About Us

Barbara Clark has worked to empower low-income families and individuals for 30 years. Her approach is hands on, face-to-face interactions. Her goal is to help families build the hope needed to achieve self-sufficiency. She has worked in the community to address issues, such as the opioid crisis, and working with residents to erase over one million dollars of hospital debt that offset federal income taxes. Ms. Clark has worked with The Neighborhood House, Columbus Early Learning, where she goes door to door throughout the city, while utilizing her certification in State Peer Support and education she learned as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor.

Pastor Dalyn Dunn is an incumbent member of IMPACT Community Action’s Board of Directors. For more than 25 years between sacred and secular venues, the ministry and life experience of Pastor Dunn have been dedicated to develop and empower people. Whether preaching, facilitating workshops, leadership/ministry coaching, training and development, spiritual counseling or mentoring, his desire is to see God's best in everyone. More recently Pastor Dunn has become the founder and marriage strategist of MarriageSpeak, a published author and organizational/people strategist. He is a husband of 22 years, a father of two, grandfather of three and the Senior Pastor of the Peace Missionary Baptist Church.

Chahdael Foreman moved to Columbus from Toledo in 2014. She dedicated herself to the field of youth behavioral health through careers at The Buckeye Ranch and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. After becoming a mother and struggling with postpartum depression, she started pursuing a Master of Social Work at The Ohio State with a focus on community and social justice. Her goal is to ensure that every person can advocate for themselves and get the care/support that they need to be successful. Ms. Foreman spends her free time co-facilitating a support group for African American women, critiquing movies and reading a good book.

Martina Grundy is a Buckeye Graduate ready and willing to serve people first! Ms. Grundy holds 20 years of experience working with individuals, families and organizations to eliminate personal barriers such as housing, criminal records employment, public assistance etc. She is a United Way East Leadership Academy participant striving to decrease obstacles and strengthen neighborhoods. Ms. Grundy is experienced with coordinating local food pantry donations and health fairs; and has completed The Franklin County Sherriff’s Citizen Academy and Motivating Emerging Leaders Series. Ms. Grundy welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the progression and self- sufficiency of ALL members of Franklin County!

Maude Hill is an incumbent member of IMPACT Community Action’s Board of Directors. Ms. Hill has been an agent of human service, public safety and social change for more than four decades. In October 2019 she was appointed to the Governor’s Lead Advisory Committee. Her statewide commitment began in the 1980s when she worked for the Governor’s Office for Recovery Services. Ms. Hill is a member of the New Salem Missionary Baptist Church and New Salem Community Development Advisory Council. She is First Vice Chair of the Greater Community Columbus Helping Hands, Inc., and a member of the Human Services Chamber of Franklin County and the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio.

Glynis Jackson is an incumbent member of IMPACT Community Action’s Board of Directors. Ms. Jackson has served in this capacity since 2013. Ms. Jackson’s passion for Community Action began as a participant in the Employment Plus Class. She knows first- hand what it is like to experience poverty and the type of support needed to regain confidence and self- sufficiency. She has been an advocate for the people in poverty and a supporter of system development that causes poverty reduction. As an IMPACT Advocate, Ms. Jackson has leveraged her story to help others in Franklin County become self -sufficient. Presently, Ms. Jackson works as a trainer with the Franklin County Board of Elections.

Sarita Penn owns The Center for Development and Property Solutions based in Columbus, Ohio. Ms. Penn is a graduate of Franklin University, where she received a Dual BA in Business Administration and Organizational Leadership. She also a Licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Ohio. She has more than 14 years of experience in senior housing, market-rate multifamily housing and subsidized housing management. Ms. Penn is committed to expanding the nonprofit her mother, Yvette Cabiness, started, Pathways to Destiny, an organization dedicated to “guiding our youth and young adults to draw knowledge and strength from their past challenges to pave the way to a positive Destiny.”

Darrea Ragland is a graduate of The University of Toledo. She recently accepted a position at Sequel Pomegranate as a Group Therapist, working with adolescents who have experienced traumas that effect their mental health and development. She has a passion for working within underserved communities to help make a better future for the generations to come. Ms. Ragland’s enthusiasm to be engaged as a board member for an organization whose mission she believes in is refreshing. She is ready to lend her voice and support in the fight to end poverty in Franklin County.

Mahdi Taakilo is the President of Helping Africans in New Directors (H.A.N.D.) and The Somali Link Newspaper. Mr. Taakilo founded H.A.N.D. in 2002 as a 501(c)(3) community-based organization designed to better the lives of African immigrants in Ohio. Following his immigration to the United States in 2000, Mr. Taakilo founded The Somali Link Newspaper to help the local Somali community stay informed and connected to its roots. Mr. Taakilo was appointed as an assistant of United Nations Special Envoy to Somalia in 1994-97; and in 1997-1998, he worked with East African governments and militias, trying to bring the warring groups together.