Leadership

Our team is made up a powerhouse of women who collectively have over 50 years of work experience in various industries. Learn more about our team.

Founder

Dr. Maurine Kwende

Dr. Maurine Kwende is the Founder of Girls Can Dream Big 2, a non-profit for women and girls focused on education and community empowerment. Maurine’s purpose is to empower others especially women and girls to dream big, take action and reach their full potential. Prior to founding the non-profit, she has over 20 years of work experience in the field of learning and development. She holds a Ph.D. in Learning Technologies Design Research from George Mason University with research interests in decision-making, artificial intelligence (AI), workplace learning and emerging technologies. Maurine wears many hats and believes you can be anything you want to be in life if you take action.

Board Members

Tina Fisher

Tina Fisher brings a unique voice to the board of Girls Can Dream 2. As a musician and activist, she recently has advocated for women and girls through a series of benefit concerts that raised money for women recovering from human trafficking in Nepal, where she visited shelters run by the international organization called Shakti Samuha, translated as “Turning Tears into Power”. She has also contributed to a benefit concert to help women out of domestic violence situations and homelessness through a local organization called Doorways, located in Arlington, Va. As the current Community Engagement Coordinator for the Manassas Church of the Brethren, Tina works with a large variety of non-profit organizations in the community that help people overcome food insecurity, homelessness, and domestic violence. In addition, she provides affordable event space for family celebrations, weddings, and fundraisers at the church facility where she works full-time. She also serves on the Advisory Board for Healthy Families Prince William, a visitation-based program to help first time mothers acclimate to the demands of raising a child. 

Tina also comes from many years in the hospitality industry with an operations background bringing with her an element of structure and knowledge about a variety of management styles and problem-solving skills.

Christine Henderson, MBA

Christine Henderson — Yoga & Wellness l Community Empowerment

Christine is passionate about women and girl empowerment. She was a panelist and vendor at the Girls Can Dream Big 2 Annual Conference 2023. Christine brings over two decades of fitness and movement experience to her work in therapeutic and accessible yoga. As a 200‑hour Yoga Alliance (RYT‑200) certified instructor and ACE-certified group fitness instructor, she specializes in gentle-flow, Vinyasa, and stress-relief practices designed to support individuals with limited mobility and mature adults.

Christine believes deeply in yoga as a tool for community resilience, healing, and inclusion. Her teaching merges mindful alignment, breath awareness, and reflective themes that nurture emotional and physical well-being.

She has been recognized with the 2019 Phenomenal Woman Award for her community leadership and impact. Christine prioritizes service, spiritual connection, and empowerment across Virginia communities and beyond.

Christine is active in her church and involved in her community. She enjoys stand-up paddle boarding, hiking, and camping in the great outdoors. She is no stranger to cultural exploration through her travels but enjoys journeying to her native island of Jamaica above them all. Christine is the mother of three adult children, Taiylor, Ethan, and Aniyah and resides in the suburbs of Virginia with her loving husband, E.J.

Kelly Neff.

Kelly is a speaker, blogger, and transformational coach who shares her story of facing some of life’s most daunting mountains. She is the founder of TOM’s Board + Together Overcoming Mountains, which she created in memory of her oldest son Tommy. Her mission is to help others including women and girls find the hope, healing, and freedom that she has found.

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