We believe that extraordinary leaders exist in every community and at every level.

Step Up Maryland is a civics literacy and public leadership development organization.

Our mission is to develop those leaders and propel them into roles that strengthen our communities and our democracy. We help people understand their own power and how to use it to make change in their neighborhoods, cities and across the state.

Our theory of change is simple.

  • Create opportunities for aligned leadership at every level of civic life;
  • Engage directly impacted communities in leading change;
  • Build a new political culture based on radical collaboration where leaders work across social, geographic and political boundaries to tackle common problems.

Rather than allowing the coalition established by citizens, activists, and elected leaders to dissipate after election day, we believe that an engaged, empowered citizenry can leverage their power to hold their elected leaders accountable and help deliver policies to address the issues facing their community.

I was part of the New Leader Boot Camp training program as a first-time legislator. One of the most significant aspects of the program was developing relationships with my peers before we were even sworn in. This eye-opening experience provided a glimpse into the types of legislators we would become over the next four years, and created a foundation of trust and honesty, which proved essential throughout our legislative journey.

Shannon Sneed
New Leader Boot Camp 2016

Our Story: Growing Passionate, Committed Leaders

In 2014, then as the Progressive Leader Pipeline project, Step Up Maryland launched New Leader Boot Camp. The program, first of its kind in the country, was designed to begin the work of cultivating a radical culture of collaboration by helping newly elected legislators build the relationships, confidence, and knowledge they need to be effective on day one.

Since then, Step Up Maryland has continued to train the next generation of passionate, committed leaders—our neighbors, our teachers, our mentors—using a groundbreaking curriculum of leader development and training, including New Leader Bootcamp and the Boards & Commissions Leadership Institute. We are also empowering our communities by highlighting ways to leverage their power and build co-governing relationships with elected leaders, with programs including Block Captains and an extensive menu of community engagement workshops that we tailor to the needs of our partners.

Over the last decade, we have trained thousands of activists, campaign workers, and candidates, all of who have gone on to participate in campaigns, pass legislation, and serve as strong advocates in their community.

Meet Our Team

Joanne Antoine

she/her

Joanne Antoine is a Haitian American political strategist, organizer, and trainer. She currently serves as Executive Director of an organization where she advocates for pro-democracy reforms at all levels of government and has experience creating and training on participatory government and electoral campaign strategies.

Mauricio Ayon

he/him

Mauricio has over 25 years' experience building powerful coalitions for change in Washington State. He has a background in business leadership, lobbying lawmakers on a diverse range of community issues, and developing legislative and political strategies. Mauricio has served as the Political Director for community-based nonprofits and labor unions. As Political Director, he led the organizations' political and legislative strategies and serves as an advisor to policymakers and movement leaders.In 2015, Mauricio was honored to receive the Roberto Maestas Legacy Award from El Centro de la Raza. Mauricio is fluent in both English and Spanish and moved to the United States in 1989 from México.

Brittny Baxter

she/her

Brittny Baxter is a DC based consultant with over fifteen years of strategic communications,
program management and instructional design experience in campaign and non profit spaces.

In the past, she has worked with diverse coalitions to advance various campaigns designed to improve the lives of working class people. As the founder of Politico Noir Consulting, she provides clients with tailored culturally relevant strategy, messaging and programmatic solutions. Previous clients include Netroots Nation, Gainpower, March On, and the Working Families Party.

Charly Carter

she/her

As the founder of Step Up Maryland and Step Up to Lead, Charly brings more than 30 years of experience in grassroots advocacy, leadership development and movement building. Over her career she has recruited and trained more than 3,000 local, state and federal candidates across the country and developed a national training program that deploys more than 50,000 volunteers each election season.

Carolyn Coles

she/her

Carolyn Coles is passionate about empowering others through education. An experienced educator in Baltimore City Schools, she is dedicated to fostering student engagement and community involvement. She has a strong background in advocacy and civic education and has participated in numerous workshops that have shaped her teaching philosophy. Carolyn facilitates Step Up Maryland’s community-building workshops where she shares her insights and strategies with aspiring leaders.

Maridian Skyy Garcia

they/them

Maridian Skyy is a Baltimore raised artist, organizer, facilitator, and creative director whose work is rooted in community care. In 2019, they founded “Light Within the Margins” (LWM), an organization that centers creative expression, inter-generational healing, mindfulness, and storytelling. Maridian Skyy facilitates Step Up Maryland’s community-building workshops where participants explore various themes related to mental health within the black and afro-indigenous communities .

Stacey Gavins-Gay

she/her

Stacey Gavins - Gay, is a Self Care Advocate and Entrepreneur who actively puts Self Care and wellness at the forefront of her life through her brand StaceyKnowsBetter. Fueled by her inclusive mission to help others, Stacey leads community workshops across the region to motivate others to create a better life for themselves, using Self Care as a catalyst for positive change.

Partners

Using Step Up Maryland’s expertise and service as a trusted resource, Center for Urban Families and Step Up Maryland have been engaged in a rich partnership in which SUM serves as the facilitator for workshops aimed at educating and empowering community members to become leaders, agents of social change and advocates for themselves and their families.

Dr. Brittny Herring-DeVore

Director of Family Strengthening & Community Engagement, Center for Urban Families

Baltimore Mediation Center

Since 1995, Baltimore Community Mediation Center (BCMC) has provided mediation services at no cost to participants. Step Up Maryland is proud to partner with BCMC to teach conflict resolution and listening skills as part of our community-building workshop series.

Center for Urban Families

Center for Urban Families - for 25 years CFUF has been working to empower individuals and families in Baltimore, Maryland, with the skills they need for long-term personal and economic success.

No Boundaries Coalition

Through training, education, and base building we deconstruct physical and imagined barriers in Central West Baltimore, thereby empowering residents to lead and live sustained community transformation. In 2019, No Boundaries partnered with Step Up Maryland to launch the Block Captain Boot Camp and leadership academy for residents of West Baltimore. Since then more than100 residents that completed the program and are using their skills to improve the lives of their community.