Meet Our Staff
The Economic Action staff is a team of passionate advocates, committed to securing economic rights and equity for all. We work together to meet the needs of our Maryland communities through our diverse perspectives and skill-sets. We take great pride in providing immediate services to our Maryland community members in need while simultaneously fighting for systemic change policies that heal the system for good.
Meet Our Board Of Directors
Marceline White, Executive Director
An award-winning, nationally-recognized consumer advocate, Marceline serves as the Executive Director of Economic Action Maryland (formerly Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition)where she leads the coalition’s 10,000 supporters in promoting economic rights, equity, and housing justice throughout Maryland. Marceline has led the coalition’s efforts in passing four first-in-the nation bills related to for-profit colleges, medical debt, and debtors prisons. She’s authored three first-in-the nation state-level reports on for-profit colleges, debt settlement, and debt collection practices and served as the co-chair of the Consumer Protection committee of AG Frosh’s COVID-19 Task Force.
In 2020, Marceline received the inaugural Woodside Award from the CASH Campaign, given to an individual for their work on addressing systemic economic equity issues. In 2017, Marceline won the National Association of Consumer Advocates’ “Advocate of the Year” award for her work advancing economic rights and consumer protection at the state level. In 2017, Marceline also received an Excellence in Advocacy award from the tri-state Common Cents Conference, as well as the Lorraine Sheehan Award for Excellence in Advocacy from the Community Development Network (with the CASH Campaign of Maryland ) for their work ending predatory payday loans in Maryland. In 2014, Marceline won a national award for best community film from the National Community Reinvestment Coalition for her work as producer of the consumer education film “Stealing Trust”.
She has served as president of the board of directors of the Consumer Federation of America and as a member of the board of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. An internationally recognized expert on gender and international trade, Marceline is has written widely on the topic including chapters in Trading Women’s Health and Rights: Trade Liberalization and Reproductive Health in Developing Economies, edited by Caren Grown, Elissa Braunstein, and Anju Malhotra; and, Global Issues, Women and Justice, edited by Sharon Pickering and Caroline Lambert. Marceline is also a published essayist, poet, and writer and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net for her poetry. She holds a Masters of Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and a bachelor’s in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Jamila Blake, SOAR Financial Counselor
Jamila Blake provides support to older adults by connecting them to community resources and providing financial counseling and coaching. Prior to coming to the organization, Jamila worked in healthcare coordinating services for older adults throughout the area. She holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology/Human Services from Simmons College in Boston, MA. Her experience and education, enables her to effectively communicate and build a strong rapport with older adults. Outside of the office, Jamila enjoys spending time with her children, family, and friends.
Francine Hyman, SOAR Program Director
Francine Mitchell provides support to older adults by connecting them to community resources. Her work with the SOAR program includes assisting older adults navigate the Renters’ and Homeowners’ Tax Credit application processes, as well as conducting benefit check ups and providing financial counseling. Prior to coming to the organization, Francine worked as a Direct Service Case Manager providing support to older adults, youth and families throughout Baltimore City. She holds a Masters Degree in Management of Aging Services and a Bachelor’s in Social Work, both from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her experience, education, creativity, and sense of humor with a down-to-earth, realistic approach enables her to be an extremely effective social worker who is comfortable working with diverse groups of people. Outside of the office, Francine is either watching horror movies, at the basketball court with her son, or brunching with friends.
Latoya Mckay, Fair Housing Manager
LaToya McKay provides education, advocacy and support to consumers, partners, and communities dealing with housing discrimination. LaToya received a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and Minor in Family Studies in 2017 from Towson University. LaToya has served in the human service field for over 10 years specializing in public housing and voucher programs. In her experience advocating for change, equality, and advancement in the housing community she has touched the lives of thousands of families. LaToya’s passion to help others drives her day-to-day commitment to service. She is valued for her professional skills in assessing confidential correspondence, customer service, as well as implementing training and development. Whether working on academic, extracurricular, professional, or personal projects she applies proven organizational, research, and creative thinking skills and has been consistently praised as hard-working by colleagues and peers.
Carol Ott, Director of Housing Services
Carol Ott advocates for affordable moderate- and low-income rental housing, code enforcement, blight eradication, and economic development in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods in Baltimore. She also assists low-income renters with substandard housing issues, rent escrow, and other tenant advocacy matters. Carol has been writing about housing and advocating for fair and safe housing in Baltimore since 2008. Carol’s focus area has been Baltimore’s most vulnerable communities, most of which have been plagued with issues such as lead paint poisoning, vacancy, and substandard rentals for more than fifty years. In addition to her advocacy and policy work, she works with tenants and neighborhood/community associations to bring problem properties and landlords into compliance. When she is not working, she can be found in her kitchen cooking and baking, or outside on a long hike.
Jennifer Bevan-Dangel, Deputy Director
Jennifer Bevan-Dangel works to build a stronger organization so that Economic Action Maryland Fund can continue to serve as a leading voice for economic justice. She has worked as a lobbyist and nonprofit advocate at the state and local levels since 2005, when she graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law. She has spearheaded the passage of legislation on a range of issues from smart growth to campaign finance. She has also developed and led citizen advocacy training programs, and is passionate about building broader engagement in the legislative process. When she is not working, she can be found on her farm with her horses, dogs, and daughters.
