Ketty Lynne Thelemaque was born in Chicago, IL to parents Majeur and Jeanine Thelemaque. Ketty is first generation, US born, as her parents emigrated from Haiti. Her Haitian/American background has been the catalyst that has guided her career path. Being a daughter of parents who risked everything to give their children and extended family greater opportunities, is the foundation she stands on. It is this heritage that has fueled her desire to work towards justice for all.
Ketty is the proud parent of one daughter, Camille A Thelemaque-Bearden. Being a single parent has also informed her commitment to helping others with access to all services. However, she also understands that it is her responsibility to be an example and that you are not defined by your circumstances.
She is an ardent advocate for youth. Although she has spent 15 years in corporate positions of employment, she answered the call to education and taught high school for 16 years. She is a graduate of North Carolina Central University and proudly proclaims she is a NCCU Eagle. She spent 12 years in the classroom as an English teacher before being a Teaching and Learning Coach for Durham Public Schools. Her passion for solution finding for students has led her to pursue a Graduate degree from North Carolina State University. Her focus is on finding ways to engage the community and identify how systematic processes and policies affect those furthest from justice.
Ketty’s faith has been her source of strength. She is a proud member of the Abundant Hope Christian Church where she leads their Praise Dance Ministry. She is a member of the Impact Praise Team and Christian Education Department. Through her work at her church, she became active in the work of Durham CAN (Congregations, Associations and Neighborhoods). She has actively worked in organizing through CAN for over 10 years. She was a Strategy Team member, Co-Chair and most recently Lead Organizer. Her desire is always to help improve life and community for those who are often discriminated against because of their race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation and/or socio-economic status.
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Maryann Crea
Project Organizer
Email: [email protected]
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Maryann was born and reared in New Jersey, the youngest of three girls, but has lived in North Carolina since 1978. She is a graduate of Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut and holds a law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law and a Masters in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in New Orleans. She began her work life as a staff attorney for legal aid in Durham, then worked for the North Carolina Bar Association for 13 years. During that time she began her Masters degree studies through Loyola's LIMEX extension program. She completed the last two years of her Masters while working as Director of Human Services for The Salvation Army in Durham.
In 2001, Maryann began working at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church as Minister for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation. For nineteen years, she oversaw the peace and justice ministries of the parish and served on the Durham CAN Strategy Team during that time. A landmark accomplishment during this time was serving as the founding chairperson of YO Durham, a DCIA program offering teens on the margins a "first chance" through a summer career academy and job placement for the school year.
As COVID radically changed practical ministry, Maryann opted to retire in July of 2020. However, after a year of decompressing and missing the camaraderie of work, she began working part-time with a professional organizing company, Sane Jane, helping people organize their kitchens, pantries, closets, garages and attics.
When the position of Project Organizer with Durham CAN opened up, it was too hard to resist returning to the struggle for justice in Durham. Outside Durham CAN work hours, Maryann still can be found working the occasional job with Sane Jane, singing in the IC choir, gardening and spending as much time as possible with her two little grandsons. She is married to a retired attorney (and golfer) and is the mom of three young adults.