About Us
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Michelle Fewer
Director of Community Outreach and Financial Operations
​Michelle has a Bachelor's Degree in English from Tulane University and a Master's Degree in Teaching from Towson State University. She left a career as a high school English teacher in 2001 and has been involved in homeschooling since her older daughter began kindergarten in 2009. A Black Belt in karate, Michelle is an instructor and the Program Director for WKD Karate for Girls in Columbia, MD.  Michelle's responsibilities at Common Ground Community Center include community relations and outreach, as well as bookkeeping and day-to-day financial operations. She is married to John Fewer, Jr. and her family of 4 resides in Granite, Maryland.
Gene Jubilee
​Gene is a life-long Baltimore resident and lives with his wife and their son in the neighborhood of Waverly. He studied visual arts at the University of Maryland Baltimore County with an emphasis on photography.  After he graduated, he served 2 years in the Peace Corps in Samoa where he taught woodworking.  After he returned from Samoa, he pursued graduate studies in sociology at the University of Baltimore. After he graduated, he worked as a counselor and case manager for people with disabilities and taught sociology at Baltimore City Community College.
Kelly Polyakov
Executive Director of Common Ground Community Center
​Kelly has a Master's Degree in English and Creative Writing from Hollins University.  She has taught creative writing and a variety of Language Arts classes at Hollins University, Fort Garrison Elementary School, BHCC and BSIL.  Kelly has had poetry and short stories published locally and nationally and was an editor for the Baltimore Review and a freelance writer.  Before starting Common Ground Community Center, she ran the after school programs at  Fort Garrison.  Kelly homeschooled her two boys Ben and Elijah. 
Brittany Williams
​Executive Director of Baltimore School of Independent Learners
​Brittany has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, specializing in Advertising, from the University of Maryland at College Park.  After working in marketing during the wonderful “dot com” era, she decided to stay at home to raise her then newborn son.  Now she homeschools her three children: Nuari, Asara and Saneru.  In addition to her activities as Director at the Baltimore Homechool Community Center and the Baltimore School of Independent Learners, Brittany teaches several classes at the center and is involved in course development and social events. She has also studied natural herbs for over 15 years and has a small business selling her herbal natural body care products.  Brittany is married to Lamont Williams and resides in Columbia, Maryland.