Welcome to Metropolitan Charities

Program Directors

Tonicia Freeman

Director of Minority & Prevention Programs

Tonicia Freeman, Director of Metro Charities’ Minority & Prevention Programs, is a native Floridian, born in Vero Beach, Florida. She is a graduate of University of Florida where she obtained her Bachelors of Science degree in Community Health Education, followed with her Masters of Science degree in Human Services Organizational Management & Leadership through Springfield College. Her professional career in HIV/AIDS services began at Project Response AIDS Center, Inc. in St. Lucie County, Florida before joining the Metropolitan Charities management staff in 2004.

Tonicia currently serves as the Program Director for the following programs: SAMHSA funded Minority Empowerment Through Risk-Reduction & Outreach (M.E.T.R.O.) program, Department of Health (DOH) funded HIV Testing & Prevention programs, Ryan White funded Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) programs, DOH funded Real Life Teen Prevention program, and the Office of Women’s Health funded Women Empowered & Standing Tall (W.E.S.T.) program. Her professional HIV/AIDS service background experience includes Ryan White and PAC Case Management, HIV Counseling & Testing, Medical Education with the Minority AIDS Initiative program; she also currently serves as a member of the West Central Florida Ryan White Care Council.

Joyce McConnell
Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Joyce McConnell was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she attended University of Minnesota, earning a Bachelors Degree in Urban Studies. After spending many years in the corporate world and being a Foster Parent, she pursued a new career in social work at St Stephen’s Homeless Shelter. It was in 1999 that Joyce moved to St Petersburg, Florida to attend the University of South Florida, obtaining a Master’s Degree in Social Work. She began her community counseling to a wide range of ages and populations at a local mental health center.

Joyce joined the Metropolitan Charities staff in 2006 working as a part-time contract therapist and was quickly promoted to Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse in December, 2007. She is a proud member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

Director of Case Management, Training and Quality Assurance

Priya Rajkumar is the Director of Case Management, Training and Quality assurance at Metro. She has been serving the Tampa Bay HIV community for over 10 years.

Priya moved to Tampa in 1999 from Long Island New York, where she graduated from Queens College and joined TAN as a case manager. Over the years she has moved up the management ladder within the HIV arena. Her newest program is a linkage program for inmates throughout the State of Florida. Priya is well-respected in the HIV/AIDS community for her knowledge of the disease and program management.

Ed Gomez
Director of Operations

Ed Gomez is a Chicago native where he graduated high school, moved to Orlando in 1983, and attended Valencia community College to study Accounting and Business Administration. He spent the next twelve years working for one of the world’s largest Travel Agencies, working as a VIP Corporate Travel Consultant before moving to St Petersburg in 1999 to begin a career in Real Estate. Ed joined the Metropolitan Charities staff in 2000, working as a receptionist and administrative assistant. After a brief departure to handle a full-time real estate career in 2002, Ed kept close connections with Metropolitan Charities and eventually accepted the challenge of a full-time position as Director of Operations in 2006.

Ed manages all operational aspects of Metro Charities to include all Human Resources, Invoicing Grants, Inventory Management and supervising all equipment and building operations for all MC office locations. He also implements and supervises the Metro Charities Social Groups, Meetings, and Special Events. Over the years, Ed has become the “go to” man of Metropolitan Charities. He has also proudly participated in the HIV/AIDS SMART ride.

Ed Gomez
Director of Grants and Development

Lynne Mullen, Director of Grants and Development is a native of Northern New York State. Lynne spent 18 years in administrative positions at Clarkson University in Potsdam NY, prior to moving to Florida in 1998. Since coming to Florida, Lynne has held director positions in the nonprofit sector. She holds masters degrees from SUNY Potsdam and St. Lawrence University and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Illinois, Chicago.

As Director of Grants and Development, Lynne is responsible for sustaining funding for current services and programs as well as researching and securing funds for new endeavors that align with agency Mission.

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Program Directors