Claudia Wilson Randall, President of the Board
Claudia Wilson Randall, President of the Board, is the Executive Director of the Community Development Network of Maryland (CDN). Claudia comes to CDN with a long history in community development statewide. She recently was the COO of Southeast Community Development Corporation in Baltimore City, and prior to that worked for Maryland DHCD in the Neighborhood Revitalization Division. Before that, Claudia was the Deputy Director with the Maryland Center for Community Development, which was the precursor to CDN today. Claudia has her master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University, and lives in the Ten Hills community of Baltimore City.
Liz Briscoe
Liz Briscoe is the Coordinator, Affinity Group on Aging and Health Funders Affinity Group for the Maryland Philanthropy Network. Liz has worked in human services and healthcare throughout her career. Most recently, she was the Division Chief of Advocacy and Special Projects along with managing the Baltimore City Health Department Division of Aging & CARE Services MD Access Point (MAP), a no wrong door point of entry for older adults and their families to access support services. The prior eleven years, she was executive director of Action In Maturity (AIM), a Baltimore City senior center ‘without walls’, a unique model which provides activities, education, and senior-friendly transportation programs. Liz is a native Baltimorean and attended both Towson and Johns Hopkins Universities. She received Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemistry/Medical Technology and Mechanical Engineering. She recently graduated from University of Baltimore’s Certified Public Manager Program and is a Weinberg Fellow. She serves on the Boards of Maryland Gerontology Association, Baltimore Transit Campaign, Myerberg Senior Center, Keswick Multi-care; and the Board of Directors for Comprehensive Housing Association, Inc. (CHAI).
Alys Cohen
Alys Cohen is a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center’s Washington office, where she leads NCLC’s federal housing advocacy before Congress and the regulatory agencies. She also coordinates NCLC’s work on energy efficiency housing finance and disaster response. Prior to joining the NCLC staff, Alys served as an attorney in the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, Division of Financial Practices, where she focused on predatory mortgage lending and discrimination matters. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Alys is co-author of NCLC’s Truth in Lending, Consumer Credit Regulation, Credit Discrimination, and Mortgage Lending.
Ricarra Jones
Ricarra Jones has a stellar track record of raising awareness for a multitude of social and economic issues through education, advocacy, and action. She is currently a Political Director at 1199 Service Employees International Union where she has directed a plethora of political and issue based campaigns including but not limited to Labor, Economic Justice, Healthcare and Racial & Gender Equality. Her creative strategies further develop social programs, manage projects and secure partnerships with a goal of increasing exposure and seizing opportunities, enabling organizational objectives to be met. Her career is supported by a Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Art in Political Science.
Matthew Thomas Vocci
Matthew Thomas Vocci, Board Secretary, is a partner in the law firm of Santoni, Vocci & Ortega, LLC. He represents and advocates on behalf of low-income Marylanders and strives to provide high-quality legal representation for those who would otherwise not be able to afford an attorney. If there are landlords, property managers, lenders, debt collectors, employers, bail bondsman that are taking advantage of regular folks, Matt and his firm work to bring them to justice. The majority of Matt’s work relates in some way to housing. He represents tenants against landlords and property managers on a variety of cases such as consumer protection and consumer debt collection issues, habitability, Fair Housing Act violations, illegal evictions, and personal injuries. Matt has served as class counsel on several class actions, including a recent case that resolved favorably for tenants against a large, out-of-state property management company. Matt was an integral part of a trial team that represented a unit owner that suffered significant damages stemming from water infiltration and mold growth in a condominium unit. This case resulted in what is believed to be Maryland’s largest judgment against a condominium board for failure to maintain and repair common elements resulting in damages to a single unit owner. Matt graduated cum laude from Temple University, Beasley School of Law in 2006 and served on the Editorial Board of the Temple Law Review.
John Kern
John Kern is the Director of Programs and co-founder of The SOS Fund, a nonprofit organization advancing housing stability and equity in Baltimore City. In this role, he leads initiatives to prevent home loss, expand housing affordability, and promote fair assessment and property tax reform. Previously, at the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, he directed citywide outreach efforts that helped residents secure clear property ownership and preserve intergenerational wealth. Before focusing on housing justice, John spent a decade as a director and dramaturge with Poor Dog Group, collaborating with artists and historians from Rwanda to Los Angeles on projects exploring reconciliation and classical texts. He holds an M.A. in Aesthetics and Politics and a B.F.A. in Theater from the California Institute of the Arts.
Anthony Davis
Anthony Hayes Davis II, Esq., is a Maryland attorney with 20 years of experience spanning complex civil litigation, consumer protection, bankruptcy, and real estate law. He currently serves as Director of Advocacy for Consumer Law at Maryland Legal Aid, where he leads a statewide consumer protection unit supporting 12 offices and more than 50 attorneys, and provides analysis of proposed legislation and regulations affecting low-income communities. Mr. Davis has extensive trial and appellate experience in state and federal courts, and is a frequent resource on foreclosure defense, unfair debt collection, and broader financial services reform, including testimony and policy recommendations before legislative bodies. He is admitted to practice in Maryland and in the U.S. District Courts for the District of Maryland and the District of Columbia, and earned his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School and his B.A. from Marquette University.