Leadership and Staff

Leadership and staff

Ashley McSwain

LGSW, msod

Executive Director

Ashley McSwain is the current Executive Director for CFLS and a recognized expert in women's reentry. Prior to joining CFLS, Ms. McSwain served as Executive Director for Our Place DC, a nonprofit providing programming and resources to currently and formerly incarcerated women in the D.C area. Ms. McSwain is a licensed Social Worker in the state of Maryland and in the District of Columbia and holds a Master's of Social Work from Temple University, a Master's of Organizational Development from American University, and a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Temple University. She is a member of the adjunct faculty at Catholic University in the Graduate School of Social Work and is certified as a domestic violence counselor. Ms. McSwain served as Deputy Director for a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit for ten years, overseeing five shelters, three transitional housing programs, four food pantries, a first-time homebuyer program, and a Homeowner Emergency Assistance Program (HEMAP). She has worked in the human services field for more than twenty-five years.

Shena Mcfadden

Housing and Wellness Director

Shena McFadden manages all housing services and property management for CFLS. Ms. McFadden has a strong background in the human service field, with over a decade of experience working with the homeless and mentally ill. Previously, she worked as the director of a mental health program in Cleveland, Ohio, and has experience providing mental health and housing case management as well as individual counseling and group therapy. Ms. McFadden graduated in 2011 from Capella University with a Master’s degree in Counseling Studies and is currently working towards her Ph.D. in Community and Social Services. Contact Shena McFadden at Smcfadden@cflsdc.org or (202) 864-6234

Katherine Russell

Reentry and Victim Services Director

Katherine Russell oversees our reentry and victim services, Speakers Bureau, and Drop-In Center. Katherine’s interest in the criminal justice system began in Buffalo, NY, where she assisted returning citizens in starting their own nonprofits and mentoring programs. She earned a Master’s in Criminal Justice from Boston University. Katherine authored essays about individuals’ reentry experiences in the photo-essay documentary, Coming Home: Reentry After Incarceration. She has been with Community Family Life Services since January 2018. Contact Katherine Russell at Krussell@cflsdc.org or (202) 864-6310