Mary Brown

Mary Brown is one of Washington, DC’s strongest and most highly regarded youth advocates. As one of Life Pieces To Masterpieces’ Co-Founders in 1996, Mary has worked for decades to create meaningful change in the lives of young people and their families locally and nationally. Sister Mary is currently LPTM’s Executive Director, working with the team to advance the critical mission of using artistic expression to develop character and leadership, unlock potential, and prepare Black boys and young men to transform their lives and communities. She advances this mission each day, whether by strategically guiding the organization, securing resources, teaching young people, working directly with families, or even when necessary, cleaning floors and toilets.

Since 2009, Mary has partnered with the Bureau of Northern Ireland and the US State Department to engage NGOs in Belfast in restorative justice practices via the arts and community engagement. Mary was a member of the national faculty at Neighborworks America for 17 years, responsible for the design, facilitation and evaluation of training programs nationwide for youth development workers, community developers and organizers. Her topics of expertise include: effective community development, community organizing, arts education in community engagement, grassroots social change, youth leadership, intergenerational engagement in community building, conflict resolution, and diversity training for communities with emerging populations.

Her distinguished work, commitment, and impact have been repeatedly recognized and celebrated by a range of discerning institutions. She was a 2010 Washingtonian of the Year honoree. In 2013, Mary was the recipient of the John Thompson, Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award from Georgetown University for dedicated commitment to youth service and development in Washington, D.C. She was also the recipient of The Eugene Agnes E. Meyer Foundation’s Exponent Award, which acknowledges outstanding nonprofit Executive Directors. In 2014, MarBrown and Life Pieces To Masterpieces won the Dr. Asa G. Hilliard Model of Excellence Award from CollegeBoard. Mary holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Xavier University and completed Harvard Business School’s “Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management & Executive Education Program. She is a member of Leadership Greater Washington’s class of 2009.