Get to Know Our Board of Directors
Hal Garman
Hal Garman founded the Gaithersburg Beloved Community Beloved Community Initiative (GBCI) in 2011 after hearing a sermon by Marian Wright Edelman at Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, DC on the cradle to prison pipeline for black and brown youth. Hal is an ordained United Methodist Elder. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University in Agriculture, a Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology, and a PhD in Social Ethics from Boston University Graduate School. He has served in several roles related to urban ministry and urban issues including pastor, consultant, capacity builder, organizer, and executive director of social justice projects. His primary hobbies have been photography, gardening, writing essays, sermons and memoirs. He and his wife, Jan, live at Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, MD.
Marvin Lynch
Marvin Lynch is a retired human resources manager, who has lived in Gaithersburg for 25 years. Marvin is a native of Michigan, where he graduated from Eastern Michigan University. He also received a master's degree from the American University. Marvin primarily worked in the nonprofit world, serving several colleges and universities, state government and member associations, as a human resources professional. Today, he invests his time in activities that support middle and high school students, equipping them to be financially literate and to better understand the economy around them. He also serves in various capacities in his church. In his spare time, Marvin likes to travel, exercise and attend jazz and classical music concerts.
Carol Tyson
Carol Tyson has been a part of GBCI’s mentoring program since 2020 and serves as a member of GBCI’s board of directors. She brings almost 30 years of experience in public and special education, working with children in grades K through six. Since retiring in 2021, she has continued to find ways to be involved in children’s education, including becoming a lead volunteer for GBCI and serving as a member of her local church where she oversees her food pantry, plays bells with the Grace Ringers, and participates in several other ministry groups. Her favorite hobbies are sewing, arts and crafts, and writing.; including writing and illustrating children’s books for her grandchildren.
John Jordan
John Jordan serves as Treasurer of GBCI and as a driver in the Food Distribution program. He and his wife, Lois, lived in New Jersey before moving to Asbury Methodist Village in 2021. They are parents of four children and grandparents to 13. John earned a bachelor's degree from Houghton College and a Juris Doctor from Rutgers University. He practiced law in South Jersey for 45 years, mostly as a sole practitioner, but also in partnership with Lois. He held numerous government positions, including 10 years as an Assistant Prosecutor and 25 years as a Municipal Judge. John played and coached baseball and softball until his knees gave out, but he still manages to garden, jog, and work out at the Asbury Fitness Room.
Ruth Samorajczyk
Ruth Samorajczyk is a native Marylander, born in Baltimore, and a graduate of the University of Maryland. Ruth has always loved working with children so it is no surprise that the first activity she joined after moving to Asbury was the GBCI mentoring program. She has worked as a teacher, a stay at home mom, a substitute teacher, and a bookkeeper/accountant for a local church. She has volunteered as an aide in a special education class, a Sunday school teacher, and a tutor for the Oasis program. Ruth has resided in the Gaithersburg area since 1972 when she moved to Montgomery Village. After the death of her husband, she married an Asbury widower, Dan Muller, in 2015 and moved into the Villas. In addition to kids, she also loves reading, working out at the gym, the Orioles and the Ravens.
Spence Limbocker
Spence Limbocker brings over forty years of experience to GBCI. He has worked in community-based organizations and philanthropic grant-making institutions dedicated to supporting the development of effective community and economic development organizations in low- and moderate-income communities. His career spans various roles, including Executive Director of the Neighborhood Funders Group, Administrative Director of the Organize Training Center, and community organizer in San Francisco where he managed a 400-unit housing co-op. He also served with the Congress on Racial Equality in the South in 1965, among other roles. In 2017, Spence moved to Asbury Methodist Village, where he has served as the chair of GBCI for four years, council chair for six years at one of Asbury's resident homes, Future Asbury PAC chair for two years, and on the COC executive committee for two years.
Giankarlo Vera
Giankarlo serves as a board member for GBCI. Born and raised in Cusco, Peru, he moved to the U.S. at age 10 and later graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor's degree in psychology. In 2016, Giankarlo began working with high school youth as a Program Facilitator at Identity, Inc., where he led positive youth development programs and provided wraparound services. This experience ignited his passion for creating fun and healthy opportunities for young people. He currently works as the High School Program Supervisor for the City of Gaithersburg. Giankarlo brings his years of experience to GBCI, helping to find creative ways to engage youth participants and volunteers in our programs. His hobbies include playing soccer, attending concerts, and traveling.
Marvin Jovel
Marvin Jovel graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science in Family Science. His professional journey began at YMCA Youth & Family Services, where he served as a Program Coordinator, running a community center and later working as a Parent Outreach Coordinator. Since joining Identity in 2016, Marvin has advanced from a Youth Development Specialist to his current role as Senior Program Manager for School-Based Wellness Centers. In this role, he oversees positive youth development programs and social services within the Wellness Centers, bringing his dedication to youth well-being into every aspect of his work. Marvin’s involvement with GBCI is fueled by his passion for positive youth development and his commitment to ensuring that every young person has the opportunity to succeed academically, emotionally, and spiritually. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, twin sons, and daughter, often taking beach trips and cheering on D.C. United at soccer matches. He is also actively involved in his church, serving in both the youth and worship ministries.
Djamila Bah
Djamila Bah serves as a board member of Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative. She has lived in Montgomery Village since 2003 and has been a certified nurse and medication technician for the past 15 years. Her experiences at Safe Places Association help offer a unique view into engaging with families and children from diverse communities. In her free time, Djamila likes to visit museums and sightsee in new countries.