our team.

Larry Ottinger - Board Chair

Sheila Maith - Board Member

Molly Amster - Board Member
Molly Amster is founding director of Jews United for Justice and The JUFJ Campaign Fund’s Baltimore branches which advance racial and economic justice at the state and local level. She serves in leadership roles in the Maryland Coalition for Justice and Police Accountability and Renters United Maryland. Molly is a facilitator for Baltimore Racial Justice Action and a member of Our Maryland’s Board of Directors. Molly’s earlier work at CHAI: Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Incorporated, in Northwest Baltimore focused on older adult services, public schools, and community race relations. She moved to Baltimore in 2007 to help establish the environmental education program and farm at The Pearlstone Center. Molly fosters dogs for BARCS and lives in Northeast Baltimore City.

Susan Olsen - Mike Pretl Fellow
Susan Olsen is an environmental and progressive activist and writer based on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Before retiring, Susan was an English teacher and reading specialist at the largest state prison in Maryland, Eastern Correctional Institution (ECI). She became interested in reading difficulties and disabilities such as dyslexia and worked with Adult Basic Education (ABE) students. In the past several years, Susan has written op-eds on various issues including the environment, peace and gun violence. Susan has been an active member of political groups such as Indivisible and local Democratic clubs and currently chairs the Maryland Sierra Club’s Lower Eastern Shore Group. Her interest in environmental issues and Democratic party politics led to her friendship with Mike Pretl. Mike Pretl was a respected state progressive leader and nonprofit lawyer, including on health, environmental and gun safety issues. Mike helped to start Our Maryland and served as an original Board member and guiding light. After his tragic passing in December of 2018, the Our Maryland Board established the Mike Pretl Fellowship to honor his memory, service and friendship.
past board members.

Karen Darkes - Board Member

Rashad Staton
