The Mary Elizabeth House Announces Cemeré James as Interim CEO
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April. 8, 2026
Contact: Lydia Sermons
Board Chair, The Mary Elizabeth House, Inc.
[301) 526-0374 – Mobile
LSermons212@gmail.com-Email
The Mary Elizabeth House Announces Cemeré James as Interim CEO
Washington, DC – The Board of Directors announces Cemeré James as the Interim CEO of Mary Elizabeth House, a Washington, DC–based transitional housing and support program for teen and young adult mothers experiencing homelessness or aging out of foster care. An executive leader and policy advisor with deep experience in nonprofit leadership and advocacy, she brings a lifelong commitment to advancing the well-being of children and families—particularly young mothers and children of color.
As a seasoned transitional leader, Ms. James most recently served as Interim Executive Director at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), where she guided the organization through a period of leadership transition and strategic continuity.
Ms. James previously held senior leadership roles at the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), where she served as Interim National Director of Movement Building, and at the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI), where she served as Senior Vice President of Policy and later Interim President and CEO. Across these roles, she led strategic initiatives to expand program reach, strengthen organizational operations, and influence policy to improve outcomes for Black children and families. She also co-authored Black Child National Agenda: America Must Deliver on Its Promise in collaboration with national partners.
Since 2022, Ms. James has also served as the founder and CEO of James Borden Consulting, partnering with public agencies, philanthropies, and nonprofit organizations to address institutional racism and strengthen systems that serve vulnerable communities.
Earlier in her career, Ms. James led an operations improvement team at the Illinois Department of Human Services and was an inaugural fellow in the Illinois Early Childhood Fellows Program (now the Barbara Bowman Leadership Fellows Program).
She holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago, a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management Science from Northwestern University, and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering from Florida A&M University.For more information visit The Mary Elizabeth House, or contact LSermons212@gmail.com.
About The Mary Elizabeth House
The Mary Elizabeth House, Inc. is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing safe and stable housing, guidance, and training to young women and their children, particularly those transitioning out of the foster care system. Our mission is to empower young women to build resilience, achieve holistic well-being, and become accountable, self-sufficient individuals who thrive as they care for their families.