Our Team 

Founder/Chair

I am a mother of 5, author, Speech-Language Pathologist, consultant, and visionary striving to make generational change through connection, collaboration, access and opportunities. When I lost my father to cancer due to discrimination and neglect, I didn't know how I was going to cope. The pain was unbearable! I decided to turn that pain into purpose and ensure that his life was not lost in vain.

Executive Strategic Planner

Trenessa is a woman of many faces. She is an educator of 14 years; ten of which have been in Canton City Schools. She is an advocate for social justice, a coach for personal development and a friend to those closest to her. She believes in the power of community and its role in educating and empowering its people. She has an unwavering desire to pour into those within the community and encourage them to expand and thrive to their greatest potential. The definition of Trenessa’s why can be captured in the words of the great Angela Davis, “It is important not only to have the awareness and to feel impelled to become involved, it’s important that there be a forum out there to which one can relate, an organization- a movement.”

Advisory Board Member

Serena Draper Hendershot from Canton, Ohio is the Community Health Equity Coordinator for Canton City Public Health. In her role, she leads the Evolving Vision of Race & Equity team for the department to implement race & health equity initiatives throughout each division. For the past 7 years, she has emerged as a community partnership leader who has worked within higher education, the non-profit sector and the faith-based community. She has been recognized for her work after receiving the Religion Award in 2021 from the Greater Stark County Martin Luther King Jr. Commission and most recently received the Twenty Under 40 2022 award. Serena has served underrepresented populations in all of her roles, disadvantaged youth within the justice system and survivors of sexual and emotional abuse.

Advisory Board Member-Social Media

Arielle McKinney is founder of Black Sheep Beauty an empowerment movement dedicated to redefining negative narratives and making being set apart a lifestyle. She has recently taken her love for creating content for her own brand to another level by becoming a creative brand consultant and social media influencer. She is passionate about serving and helping to change her community.

Vice-Chair

Robin is a retired Chief U.S. Pretrial Services & Probation Officer. She is dedicated to sharing insight, education, ideas and resources to help justice involved individuals successfully re-enter into the community. She is quiet in nature, but dynamic in action! She is the perfect storm. Her strength, knowledge, and leadership will ensure continued growth and success for those we serve and our organization.

Advisory Board Member-Law

Sean P. Ruffin is a twenty-year legal professional with over a decade in the area of criminal justice. Sean died twice. Consequently, he knows from personal experience, the grace of second chances. He is using his second chance to help the voiceless, the disenfranchised, the forgotten, downtrodden and thrown away have another chance at the life we all deserve to lead.

Advisory Board Member-Technology

I am a dedicated and passionate young professional and graduate from the Ohio Dominican University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sports Management and Computer Science. I am regarded by my friends and colleagues as a proven leader with a highly analytical mind and strong passion for reaching the highest goals possible.
My main skills are at managing time while possessing strong business acumen. I believe in the effectiveness of building strong working relationships in order to contribute to the overall success of any company.
I have 6 years of experience in computer repair and custom builds.

Advisory Board Member-Peer Support and Programming

My name is Dany Smith. I am prison reformed and 4 years sober and counting. I am a survivor, an overcomer and I have been redeemed! Through my own personal experiences I founded Hope & Heart Truth & Trust in 2021. I empower women of domestic violence and sex trafficking through power tools.

Board Member-Treasurer

Melanie Miller is a mother of two and a wife of an ordained minister/chaplain. She is a CTP and has spent her 20+ year career in Finance. Her expertise is in corporate Treasury and Accounting. While her career has been in for-profit entities, Melanie has served on several faith based not-for-profit boards, in the Finance role. Her faith in a God of love, who cares for ALL, motivates her to think beyond the "numbers" and use her skills where her passions meet - Finance and helping those in need.

Advisory Board-Financial Empowerment

I have recently been named manager at First Commonwealth Bank’s Perry West office, located at 2704 Lincoln Way East, Massillon, OH 44646. In my role as manager of the Perry West office, I lead the effort in building new customer relationships and expanding current relationships to support customer needs in full-service banking, wealth, insurance and trust services. I look to do this by getting involved in the communities that we serve. “I am so excited to be working for a company that supports giving back to the community and really get in there and make a difference. Service to the community is something that is near and dear to my heart and giving back is something I am extremely passionate about”.

Advisory Board Member-Workforce Development

Teresa Gary is the new Vice President of Workforce Programs for IMPACT Community Action, an organization on the frontline, fighting the war on poverty and creating real opportunities for self-sufficiency. Teresa leads the Youth and Empowerment Services departments and has operational responsibility for all workforce related program areas.

In her previous role with Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), she served as County Director overseeing program performance, day to day operations and contract management. She successfully directed a team responsible for the delivery of work readiness services for formerly incarcerated individuals that lead to direct permanent job placement. Under her direction, during the height of the pandemic, Teresa launched two additional work crews for a total of four crews transitionally employing over 100+ returning justice involved individuals, helping to stabilize households and create pathways to permanent gainful employment opportunities.