Maria Najlis
Program Manager, Health Essentials at AARP Foundation- Claim this Profile
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Spanish Native or bilingual proficiency
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English Native or bilingual proficiency
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Bio
Jaye Budd
Maria is a Strategic Advisor for the Alchemy Sky Foundation. Her social change acumen and program development skills are exemplary. She has a unique way of asking the right questions to hone our programs to serve the greatest good. Her in-depth knowledge of program development and operational awareness is a welcomed and needed addition to our team. We are grateful for her generosity of skill and time as her position is unpaid and voluntary. She believes in the power of people and the good they can do. Her passion and expertise makes our nonprofit organization better.
Lisa Lanier
I had the pleasure of collaborating with Maria for two years at AARP Foundation. We worked together on several projects that she managed: SNAP Enrollment and Grocery Guides. Maria consistently exhibited excellent project and people management skills and made informed project decisions. She used results from analyses of SNAP enrollment data to improve outreach strategies and give more SNAP eligible individuals the opportunity to enroll in the SNAP program. For the evaluation of the Grocery Guides program, Maria was a key player in the development and implementation of a Foundation-wide system for the collection of outcomes data. During the evaluation, Maria ensured that the evaluation and data collection procedures did not disrupt program operation. Following the evaluation, Maria used the results to make program modifications that improved the volunteer tour leader experience and the outcomes for program participants. Maria would be an asset to any organization.
Jaye Budd
Maria is a Strategic Advisor for the Alchemy Sky Foundation. Her social change acumen and program development skills are exemplary. She has a unique way of asking the right questions to hone our programs to serve the greatest good. Her in-depth knowledge of program development and operational awareness is a welcomed and needed addition to our team. We are grateful for her generosity of skill and time as her position is unpaid and voluntary. She believes in the power of people and the good they can do. Her passion and expertise makes our nonprofit organization better.
Lisa Lanier
I had the pleasure of collaborating with Maria for two years at AARP Foundation. We worked together on several projects that she managed: SNAP Enrollment and Grocery Guides. Maria consistently exhibited excellent project and people management skills and made informed project decisions. She used results from analyses of SNAP enrollment data to improve outreach strategies and give more SNAP eligible individuals the opportunity to enroll in the SNAP program. For the evaluation of the Grocery Guides program, Maria was a key player in the development and implementation of a Foundation-wide system for the collection of outcomes data. During the evaluation, Maria ensured that the evaluation and data collection procedures did not disrupt program operation. Following the evaluation, Maria used the results to make program modifications that improved the volunteer tour leader experience and the outcomes for program participants. Maria would be an asset to any organization.
Jaye Budd
Maria is a Strategic Advisor for the Alchemy Sky Foundation. Her social change acumen and program development skills are exemplary. She has a unique way of asking the right questions to hone our programs to serve the greatest good. Her in-depth knowledge of program development and operational awareness is a welcomed and needed addition to our team. We are grateful for her generosity of skill and time as her position is unpaid and voluntary. She believes in the power of people and the good they can do. Her passion and expertise makes our nonprofit organization better.
Lisa Lanier
I had the pleasure of collaborating with Maria for two years at AARP Foundation. We worked together on several projects that she managed: SNAP Enrollment and Grocery Guides. Maria consistently exhibited excellent project and people management skills and made informed project decisions. She used results from analyses of SNAP enrollment data to improve outreach strategies and give more SNAP eligible individuals the opportunity to enroll in the SNAP program. For the evaluation of the Grocery Guides program, Maria was a key player in the development and implementation of a Foundation-wide system for the collection of outcomes data. During the evaluation, Maria ensured that the evaluation and data collection procedures did not disrupt program operation. Following the evaluation, Maria used the results to make program modifications that improved the volunteer tour leader experience and the outcomes for program participants. Maria would be an asset to any organization.
Jaye Budd
Maria is a Strategic Advisor for the Alchemy Sky Foundation. Her social change acumen and program development skills are exemplary. She has a unique way of asking the right questions to hone our programs to serve the greatest good. Her in-depth knowledge of program development and operational awareness is a welcomed and needed addition to our team. We are grateful for her generosity of skill and time as her position is unpaid and voluntary. She believes in the power of people and the good they can do. Her passion and expertise makes our nonprofit organization better.
Lisa Lanier
I had the pleasure of collaborating with Maria for two years at AARP Foundation. We worked together on several projects that she managed: SNAP Enrollment and Grocery Guides. Maria consistently exhibited excellent project and people management skills and made informed project decisions. She used results from analyses of SNAP enrollment data to improve outreach strategies and give more SNAP eligible individuals the opportunity to enroll in the SNAP program. For the evaluation of the Grocery Guides program, Maria was a key player in the development and implementation of a Foundation-wide system for the collection of outcomes data. During the evaluation, Maria ensured that the evaluation and data collection procedures did not disrupt program operation. Following the evaluation, Maria used the results to make program modifications that improved the volunteer tour leader experience and the outcomes for program participants. Maria would be an asset to any organization.
