We are dedicated to confronting inequities so that race, place, income, and other social factors are no longer predictors of children’s outcomes and future success.

We are committed to using data and setting measurable benchmarks to inform our decisions, monitor and share our progress, and guide the ways we work to improve.

We value the many perspectives, expertise, and abilities of early childhood leaders across public and private sectors and recognize our shared responsibility to work together on behalf of the community.

We prioritize the perspectives of those closest to the issues we aim to address, who have been historically oppressed and kept furthest from opportunity, to realize a more just early childhood system.

We stand behind the beliefs, practices, and policies that amplify the strengths and address the needs of young children and their families.

Strategic Public Financing Coordinator

Britt Anuszkiewicz has more than 30 years of experience as a child advocate at local, state, and national levels in youth and community development, child welfare, and systems reform. As Strategic Public Financing Coordinator, she tracks, maps, and analyzes public and private financial investments in early care and education; estimates the true costs of designing and implementing new programs, strategies, and policy priorities; and assesses the feasibility for securing new funding. She is passionate about using her skill set to align people, data, and money around common goals for young children in Montgomery County.

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Britt has built her career around improving outcomes for children, youth, and families, especially in vulnerable and marginalized communities. Her nonprofit work began while managing USAID-funded maternal and child health initiatives in Africa and Asia, and she continued to lead youth, community change, and child welfare initiatives at the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Britt has expertise in best practices in aligning and coordinating children’s funding and services from her time at The Forum for Youth Investment and The Finance Project, and she researched and supported system innovations at Stoneleigh Foundation. She also ensured children were safe and thriving in kinship, foster, and adoptive care as the leader of a large, Philadelphia-based child welfare agency.

Britt holds a Master of Liberal Arts and Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Towson University. In her free time, she enjoys writing poetry, playing the guitar, hiking, and volunteer service.

Measurement & Impact Analyst

Giraldine Duff is the Allliance’s Measurement and Impact Analyst, where she leverages federal, state, and local data to help stakeholders better understand the needs of children and families in Montgomery County. By integrating data from a broad range of sources, Giraldine assesses, monitors, and evaluates the progress of education initiatives and identifies opportunities where the County can more equitably serve communities in need. Giraldine also advocates at the state and County levels to improve the availability and quality of data with the power to inform community decisions.

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Prior to her role at the Children’s Opportunity Alliance, Giraldine served as an Auditor for the Child Care Resource Center, which provided educational services to various communities in California. In this role, Giraldine worked with departments to ensure their processes were compliant with policy and aligned with the goal of meeting stakeholder needs. Giraldine also previously served as an Auditor for the City and County of Honolulu in Hawai’i.

Giraldine holds a Master of Arts in Economics from American University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. Originally from Hawai’i, she and her fiancé love to find new places to hike and camp around the DMV area.

Manager, Strategic Initiatives

Laura Jahromi brings her extensive on-the-ground experience coordinating and supporting community change efforts to her role managing strategic initiatives for the Alliance. Laura spearheads all aspects of systems change strategy – including the development and implementation of key initiatives, stakeholder engagement and facilitation, research, evaluation, and advocacy.

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Previously, Laura played a project and operations management role for the Big Picture Approach Consulting team at the Forum for Youth Investment, where she helped leadership groups around the country build broader partnerships, set bigger goals, and implement bolder strategies in the interest of improving outcomes for young people. Before working on the national level, Laura helped to launch both Baltimore’s Promise, a cradle-to-career collective impact effort, and Public Allies Maryland, an AmeriCorps program focused on leadership and workforce development for Opportunity Youth. Through these roles, Laura gained experience in applying national best practices when creating new programs, services, and change efforts within a local community context. Laura also served as an AmeriCorps VISTA and has continued to support and advocate for AmeriCorps programs.

Laura holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services from Villanova University. Laura and her husband are raising two young boys in Montgomery County and spend time going on new adventures, doing crafts, and building community.

Early Care and Education Manager

Kimberly Pena-Molina serves as the Early Care and Education Manager for the Children's Opportunity Alliance, where she focuses on driving transformative change within the early care and education space in Montgomery County. With a profound understanding of the community's needs, Kimberly spearheads efforts to bridge gaps and advocates for necessary resources, driving positive change in the early care and education sector.

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Before joining the Children's Opportunity Alliance, Kimberly was an Information Specialist contractor for the Office of Head Start, where she disseminated crucial information regarding the Head Start program to diverse stakeholders, including parents, program staff, and community partners, promoting transparency and engagement across all levels. Kimberly was also a kindergarten teacher for Montgomery County Public Schools, where she crafted dynamic lessons and utilized varied teaching approaches to create vibrant learning environments. Additionally, Kimberly served as the Before and Aftercare Director at Kidsco Jr, an Early Learning Center, where she led and mentored a dedicated team, implementing performance strategies and nurturing a strong sense of community.

Kimberly holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus and a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. Kimberly was born and raised in Montgomery County, where she currently resides. In her free time, she enjoys working on puzzles, indulging in her favorite TV shows, and spending time with her family and friends.

Office Manager

In her role as Office Manager, Desmirra Quinnonez oversees the daily operations of the Children’s Opportunity Alliance, including administrative tasks, vendor relations, financial administration, and human resources. She is instrumental in developing new processes that help the Alliance function efficiently and effectively.

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As the daughter of two educators, Desmirra understands firsthand the importance of high-quality early childhood education. She began her career as a kindergarten and adult education teacher at Delaware State University, helping adults earn their GEDs and/or high school diplomas in the Appoquinimink School District. She later served as a Project Manager for the National Quality Forum, where she created and systematized operational processes to maximize organizational transparency and efficiency. Most recently, she served as a Donor Services Officer for the Greater Washington Community Foundation, where she managed grantmaking activities and grantee and donor data to help increase The Community Foundation’s impact on education in Montgomery County.

Desmirra studied Business Administration at the University of Maryland and Elementary Education at Oakwood University. Outside of work, Desmirra is a Master Certified Life Coach and enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Her hobbies include attending concerts and theater, curling up with a warm blanket to watch a good movie, and listening and singing along to music of all genres.

Executive Director

Kimberly Rusnak leads the Montgomery County Children’s Opportunity Alliance. This entity was built to integrate and coordinate public and private initiatives and services focused on young children living in Montgomery County, Maryland. Kimberly was part of the team that brought the Alliance into existence and was chosen as its founding Executive Director. She drives all day-to-day operations at the Alliance and directs its multi-year strategic plan, and she partners with many diverse stakeholders to advance outcomes for young children.

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Kimberly brings a wealth of experience to this role and to the mission of the Alliance. Prior to taking the helm at the Alliance, Kimberly served as the Director of the Children's Opportunity Fund at the Greater Washington Community Foundation, where she drove its mission, strategy, and stakeholder engagement. She and her team spearheaded the community crisis response during the pandemic, working with a multitude of partners to establish Equity Hubs so that 1,500 Montgomery County students had a safe place to learn while schools were closed.

Kimberly has 20 years of experience in nonprofit management. She was the Program Officer at the Social Innovation Fund, managing a grantee portfolio of $125 million to grow community-based solutions in economic opportunity, healthy futures, and youth development. She also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal and an AmeriCorps volunteer with Hands on Atlanta. This year, Kimberly will participate in Leadership Montgomery’s CORE program to expand her knowledge and leadership skills.

Kimberly holds a Master of Public and International Affairs and a Master of Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Wake Forest University. Kimberly lives in Montgomery County with her husband and three children.