Meet The Team!

President/Director, Grant Writer, and Fundraising Departmen

Education and Experience

Elanda has a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice and over ten (10) years of experience in the South Carolina Correctional System. In addition to this, she has worked as a Youth Advocate for the foster care system in the State of South Carolina.

Passion

When Elanda went back to school at Central Carolina Technical College, as a Criminal Justice student she learned about recidivism, mostly among our juveniles. She learned that most of them had horrible home lives or were placed into the system early (their first introduction to the legal system) and from a mother’s (of five children) perspective this was very sad to learn. This especially pulled at Elanda’s heart strings because in her youth, she fought to keep her children with her and even then it scared her to think about the life that her children could have lived possibly separated, and in homes that could not possibly love them they way she could. She knew she had to be a part of a bigger goal that allowed her to be a part of something that could be good for these babies.

During her tenure as a Correctional Officer, Elanda saw many things that she cannot unsee, but the most heartbreaking thing of all was seeing all of the very young men becoming a product of the prison system and often times because the world outside was so cruel to them. Some of the young men found more comfort being inside of the walls of the prison because they knew they would consistently have a meal to eat and a bed to lay their head in each night. Elanda eventually transitioned from a Correction Officer to an Advocate within the prison system and this brought her so much fulfillment.

Phase Three was born while she was working as an advocate for The SC Youth Advocacy Program. While working as an advocate with a young brother and sister. She had a conversation with the young siblings about how many homes they had been in, in less than a years time. She’d realized that a lot of foster children were going through similar situations and it wasn’t their fault. And then she realized that these children very likely had dreams for their futures that was being ripped away from them because their parents couldn’t be responsible enough or long enough to let them at least get through high school, get a driver’s license or/start the process of knowing what they could potentially do.

Although there are many foster parents that care about the children they’re fostering, they know that their time with the children is very limited, unless they plan to adopt them. Unlike dealing with your own children and their negative behaviors and attitudes, foster parents tolerate very little and will have you returned to sender without recourse. Additionally, if you come into foster care at a later age, the children are treated like an older model vehicle and often times looked over and are raised in group homes, or in today’s climate, in the offices of the DSS case workers. This in turn leaves very little room for the love of a parent, teachings of essential life lessons and the will to graduate high school and go on to college. When they “age out” these babies are given the bag of clothes that they came with, and they’re bid adieu.

Drive

After connecting her experience with the two siblings in foster care while volunteering as a youth advocate, with her experience with the “forgotten children” while working as a correctional officer, Elanda saw that there was a strong need for a program that provided everything that these children were both missing while in the foster care system as well as what they’re missing outside of it.

Vice President/Social Service Director/Treasurer

Education & Experience

Desaray has an Associate in Arts and a BA in Sociology. She has worked as a Juvenile probation officer for six (6) years and eleven (11) months. She was a volunteer Guardian ad Litem for one (1) year and a Youth Advocate for three (3) years.

Passion

Desaray’s passion comes both from having children of her own, and initially from watching the news and seeing the crimes that took place across the globe that ended up in young people losing their lives before they could even graduate from high school. Desaray is the type of person that looks at the bigger picture before placing blame, and this caused her to want to understand “why,” which in turn followed the action of “how can I help”? With each youth volunteering position and job that Desaray has taken part in, she has grown to not only love the youth that she has worked with but she her passion to help them has grown stronger.

In her position as a Juvenile Probation Officer with the SC Department of Juvenile Justice, Desaray worked in Sumter County and she monitored the cases of kids in the Juvenile Justice System. While working in this position, Desaray learned that many families are limited in resources. These resources could range anywhere from money and steady shelter, to education and time from parents working day and night in order to be able to afford and provide a decent life for their children. None of the parents that Desaray encountered were looking for a handout, but instead they were non-verbally screaming for a leg up in a world that is know for keeping some of us more down than others.

During her time at DJJ in Sumter, resources and outlets for children were limited. There were kids that had interests in activities that they could not take part in due to transportation issues and/or paying for the activities. Most kids were sent to counseling, and although counseling is an excellent tool to delve deep into the “why” behind your actions and to gain the tools necessary to change your mindset, often times the kids went and gave the bare minimum in order to meet the requirements of their court order, or they failed to cooperate altogether for various reasons. Essentially, most times the kids needed someone that could meet them at their level and that was not court mandated to be appeased. They needed a dependable, trustworthy, understanding human being that they could be their true selves around and that would be there to guide, advise and teach them about things that were relative to their experiences. They needed a Mentor.

While working at DJJ, Desaray co-lead the girls support group “Girl’s Circle.” These groups were held at schools within the Sumter School District and the girls were chosen by school admin. The groups were geared towards teaching young women resiliency and training them to hone in on their strengths while helping them to recognize their power in this world. The model behind this is geared towards building positive connections and it absolutely did just that. While this group gave Desaray some of the tools needed to connect not only the young women in her group, but all of the young women that she encountered from that point forward, nothing was more eye opening than the response that she received from one of her “juveniles” after she told her that she was proud of her. She responded and stated how much she needed to hear that - after no one, including her parents, ever having told her that in her short lifetime. It showed Desaray that there is never “too much” love available to give. Those three little words motivated that young woman to give life a harder fight after facing so much adversity.

Drive

Upon Desaray’s departure from DJJ, she vowed to create a program geared towards mentoring and providing assistance to families in need, due to the lack thereof of similar programs in Sumter County. This, is what drives her.

At-Large Director/Phase Three Youth Mentoring Program and Services

Education and Experience

Larry has a BA in Criminal Justice and has worked extensively as a mentor with Goodwin Elementary School in Charleston, South Carolina. He is a Certified first responder and currently works at Century Aluminum for the past thirteen (13) years.

Passion

Larry is an incredible individual who is absolutely passionate about working with kids and has a special connection through mentoring at a local elementary school and coaching little league football.

From the moment Larry stepped onto the field as coach, he discovered a deep love for guiding and inspiring young minds. Seeing the transformative power that sports can have on children. Larry  found his calling in helping kids develop not only their athletic skills but also their character and teamwork abilities.

Through his experience in coaching football, Larry has witnessed firsthand the positive impact that mentorship can have on young athletes. Larry has learned how to communicate effectively, motivate, and instill a sense of discipline and resilience in their players. These qualities have not only shaped him as a coach but have also fueled his passion for working with kids in various capacities. 

With his background in coaching football, Larry understands the importance of fostering a sense of teamwork, self-confidence, and sportsmanship in children. Larry believes in nurturing not only their athletic abilities but also their personal development and well-being.

Drive

Larry’s driven and motivated by the realization that numerous kids out there are in need of a supportive community. His goal? To make a difference, one young life at a time. 

Director of Community Relations

Education and Background

Marva has an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science in Nursing. She has three (3) years of critical care/trauma experience as a Registered Nurse in addition to two (2) years of experience in adolescent behavioral health.