Credentials
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COVID-19 Contact Tracing
Coursera Course CertificatesMay, 2020- Nov, 2024 -
InsideOut Coaching
InsideOut DevelopmentSep, 2019- Nov, 2024 -
The Cycle: Management of Successful Arts and Cultural Organizations
CourseraDec, 2017- Nov, 2024 -
Design Kit: The Course for Human-Centered Design
IDEO.orgJul, 2015- Nov, 2024 -
GCP – Social and Behavioral Research Best Practices for Clinical Research
CITI ProgramSep, 2022- Nov, 2024 -
Group 2 - Social Behavioral
CITI ProgramSep, 2022- Nov, 2024 -
Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research Course 1.
CITI ProgramSep, 2022- Nov, 2024 -
Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED
American Red CrossJul, 2018- Nov, 2024 -
Finance for Non-Financial Managers
Lynda.comJan, 2017- Nov, 2024
Experience
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AARP Foundation
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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200 - 300 Employee
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Program Manager, Health Essentials
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Jan 2023 - Present
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Project Manager
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Jul 2021 - Jan 2023
Managing day-to-day operations of projects to increase food security among lower-income older adults through SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps).
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American Red Cross
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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700 & Above Employee
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Regional Program Manager, International Services and SAF
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Dec 2018 - Jul 2021
● Using humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality to support the mission of alleviating human suffering by reconnecting families separated by international borders as a result of conflict, disaster or migration. ● Managing volunteers and external partnerships to ensure efficient delivery of mission-related work. ● Using humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality to support the mission of alleviating human suffering by reconnecting families separated by international borders as a result of conflict, disaster or migration. ● Managing volunteers and external partnerships to ensure efficient delivery of mission-related work.
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Georgia Department of Public Health
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United States
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Hospitals and Health Care
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700 & Above Employee
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COVID-19 Contact Tracer
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Jun 2020 - Nov 2020
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Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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1 - 100 Employee
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Program Associate
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Oct 2017 - Nov 2018
● Created and executed marketing plan to increase applicants to A Place to Perform grant program, resulting in a threefold increase in applicants in 2018 YTD ● Conduct site visits and review nonprofits’ grant applications, financials, strategic plans, and board information in order to write donor reports and funding recommendations for board review. ● Created and executed marketing plan to increase applicants to A Place to Perform grant program, resulting in a threefold increase in applicants in 2018 YTD ● Conduct site visits and review nonprofits’ grant applications, financials, strategic plans, and board information in order to write donor reports and funding recommendations for board review.
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AARP
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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700 & Above Employee
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Program Analyst
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May 2014 - Jun 2017
● Managed AARP Foundation’s Million Meal Pack, a large-scale one-million-meal packing event and community fair in conjunction with a major NFL partner. Event drew over 4,000 volunteers and provided wide exposure for AARP Foundation and its programs.● Launched and managed programs to increase access and understanding of food security programs for lower-income Seniors. Programs included outreach and application assistance for SNAP benefits as well as nutrition education program led by peer-to-peer volunteers.
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National Project Coordinator
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Oct 2013 - May 2014
● Provided daily oversight for SNAP application assistance project receiving over 5,000 SNAP applications for older adults in the state of Georgia during a time period of 3 years.● Created and managed strategies for community outreach to low-income senior citizens by recruiting and training a core group of 40 volunteers to provide peer-to-peer outreach to target populations. Developed and implemented processes to ensure compliance with guidelines established by AARP Foundation and the United States Department of Agriculture.Produced outreach materials to increase program awareness as well as the organization’s role in helping seniors to enroll for benefits. Technical assistance to collaborating organizations on best practices for outreach and program eligibility.Conducted quality control and call calibration of Foundation contact center as it pertained to SNAP projects by auditing live and recorded calls and providing follow-up if needed.
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Project Coordinator
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Oct 2012 - Oct 2013
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AARP
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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700 & Above Employee
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Administrative Assistant
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2010 - 2011
● Successfully designed and implemented new process for localized SNAP outreach initiative to increase program participation to the region, resulting in a $500,000 annual grant award to AARP. ● Represented AARP Georgia at community events geared toward multicultural populations. ● Successfully designed and implemented new process for localized SNAP outreach initiative to increase program participation to the region, resulting in a $500,000 annual grant award to AARP. ● Represented AARP Georgia at community events geared toward multicultural populations.
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Perimeter Insurance
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Insurance
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1 - 100 Employee
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Administrative Assistant
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2006 - 2008
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Education
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2019 - 2022
Georgia State University
Master of Arts - MA, Gerontology -
2010 - 2012
Georgia State University
Bachelor in Arts, Political Science -
2006 - 2010
Georgia Perimeter College
Associate of Arts (A.A.), Foreign Languages
Community
