Leadership
Meet Our Team

Kathy Johnson
Executive Director
For over 25 years, Kathy Johnson has worked to advocate on behalf of people who are marginalized and often misunderstood. She had a 20-year distinguished career at InterAct in Raleigh, where she served in multiple roles, including two stints as Interim Executive Director. Prior to joining Oak City Cares, she served as Executive Director for Pendleton Place, a foster care agency in Greenville, SC. In her experience at both InterAct and Pendleton Place, Kathy was involved with building and maintaining multi-service, multi-agency collaborative partnerships which is critical to the success of Oak City Cares.

Tosheria Brown
Director of Programs and Services
Tosheria Brown, previously the Program Coordinator for the Oak City Outreach Center since its opening in 2014, is now the Director of Programs and Services at Oak City Cares. Prior to her current work in the non-profit field, Tosheria worked in the for-profit sector for over 15 years where she developed her skills in customer service, project management, and relationship building. Tosheria has a Master’s Degree in Social Work and a true desire for serving our friends experiencing homelessness and other levels of transition. She sees the humanity in each person she encounters and has a compassion that allows her to exemplify a caring, empathetic, and nonjudgmental spirit.

Laura Martin
Volunteer Coordinator
Laura Martin has spent the last decade learning and leading in the Triangle area non-profit sector. She most recently served as the Executive Director of Dress for Success Triangle, seeking to broaden the economic opportunities available to women seeking careers. Prior to joining DFST (Dress for Success Triangle), Laura spent eight years at Raleigh-based, StepUp Ministry. Laura has a strong commitment to local workforce development efforts and specifically to better economic access and opportunity for all.

Rick Godette
Care Coordinator
Rick Godette lives his life by the motto, “One positive thought in the morning can change our whole day.” Rick has a heart for caring for people in need. Prior to joining the Oak City Cares team, Rick held many roles in fellowship and outreach at his church, St. John’s Metropolitan Community Church. Through St. John’s MCC, Rick currently provides a hot meal in Moore Square for Raleigh’s homeless population Tuesday through Thursday, and he previously started the food pantry for families in need. Rick is excited to continue caring for our friends experiencing homelessness at Oak City Cares and to remind everyone that there are brighter days ahead. In his spare time, you can find Rick working in the yard and tending to his plants.

Amanda Rapant
Development & Communications Coordinator
Amanda Rapant joins the Oak City Cares team with over 5 years experience in the non-profit industry. Amanda has a background in non-profit operations and development. She also brings writing and editing skills to her Development and Communications role at Oak City Cares. Amanda is originally from upstate New York, but has lived in North Carolina for the last 5 years. In her free time, Amanda enjoys hiking with her husband and rescue dog, attempting to garden, reading, baking and volunteering at a local dog rescue.

Katrina Pareja
Coordinated Entry Support Specialist
Katrina Pareja is excited to make compassion a career in her role as the Coordinated Entry Support Specialist. Katrina previously worked at the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits, and she currently serves on the Young Nonprofit Professional Network of the Triangle NC Board of Directors as Administrator. Born and raised in Charlotte, Katrina has called Raleigh home for over 10 years. Katrina earned a BA in Sociology with a minor in Nonprofit Studies at NC State University.

Otis Whitaker
Basic Needs Services Coordinator
Oak City Cares welcomes Otis Whitaker to the team as our Basic Needs Services Coordinator. Otis first became involved with Oak City Cares as a dedicated volunteer, and now is on the OCC team full-time. Otis finds joy in helping people and seeing them develop and achieve their goals, all while making someone smile or laugh. He will ensure a smooth and fair process is experienced by all and hopes to always be a lending hand to neighbors in need.

Emily Tingen
Care Coordinator
Emily Tingen was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. Emily earned her BSW from University of North Carolina Wilmington, and is currently working towards obtaining her MSW from University of North Carolina State. Throughout the last two years she has devoted her time working towards assisting individuals experiencing homelessness or on the verge of homelessness. She strives to be a vehicle for change for individuals she serves in the community through her advocacy for individuals facing oppression and discrimination.

Darrell Cox
Grant Writer
Darrell Cox joins the Oak City Cares team after serving as the Grant Writer Associate at Catholic Charities for two and a half years. Darrell is no stranger to the nonprofit world. He has worked for several organizations as the Executive Director or Program Director, including the Dorothy Day Center in St. Paul, a multi-service facility for homeless individuals and families in poverty. He supports Oak City Cares as the Grant Writer.

Cynthia Gattis
SOAR Specialist
Cynthia Gattis is the SOAR Specialist here at Oak City Cares where she will be helping guests navigate through the disability programs run by the Social Security Administration. She has over 20 years of experience with disability programs here in North Carolina. As a lifelong resident of North Carolina, her local roots run deep.

Marie Brady
Finance and Operations Coordinator
Marie Brady joins the Oak City Cares team with a diverse skill set and over 30 years of professional experience. With prior roles in the retail, banking, pharmaceutical, and multi-family housing industry, Marie brings her expertise to the team as the Finance and Operations Coordinator. Marie is recently retired and is looking forward to giving back to the community through her role at Oak City Cares. Originally from Pittsburgh, Marie has called North Carolina home for 22 years.

Kitty Banks
Weekend Meals Coordinator and Coordinated Entry Support Specialist
Kitty Banks has always seen food as a way to bring people together, or in her words, minister to people’s souls. Prior to joining the Oak City Cares team, Kitty worked at Inter-Faith Food Shuttle for over 17 years where she held several roles, including Catering Kitchen Manager. With over 19 years of nonprofit experience in the Triangle area and over 30 years of experience in the food industry, Kitty brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Oak City Cares as the Weekend Meals Coordinator and Coordinated Entry Support Specialist.

Betsy Baker
Assistant Weekend Meals Coordinator
Betsy Baker’s passion is connecting and creating positive relationships with the guests and volunteers of Oak City Cares. After graduating with a BA in Social Work and working in South Carolina for 15 years, Betsy is delighted to bring her compassion and talent back to the Triangle area.

Additional Team Members
Andrea Thompson, Weekend Meals Assistant
Craig Canteen, Basic Needs Services Assistant
Greta Johnson, Weekend Meals Assistant
Tiffoney Hayes, Weekend Meals Assistant
Stacie Patterson, Weekend Meals Assistant
Board of Directors
Dr. Brian Klausner
Chair
Mr. Rick Miller-Haraway
Vice-Chair
Mr. Pablo Escobar
Treasurer
Mr. Thomas Lindgren
Secretary
Mrs. Barbara Goodmon
Mr. Barkley Sample
Ms. Kimberley Jones
Mr. Tom Gipson
Ms. Michele Grant
Mr. Joey Spencer
Mr. Casey Turner
Mr. Michael D’Ercole
Rev. Paul Anderson
Mr. Brad Crone
Ms. Joyce Kohn
Our Provider Partners
These organizations are part of the ever-growing list of those collaborating to provide medical assistance, behavioral health care, veterans’ services, outreach, employment services, and coordination of care and support to Oak City Cares guests. Visit our Providers Page for the full list of partners.

HOURS:
9am-5pm Monday-Friday
9am-6pm on Saturday and Sunday for weekend meals (enter at the side entrance)
1430 South Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC 27603
We are accessible via the #21 bus from downtown Raleigh.
Oak City Cares
1430 S. Wilmington St.,
Raleigh, NC 27603