnant and postpartum women in the state.
HALEIGH SWANSEN
Conservatory Operating Manager & Instructor, Sight & Sound
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Haleigh Swansen is a summa cum laude graduate of Penn State University’s Schreyer Honors College, where she earned a B.A. in English and minored in Civic & Community Engagement, and an alumna of Sight & Sound Conservatory, where she has served on staff since 2020. Her career path has included detours into the worlds of education, music, freight management, film, administration, and the performing arts. A former publications specialist, Haleigh’s writing (150+ published articles) has been featured by educational news sites, creative journals, periodicals, and beyond. Haleigh is passionate about exploring the intersection of faith, art and leadership — and she's always thrilled to meet people who share that passion.
ASHLEY GARLAND
Director, Faith House at the Frederick Rescue Mission
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ABOUT FAITH HOUSE
Through Christ’s love, the Frederick Rescue Mission rescues people from hunger, poverty, and substance use addiction. Faith House is an employment focused program that provides housing and healing for women who have experienced trauma. At Faith House, the residents get stabilized, secure employment, and work towards being able to provide for themselves and their families so that they can live independently.
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Support, Like, and Share!
Visit the Frederick Rescue Mission at www.therescuemission.org and follow them on social media: @FrederickRescueMission
SIGHT & SOUND
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ABOUT SIGHT & SOUND
Sight & Sound is a family-owned Christian entertainment and arts organization dedicated to bringing stories of the Bible and Christian faith to life through exceptional storytelling, creativity, and the performing arts. Founded nearly 50 years ago, Sight & Sound has grown from a small multimedia presentation into a nationally recognized organization reaching millions of people through live theater, film, television, streaming, and arts education. Its mission is to “tell His story through who we are and what we do.”
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The organization’s flagship Sight & Sound Theatres operate in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Branson, Missouri, producing large-scale, immersive theatrical experiences that bring biblical stories to life through music, acting, elaborate sets, special effects, and live animals. Through Sight & Sound TV, the organization extends these productions beyond the theater, making its stories accessible to audiences around the world through streaming and digital platforms. Sight & Sound Films expands the organization’s storytelling to the big screen, producing feature films based on true stories of faith and historical figures whose lives were transformed by Christ.
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Sight & Sound also invests in the development of the next generation of artists through the Sight & Sound Conservatory, a professional performing arts program that provides rigorous training in acting, singing, dance, and other disciplines within a Christ-centered, biblical worldview. Through its theaters, television and streaming platform, film production, and Conservatory, Sight & Sound brings together artistry, technical excellence, professional development, and Christian faith to create experiences that inspire audiences and equip artists to use their gifts for a greater purpose.
You Belong Here​
Come be encouraged, equipped, and connected.
Let's Flourish together.