| Meet the Staff |
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This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , Executive Director
Dr. Maria Hanlin did her undergraduate work at Vanderbilt University, her Masters of Divinity at the School of Theology at Claremont, and her doctorate in "Ministry with the Poor" at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. Maria has served as the Director of Admissions for the School of Theology at Claremont, as the chaplain at a home for emotionally abused teenage girls in California, and for 20 years as a pastor in various congregations in Los Angeles and the Charlotte area. Dr. Hanlin has been the Executive Director of Mecklenburg Ministries since June 2005. During this time, Mecklenburg Ministries has grown its congregational membership from 50 to 97 and has initiated many programs/councils including the In Our Own Backyard Interfaith Service Camp, Youth Leadership Council, annual Awards Breakfast, Interfaith Clergy Habitat Builds, Clergy Advisory Board, Liaison Council, “In Their Shoes” Homeless Awareness Walk, and Friday Friends program and festival. Attendance at the Annual Citywide Interfaith Thanksgiving Service has grown from 300 to more than 1,500, and Mecklenburg Ministries has collaborated to produce two award-winning documentaries, Souls of Our Students and Souls of Our Teachers, and will soon release the third installment in the series, Souls of Our Neighbors.
Maria serves on the Crossroads Steering Committee, The Benefit Bank Advisory Committee, The City’s Community Cabinet, the Charlotte Mecklenburg School Superintendent’s Interfaith Advisory Committee, and the Crisis Assistance Advocacy Committee.
Maria is married to Tim Hanlin and they have 3 children: Anna (a teacher in Baltimore), Brittany (a senior at Howard University) and Carey (a sophomore at Chapel Hill.)
"I am honored and excited to be part of this vital ministry in our city and build upon the legacy of the past 20 years. Today more than ever the mission of Mecklenburg Ministries is essential as we learn what it means to love God and to love our neighbor across our different faith traditions. What a difference we can make in our city as we partner together."
Anne VanNewkirk, Project Director, Soul to Soul Anne VanNewkirk is an inter-personal skills consultant and sole proprietor of VanNewkirk & Associates which specializes in diversity training and facilitation. Over the past 14 years Anne has worked with Mecklenburg Ministries in various capacities including facilitator, volunteer, board member, and consultant, most recently as a contract project director of "Souls of White Folks" and the new "Soul to Soul" project. Anne holds a bachelor's degree from Bryn Mawr College and a master's degree from Wake Forest University. She has lived in Charlotte for 25 years and is a member of Charlotte Friends Meeting.
Katharine Willis, Director of Communications and Data Management
Katharine is a communications specialist with more than 15 years of experience. Before joining Mecklenburg Ministries, she was a writer and editor for nearly 14 years at Blackbaud, the world’s leading provider of software and services for nonprofit organizations.
A Columbia, South Carolina native, Katharine holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in News-Editorial Journalism from the University of South Carolina.
Katharine has lived in Charlotte since 2003 and is a member of Myers Park United Methodist Church where she serves as board chair of The Children’s Circle preschool, facilitator of The Children’s Ministries Team, and a member of the United Methodist Women executive committee. Katharine and her husband have two children.
Mary Hall, Director of Administration Mary has lived in the Charlotte area since 2005. She and her husband Derrick have three daughters, Morgan and Megan (graduates of Spelman College and current graduate students at Georgia State University) and Maci (currently attending Spelman College). Mary holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Administration and worked a few years in her respective field, but chose to stay home with her daughters throughout their school-age years. Mary has been involved with numerous community outreach projects, civic organizations and boards, as well as church and faith-based programs. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., RPO, Inc. and The Junior League of Charlotte. She also currently serves on the Board of Directors for Alexander Youth Network, as Financial Secretary for The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Queen City Metropolitan chapter and as Secretary/Treasurer for the Charlotte Chapter of the Tuskegee University Alumni Association. Mary and her husband are members of The Park Church.
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