Inform USA Webinar - Better Understanding of and Service for the LGBTQ+ Community

Joshua has worked and volunteered in the nonprofit industry for more than 25 years.  He led the implementation of the 211 service throughout Utah, has served as Director of Services for the Utah Food Bank, as Vice President of United Way of Northern Utah, CEO of United Way of Frederick County, Maryland and as President & CEO of 211 Maryland.   Today Joshua is the Senior Director for 211 at United Way Worldwide.   Joshua has served on way too many boards.   Today he serves on the Inform USA Board, the Maryland Governor’s Commission on Service & Volunteerism and as a Trustee for the Ausherman Family Foundation.  Joshua has a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Weber State University. 

Avalon “Mal” Mallory is the 211 Resource Manager for 211 Northwest Florida in Pensacola, FL. Mal has volunteered as an I&R specialist at 211 Big Bend, where she did both crisis counseling and I&R, and has worked as an I&R specialist and Resource Manager at 211 Northwest Florida. She believes that a major component to success is knowing how to get access to things you need and enjoys helping people connect to what they need to succeed. When not doting on her beloved cat, she is working towards her life goal of becoming a fluent polyglot!

Brenda is a hands-on type of person and rarely accepts "no" as an answer to any situation. She loves a challenge and working on obtaining a common goal that will help others. She has been the director of a day program and homeless shelter for the mentally ill, created two non-emergency transportation companies, and even opened an apartment complex for the mentally ill from the shelter she ran. Once the clients finished their stay at the shelter then they were able to move into the apartment complex and maintain their independent living.

Brendaloves helping others in their time of need because of her own life experiences. She has been homeless a total of six(6) times in her life between the ages of 10 and 25. Each of those times, she felt as though she was alone with no one on her side. So, once she was in the non-profit field, the idea of helping others succeed in getting back on their feet and thrive, was as personal as it could be for anyone. The old saying of "You never know what a person is going through until you have walked a mile in their shoes." was very real for Brenda when she was helping others.

Brenda is married to her best friend, Bradley, and they have five beautiful children. Their oldest, Kaden, just left for Army Basic Training. Their only girl, Katelyn, is a very talented artist, who will be a freshman in high school next school year. Their next is Bryson, who is their angel baby. When he was born, he only weighed 12 ounces, and passed away after 3 days. Their next is Brendan, who is their miracle baby. They found out on Bryson's first birthday that they were expecting him. He is currently three years old and full of life. Then their final caboose is Benjamin. He is ten months old and brings so much love and enjoyment to the family.Brenda also cares for her special needs sister and brother-in-law.

Fun Facts: Brenda loves to fill out forms (we know-weird huh!), LOVES to party plan and doesn't skimp on any details, and is a little (meaning a lot) OCD. Which gets tested hourly with having a large family.

Mary Updike is the supervisor for the Barron location of the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Barron, Rusk & Washburn Counties in Wisconsin. Her 35 year career as a social worker includes being a hospital social worker, a supervisor in a managed care organization and working as a disability benefit specialist prior to her current role. 

Mary is the proud aunt of 19 beautiful human beings, one who is in a same-sex marriage. She strongly agrees with the Social Work Code of Ethics that no one should be discriminated against for their race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status or mental or physical ability.

In her spare time Mary enjoys traveling, especially with girlfriends and gardening and collecting art with her husband.

Marta is the Bilingual Information and Media Specialist at the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), a federally-funded library focused on disability, independent living, and rehabilitation research. They are a Certified Community Resource Specialist and have been in their current position for just over a decade. Before joining NARIC and the I&R community, Marta worked as a recreation therapist for the geriatric and pediatric communities. In their spare time, they enjoy reading, music and dancing, and traveling to new (and old) places.