Our Team
Our team is devoted to making Women of Praize a safe place where women can find support, encouragement, and kinship.
Rev. Adwoa Rey, MARS | President and Chief Executive Officer
Adwoa Rey is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Women of Praize. Women of Praize provides spiritual support for women of color in politics. Most recently, Adwoa served as Chief Advancement Officer at Sojourners, an ecumenical Christian social justice advocacy organization and award-winning magazine, and as Director of Finance and Development at The Faith & Politics Institute, an organization that advances our democracy by bridging political, racial, and religious divides.
Adwoa served as President and CEO of Faith Link Inc., where she led efforts to provide policy education and advocacy training to faith communities. Prior to that, she served as Manager of Federal Affairs at The New England Council where she advocated for the interests of over 350 businesses across the region. She was responsible for healthcare, education, and transportation policy.
Adwoa served in several key roles on Capitol Hill, including Special Assistant to the Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, Congressman John Larson (D-CT). She coordinated outreach and provided policy and administrative support to House Democrats. Adwoa has also served as a political fundraiser.
Adwoa earned her B.A. in Political Science from Southern Connecticut State University and her M.A. in Religious Studies from Howard University School of Divinity. She was awarded the Public Leadership Credential from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a management certificate from Harvard Business School. Adwoa is a graduate of The Campaign School at Yale University.
Adwoa is a member of the Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Northern Virginia Chapter, and the Junior League of Washington. She serves on the Fairfax County Human Services Council as the Mount Vernon Representative, Good Shepard Housing and Family Services Community Leadership Council, and Southern Connecticut State University Alumni Board of Directors.
Martine Senecal | Communications Manager
Martine Senecal is the communications manager at Women of Praize. She has worked in the field of public relations for more than ten years, providing services to musical artists, beauticians, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Martine is the owner of ALPHAfemme Branding, LLC, a branding and communication business dedicated to assisting African American women entrepreneurs find their brand stories, engage with their audience, and continue to stay relevant while expanding their reach.
Neosho C. Ponder, Ph.D. | Program Manager
A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Neosho C. Ponder is an Adjunct Professor at Trinity Washington University in Washington, DC. Her research foci include, social media,
popular culture, interpersonal and intercultural communication, new media technologies, and family communication, which merges her love for learning and all things media. In addition to her doctorate in Communication, Culture, and Media, Neosho also earned a Master of Arts in Mass Communication and Media Studies from Howard University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of Missouri- Kansas City.
This first-generation college graduate and professional auntie is an active member of the Washington DC Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is also active in other civic and public service organizations including, NAACP and ministries at Reid Temple AME Church. Neosho enjoys volunteering, visiting museums, and people watching around DC.
In April 2016, at the age of 36 and one year after completing her PhD, Neosho was diagnosed with stage-2b breast cancer. Her determination to fight and share her story, has led her to be featured on CNN and BET, while still in treatment. At the encouragement of friends, family, and strangers, Neosho has been working on her memoir, GOD’S GOT JOKES, set for release in December 2021. She has not allowed a diagnosis to stop her from educating, empowering, and uplifting her community. Now in her 5th year of survivorship, Neosho is passionate about supporting other survivors through the Young Survival Coalition and For the Breast of Us. She also loves rowing on the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers with WeCanRow DC, a national rowing club for breast cancer survivors, where she is the youngest and one of few women of color.
Grace Fischer | The Fund For American Studies (TFAS) Summer Intern
Grace Fischer (not pictured) is a recent graduate of Whittenberg University where she earned her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in History. At Whittenberg, Grace served the student body as an Interfaith Senator and an active member of Campus Ministries. She is a proud member Alpha Xi Delta Sorority and Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.