Staff
Tommy Barnes
Facilities and Events Specialist
He//Him
Tommy Barnes has served at the Festival Center since 2008. He holds an associate degree in Computer Science from the University of the District of Columbia. Previously Tommy served as a Maintenance Engineer at William C. Smith Realty Company. In his free time, Tommy volunteers at Christ House, an organization that provides comprehensive and compassionate health care to sick, homeless men in the District of Columbia.
John Blount
He//Him
Facilities Maintenance Coordinator
Claire Gholston
Director of Operations
She//Her
Claire is a people-oriented administrator with a longing to see the hearts of advocates healed and supported as they seek to facilitate justice in their respective areas of influence. She primarily comes from a faith-based, nonprofit world, managing community partnerships and working on a team to provide direct services for the most vulnerable community members in Los Angeles, CA. She holds a BA in Communications and Social Entrepreneurship from Wake Forest University and a Masters of Intercultural Studies with an emphasis on international development and urban studies from Fuller Theological Seminary.
Sharon Groves
She//Her
Community Engagement Strategist
Sharon Groves is a leader in faith and justice work. She has collaborated with movement leaders, policy makers, and philanthropists on community thriving, inclusive democracy, reproductive health, reparations, and LGBTQ equity. Formerly Vice-President for Partner Engagement at Auburn Seminary and Director of the Religion and Faith Program at the Human Rights Campaign, Sharon brings two decades of experience supporting communities committed to spirit-rooted justice work to expand their impact, deepen their effectiveness, and strengthen their coalitions. Whether supporting the next generation of queer identified theologians, creating space and budget for Muslim women working on reproductive justice, or mobilizing national faith leaders around the justice crises facing our nation, Sharon loves supporting communities to make positive and sustaining change. She holds a Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Maryland and has studied theology extensively at Wesley Theological Seminary and Chicago Theological Seminary. An active member of All Souls Church in DC, she serves on the Beckner Foundation board and the board of LGBTQ-Religious Archive Network. She is currently also seeking certification in enneagram-based spiritual direction and coaching. Sharon has lived for over 30 years in the DC area and is excited, at this chapter in her life, to support local organizing and community building in her beloved city.
Sharon’s favorite thing about the Festival Center is the way it stimulates vibrant community. There really isn’t any place like it. I love it when groups that are not directly connected to each other meet at the Festival Center and become advocates for one another’s work.
Bill Mefford
Executive Director
He//Him
Bill Mefford is the Executive Director of The Festival Center. He is a connector, innovator, and visionary. From living and serving in poor communities in Waco, TX, Lexington, KY, Cleveland, and Chicago to working for national non-profits on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, Bill has always sought to creatively bring together people and organizations from all walks of life to work together to achieve real and lasting change. Bill has led experiential-learning simulations on poverty and has created a national network of United Methodists passionate about immigration reform and ending mass incarceration.
Bill’s favorite thing about the Festival Center is all of the incredible people who work and visit the Festival Center and the amazing, transformative work they do every day.
In Memorium
Walter Taylor
He//Him
Walter Taylor Jr. served at the Festival Center as the Facilities and Events Specialist from 2017 until his recent passing in 2025. Prior to his work at the Festival Center, Walter served at River Road Unitarian Congregation in Bethesda, Maryland and Masters Hands Home Improvement in Washington DC. Walter was a diligent and experienced worker known for timeliness, dedication, and persistence. His presence is missed every day.