10-24-2021 Women to Watch - Flipbook - Page 22
KRISH O’MARA VIGNARAJAH
42, president and CEO, Lutheran Immigration
and Refugee Service
Krish O’Mara Vignarajah is fond of a quote
by the late Shirley Chisholm. “If they don’t give
you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair,” said
Chisholm, who in 1968 became the first Black
woman elected to Congress.
Vignarajah is the first non-Lutheran head of
the Baltimore-based, national nonprofit dedicated
to assisting immigrants and refugees. Her parents
left Sri Lanka as it was entering civil war when she
was 9 months old.
She was a candidate in the 2018 Democratic
gubernatorial primary in Maryland. Had she been
elected, that would have been a first as well since
Maryland has never had a female governor.
“I felt like I represented a different and valuable perspective,” she said. “If there is an opportunity for service in the future, I’d certainly seriously
consider it.”
— Jeff Barker
PHOTOS BY LLOYD FOX
JANET CURRIE
53, president, Bank of America Greater Maryland
If there’s anything the past year has reinforced to
Janet Currie, it’s to be intentional with every interaction. The pandemic challenged her to think of ways to
better serve employees, customers and the community.
“In each scenario and instance the solution can be
different,” said Currie, president of Bank of America
Greater Maryland. “It requires you to be thoughtful.
And, there’s a chance to do something different every
single day.”
As Currie continues to navigate the pandemic, she
said Bank of America is planning to invest in initiatives that will help facilitate more homeownership in
communities of color and reduce the racial wealth gap
locally. “We don’t want to just be writing checks, but
be a part of the community and being leaders for the
greater good.”
— McKenna Oxenden
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