Cohort #1 (October 2022 - April 2023)

Home Repair Training Program

  • Amy was born and raised in Maryland. Her parents are from Chile and Guatemala. Amy is a creative at heart with a passion for music creation. She desires to expand her lens through the AbodesJoy program to complement her passion for creating and sharing what she has learned with others.

  • My name is Dominique. I have 2 daughters age 16 and 4 who are my whole world. I graduated from UMUC with a degree in communications (that I’m currently not using). We recently moved into an older house and I’m looking forward to learning new skills to help make our new house a home.

  • Gabrielle (Gabby) is a D.C. native who recently purchased her first house in Hyattsville, MD. She looks forward to working with AbodesJoy so that she can learn to tackle DIY projects in her own home and, most importantly, help build equity in her community. In her free time, Gabby enjoys spending time with her labradoodle, decorating her house, listening to live music, and cuddling up with a good romcom or novel.

  • I’m 37 and a mother of two kids, one dog and at least 25 plants. I was born in Northern California and grew up in Maryland. I recently moved into my own house and am looking forward to learning how to do my own repairs.

  • Joyce’s (Germantown, MD) background includes 15 years of administrative and operational experience in the areas of project management, educational program coordination, and community partnership development for both private and public educational institutions. She has a MS in College Student Personnel Administration, a BS in Psychology (Industrial Organization concentration,) and a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate from the University of South Florida Corporate Training and Professional Education.

  • I'm Kalisha, a DC native currently living in Montgomery County. I'm married with 3 children and run a food photography business. I am a classically trained chef and previously taught culinary arts at Carlos Rosario Public International Public Charter School in DC as well as the Art Institutes of Washington.

    In my free time, I like to read novels and catch up on what my favorite DIY Instagrammers are renovating.

  • I am a mother of three amazing adult children, seeking to change careers to get into residential housing development. I own my house in Maryland and want to be able to triage problems without expensive calls to plumbers, electricians and other contractors. I also want to better understand how mechanical systems work in houses. I currently work in small business development, so I understand the business of housing. Now I want to deepen my understanding of how things work from the inside. I'm so excited to be in the program with other women who are seeking to be empowered.

  • Kendra is a parent to two young adult humans, one dog and four cats. She operates a small herb farm and when not in the gardens enjoys creating and cooking with herbs.

  • I am a single mom of a 5 year old boy. I recently purchased a home in Baltimore City and started on DIY projects this year. I have a degree in fashion design but I've discovered my love of home improvement. I want to participate in this program to demonstrate that women can and should learn these skills.

  • Mona combines her love for helping people with a passion for the real estate industry. She has more than 30 years of experience working in various facets of real estate as an attorney, EEO/Fair Housing/Marketing Specialist, property manager, investor/property acquisitions, and Associate Broker. In her spare time, Mona enjoys spending time with her husband, young adult children, and large extended family. She is also an avid sports fan who crushes opponents in fantasy football, and loves to bake gluten-free treats for family and friends.

  • Sandra Frazier is an HR professional with over 20 yrs of experience in the field. A graduate from UMUC with a Master’s in HR Management, as well as a graduate of Howard University with a B.S. in Administration of Justice. Sandra is also a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) through the Society of Human Resource Management.

    Sandra has a passion for photography and loves watching documentaries. Sandra loves to spend time doing anything with her husband Ryan, her two boys Lance & Tyson and daughter Ryanlynne. Sandra is very excited and grateful to be a part of the AbodesJoy Program! Which will teach her how to do many awesome projects around her home!

  • Hello! My name is Yeshe and I’m looking forward to learning more with this class. My hobbies include working in my garden and growing vegetables to use in my cooking. I am very interested in real estate and home improvement, but am currently lacking technical skills. I am excited to be more independent after learning how to take care of my home without overly seeking external guidance.