10-10-2026 4:17am

County Honors 7

Jeff Barto Editor

Baltimore County Honors Seven Community Heroes at Annual Community Leader Summit

TOWSON — County Executive Kathy Klausmeier recognized seven recipients of Baltimore County’s 2026 Community Heroes Awards at the County’s annual Community Leader Summit. The awards honor individuals whose service is making a meaningful difference in communities across the County.

“Strong communities start with people who care about their neighbors and step up to help,” said County Executive Klausmeier. “This year’s Community Heroes are feeding children, supporting families, strengthening our neighborhoods and giving others a chance to be heard. I’m proud to thank them for the time, care and hard work they give to Baltimore County.”

YANCI ALVAREZ – DISTRICT 1

Yanci Alvarez serves as a volunteer coordinator with RISE, a community outreach program through Christ the King Church. Driven by a passion for helping immigrant families, she coordinates volunteers, organizes food distributions and connects families with resources. Her work supports the community’s day-to-day needs and helps ensure neighbors have access to food and a welcoming place to turn for assistance. Through her service, Yanci helps families find the support they need and builds connections among volunteers and the people they serve.

JESSICA HARRIS – DISTRICT 2

Jessica Harris is a resident services and community impact professional with more than 20 years of experience serving seniors and families throughout Maryland. Her work supports housing stability, aging in place, food security, health and wellness, and access to essential services. She builds partnerships that connect residents with resources and opportunities. Jessica holds a bachelor’s degree in gerontology and aging services from the University of Maryland Global Campus. In 2026, the American Association of Service Coordinators recognized her as its Service Coordinator of the Year.

LYNNE KAHN – DISTRICT 3

Lynne Kahn is the founder and executive director of the Baltimore Hunger Project, which addresses the weekend hunger gap for schoolchildren. What began in her garage has grown into a coordinated effort to provide food to children between Friday and Monday, when school meals are unavailable. From the organization’s Timonium warehouse, Lynne leads a coalition of volunteers and builds systems to meet growing demand. Her work helps remove hunger as a barrier to learning so students can return to the classroom on Monday ready to learn.

CRYSTAL MICRIOTTO – DISTRICT 4

Crystal Micriotto serves as Main Street manager for Reisterstown Main Street and the Reisterstown Improvement Association. A longtime community leader, artist and educator, she brings residents, businesses and government partners together to support economic development, public art and historic preservation. Her projects include the local history series Betcha Didn’t Know?!, a Junior Main Street podcast and Studios at 234, a hub for local artists. Under her leadership, Reisterstown Main Street has secured business façade grants, expanded community programming, and achieved Main Street Maryland designation and national accreditation.

VICKI KELLER – DISTRICT 5

Vicki Keller spent nearly four decades with the Baltimore County Department of Health, including supervising the Women, Infants, and Children Program and managing substance use prevention. Since retiring in 2022, she has expanded her community service through the Perry Hall Improvement Association’s events and scholarship program. For Perry Hall’s 250th anniversary, she helped plan events, oversaw a time capsule project, advocated for historic marker restoration and wrote local history articles. She also serves as treasurer of the Honeygo Regional Veterans Memorial Executive Committee and helps raise funds for the project.

SUSANNA BARRIOS – DISTRICT 6

Susanna Barrios advocates for immigrant families, people with disabilities and residents facing language and access barriers. She works with Disability Rights Maryland, co-founded Latinos United Network for Advocacy and has served on Baltimore County’s New American Task Force. She also works with young people and student clubs to help youth share their ideas and take active roles in their communities. Throughout her work, Susanna champions the belief that everyone deserves to be heard, regardless of their English proficiency or ability to navigate complicated systems.

JACQUELINE BREWSTER – DISTRICT 7

Jacqueline “Jackie” Brewster has lived in Dundalk since infancy and volunteered in the Charlesmont Elementary School library since the 1995–1996 school year. A Charlesmont PTA officer since 1997, she currently serves as president. She has also led the PTAs at General John Stricker Middle School and Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts, as well as the PTA Council of Baltimore County. Jackie has chaired the Southeast Area Education Advisory Council since 2009 and served as a den leader for Cub Pack 342 since 2000, currently leading its Webelos den.