Our Mission Statement
The mission of Open Doors is to assist the homeless of Calvert County by offering lodging, counseling, work, and community as they endeavor to realize their own dreams for a better life.
The Team
JoAnn Adams is director of On Our Own of Calvert County.
Sue Bilek, retired from a teaching career, has served as program director of Safe Nights, and currently serves as president of Community Ministry of Calvert County, as treasurer of the Calvert Interfaith Council, and as host coordinator for Safe Nights at St. John Vianney Catholic Church. Her academic background is in sociology and philosophy.
Danielle Carr brings to Calvert County a ten-year background in both hospitality and healthcare administration. She is a member of the Covenant Community of Jesus the Good Shepherd, where she leads children’s liturgy and teaches junior high faith formation.
Clyde Ebenreck, a long term resident of Calvert County and retired philosophy professor, holds degrees in psychology, philosophy, theology from Quincy University, Catholic University, Antoniam in Rome. His interest in the risks associated with homelessness was sparked by an incident in mid-state Illinois when a Chicago family was as they slept in their car because no local motel or hotel would rent to an African American family.
Jeanita Pressley is a retired Federal Government employee and member of the Calvert County Baptist Church. She joined the Open Doors initiative to try to make a difference in somebody’s life, pledging to do all possible to provide life changing positive experiences for the homeless, while tending to their comfort and well-being while they reside at Open Doors Village.
Betsy VanAuker is a deacon in the Episcopal Church, serving at All Saints in Sunderland. She is one of the founding members and is past-president of Community Ministry of Calvert County. In addition , she is a member of Closing the Gap Coalition and a board member of Safe Nights of Calvert County.
Doris Easton retired from a career in banking, having spent fourteen years with the Federal Reserve. She attends Bethel Way of the Cross in Huntingtown and has served a host coordinator for their Safe Nights program for five years. The experience of seeing people leave the program with no prospects for housing motivates her supportof Open Doors.
Kimberly Easton-Holmes is the mother of ten children and a wife of six years. Her home church is Bethel Way of the Cross Church, Darnell Easton, Pastor. She is also amember of Ebenezer A.M.E, Grainger Browning, Pastor. She is founder/executive director of Global Innovation Pathways, Inc., which promotes global competence (the capacity and disposition to understand and act on issues of global significance) for children in Southwest Mississippi and states abroad.
Sherry Emerson