Oprah Keyes, MSW, LCSW-C (she/her) is passionate about fostering collaborative initiatives that support community-centered goals. A dedicated advocate for equity in communities, and with a background as a licensed clinical social worker, Oprah brings a wealth of experience to the ACLU-MD board.
Born and raised in the Netherlands by African-American and Caribbean parents, Oprah developed a passion for supporting youth, families, and communities of color at a young age. As such, she moved to the United States in 2008 to pursue her education and future career. With a Master’s in Social Work, specializing in Community, Management, and Policy Practice, and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill (2014 and 2012, respectively), Oprah is committed to being a positive change agent in the communities that she serves.
Oprah has worked for a number of non-profit organizations, including Boomerang, a resiliency-based alternative to school suspension program, and the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, a multi-disciplinary social justice organization focused on criminal justice, voting rights, and environmental justice, both based in North Carolina. Passionate about systems-involved youth, criminal justice, equity, education, and community development, she has created an ambitious career path with the intention to support the people, organizations and communities that are changing the world.
A Maryland resident since 2016, Oprah currently serves as the Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Center for Restorative Change, housed within the University of Maryland Baltimore’s School of Social Work. In her free time, she enjoys traveling across the world to gain new perspectives and bring revitalized energy back to her work and communities.