Our Vision

A sustainable academic pipeline for youth success

CORE VALUES
  1. Team- Oriented. To create highly effective positive results.
  2. Humility. Consideration and dialogue.
  3. Accountability. Transparency, delivery and follow-up.
  4. Integrity. Everything starts with self.
  1. Professionalism. Conduct.
  2. Initiative. Analyze Risk.
  3. Self- motivated. Perseverance.
  4. Excellence. Constantly raising the bar and building expectations.

Our Mission

To improve student achievement and attainment and eliminate persistent social, racial, and economic disparities and injustices to academic success.

Jamila Andaiye ScottJamila Andaiye Scott, Ed.D
Chairman of the Board
The STEER Center

Andaiye Scott, Ed.D, is an Educator, Grants Program Administrator, and Arts Activist with over 20 years experience working in K-12 and higher education. As an instructional leader in Title I public and charter schools, Dr. Scott is certified in Trauma Informed Life Space Crisis Management (LSCI), Therapeutic Aggression Control Techniques (TACT-2), and Handle With Care (HWC) restorative justice behavioral interventions for at-risk youth and young adults. As a grants program manager Dr. Scott has secured over a half million in grants for youth programming from the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Maryland State Department of Education.

Dr. Scott is a proud graduate of the University of Baltimore County (Bachelor of Music), University of Montana (Masters of Fine Arts), and Morgan State University (Doctorate in Community College Leadership). She holds a post-graduate certificate in K-12 Education Administration from Catholic University and a Bilingual Special Education certificate from George Washington University.  She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, Delta Kappa Gamma (International Society for Key Women Educators), the National Alliance of Black School Educators, and the Society of Transnational Academic Researchers.  Dr. Scott currently serves as the Vice President of Programs for 360 Degree Development Institute Inc. in Lanham, Maryland and is the Chairman of the Board for the Suitland Technology Education Engagement Resource Center Inc. in Suitland, Maryland.

Blaise Buffington
Vice Chair and Media Director

Blaise is a third-year student at Spelman College, with a major in documentary film while minoring in Spanish. She holds a graduate certificate from the New York University Tisch School of Arts Future Film Scholar Program in history, theory, and criticisms of cinema studies. Additionally, Blaise is the Founder of her flourishing nonprofit organization, Melanated Motion Picture Pals, where K-12 students are educated on the history of filmmaking and develop an involvement with the production of film. Blaise is dedicated to building her leadership experience while maximizing educational public health and professional exposures.

Blaise believes “whom much is given much is required.”  As such, she participates in community service events with Gifted Girls of Grace, Atlanta Community Food Bank, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA), and For the People We the People. She has served as an Intern for the Gifted Girls of Grace Community Service Executive Board. Moreover, Blaise is an active member in the NAACP Spelman Collegiate Chapter, the Collegiate Chapter of National Action Network, FRESH Career Planning and Development Program, and at Grady High School, KIPP Elementary, M. Agnes Jones Elementary, Snow Hill High School, and the Coretta Scott King Academy.

Sylvia QuintonSylvia-Nzinga Louise Quinton, Esq., CRA
Development Director
The STEER Center

Sylvia L. Quinton, Esq., CRA, is a tax-exempt organization attorney with expertise in grants management, fund development, higher education, business development and partnerships, substance abuse prevention (perceived risk of marijuana use), HIV/AIDS prevention, and economics. Her focus is working with community-based organizations to become influencers by creating access to political and economic power for their customers; developing magnet for money organizations. She has an impressive public and private grant portfolio exceeding $25 million; including funding from the National Science Foundation, Maryland Department of Education, and the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Not many change agents can be credited with creating new terminology that altered the policies of a nation. Quinton’s innovative and courageous thinking has turned the nonprofit industry up-side down with her “out-of-the-box” strategy to complete the unfinished agenda of the American Experiment as well as the Civic Rights Movement. Centuries from now her new term “Community Investor” will be the defining moment of true equality in the economic world.  Her book entitled Community Investors: Making Money While Making Social Change is a strategic ready-to-use tool for maintaining and sustaining public and private investments in communities.

Ms. Quinton is a graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore-University Maryland at Baltimore Honors Program (UMES-UMAB) and the Temple University School of Law. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Inc. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education degree from Morgan State University in the Community College Leadership Development Program, expected completion Fall 2021. She is also pursuing a second bachelor’s degree in Accounting at the University of Maryland Global Campus.

Najah IshmanNajah Ishman
Senior Program Manager
The STEER Center

Najah Ishman, MSA, is a Grants Program Administrator and Nonprofit Consultant serving various organizations in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. With over 10 years of experience in programming and research in community public health, STEM K-12 education and positive youth development and engagement, her work has afforded her opportunities locally, nationally, and internationally to provide expertise in a range of initiatives. These initiatives include HIV/AIDS and substance abuse prevention, STEM-based education, teacher professional development and out-of-school time programming with local school systems and various community-based organizations. As a consultant, she provides grant oversight, compliance and monitoring as well as technical assistance for federal and state-funded grants. Also, Najah serves as an evaluation team member for several projects. Najah is committed to changing the narrative of public health and education in minority communities through service, collaboration and partnerships.

Our Funders
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE)
  • National Science Foundation (NSF)
  • Prince George’s County Department of Housing and Community Development
  • Strategic Community Services, Inc. (SCSI)
  • TD Bank
  • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
  • Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF)

Community Meeting Places

Suitland Water Tower
Information and Reservations: (301) 918-8111
This landmark, located at 4211 Suitland Road, supplies water for Suitland and Capital Heights. It is a pride and joy to the community, having won many awards for its multi-purposes. Designed to be more than a water depository, this facility has a community room that can be utilized for meetings and social events. Seating capacity with tables is 50.

Local Parks
All parks close at dark. No alcoholic beverages are permitted, and dogs must be on a leash. For park information contact the Southern Area Office:
(301) 203-6000, TTY 301-203-6030
www.pgparks.com

Need local or regional information?