Local nonprofits name new leaders

Several nonprofit organizations located around the Richmond Highway corridor — or that provide services in Southeast Fairfax County — named new leaders in recent weeks.

On June 1, the board of directors of GrandInvolve announced that the organization’s founder and executive director Dorothy (Dot) Keenan was going to assume a new role as an ambassador and classroom assistant, and that Michele Duell would become the interim executive director, effective immediately. 

Keenan, who came up with the idea for GrandInvolve, an intergenerational program encouraging older adults to volunteer in classrooms, said back in January that she planned to step down in June after nine years of leading the program, which is active at many Title I schools around the Richmond Highway corridor.

“Ms. Keenan’s vision and leadership have made a demonstrable impact on the lives of Fairfax County seniors, and thousands of children in the Title I elementary schools of Fairfax County Public Schools,” wrote Lisa Horowitz, president of GrandInvolve’s board.

Duell has held several roles at the organization, including volunteer coordinator and business and technology advisor. Her background is in change management and process improvement, and she has been involved with many community projects.

The Workhouse Arts Foundation, which operates the Lorton-based Workhouse Arts Center, announced June 12 that Rachel Kizielewicz became interim president and chief executive officer (CEO), effective June 5. According to a news release, Kizielewicz is an artist and nonprofit leader with 20 years of experience in philanthropy. She previously served on the Workhouse’s board of directors and was executive director of the Los Alamos Community Foundation in Los Alamos, New Mexico. She has been a glass mosaic artist for 15 years.

Kizielewicz replaced former Workhouse president and CEO Leon Scioscia, who stepped down recently after nearly two years at the helm. During his tenure, the Workhouse and Fairfax County broke ground on the restoration project for two historic buildings and began working on master planning for the Workhouse Campus.

“The Board of Directors is very excited to have Rachel Kizielewicz lead WAF at this important time in its history,” said Caroline Blanco, chair of the board. “Building on the successes of her predecessor, Leon Scioscia, we believe Ms. Kizielewicz is well positioned to showcase how special the Workhouse is to the people of Fairfax County, Prince William County, and beyond."

At New Hope Housing, the board of directors announced June 12 the selection of Ashley McSwain as the nonprofit’s new CEO, effective immediately. McSwain replaced interim CEO William Gorman who had been serving in that position since October 2021.

According to a news release, McSwain has 25 years of experience with nonprofits that provide services and housing for marginalized populations. Most recently, she served as executive director for Community Family Life Services in Washington, D.C., which helps women who are returning home after incarceration.

Ronnie Bagley, president of New Hope Housing’s board, welcomed McSwain and thanked Gorman “for his leadership, insights, and commitment to New Hope Housing during our time of transition.”

New Hope Housing, which was founded in the Mount Vernon area in 1977, operates shelter and housing programs in Arlington County, Fairfax County, the City of Alexandria and the City of Falls Church.