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Age: 36
Job title: Attorney, Consultant, and Executive Director
At work: At Carey Consultant Firm, I practice law in the area of wills and estate, contracts and business and nonprofit formation. As a consultant, I educate nonprofits on their mission and program, board governance and budget/fundraising. As executive director for the Reech Foundation, I write grants and bring in funding so we can expose children to science, technology, engineering, arts and math. I facilitate our STEAM in-school programs at local middle schools, such as Bayside Middle, Ruffner Middle and Oscar Smith Middle. In addition, we host our annual Youth STEAM day and football camp.
Home and family: I am originally from Bernice, Louisiana. This is where I was born and raised. My husband and I currently reside in Chesapeake where we raise our three children: Victor, Amelia and Asher.
Volunteer activities: I volunteer with our nonprofit, the Reech Foundation, by giving out backpacks and school supplies, food for Thanksgiving and toys during the Christmas holiday. Also, I volunteer a lot with the Chesapeake-Virginia Beach chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. I’ve been the May Week chair for several years where we get the opportunity to work with and honor African American honor graduates from Virginia Beach and Chesapeake high schools. I sit on two additional boards: Communities in Schools and Neighborhood, where I volunteer my time and efforts to impact our younger generation.
Inside Business
Motivating factor: God motivates me! He has given me the heart and desire to impact my home, my community and my surrounding areas. He has given His son to save me, so I would like to do everything in my power with my gifts and abilities to glorify Him. After God, my husband, kids, family and friends motivate me. I want to leave a legacy that would make God, my parents, my husband and my kids proud! I understand that my success will not only be based on what I do but how many people I was able to help and impact.
Advice to young people: Do not find their identity or purpose in their jobs and careers but find it in what God has created them to be and do! Also, when they know their purpose, “die empty!” What I mean by that is use your skill sets and resources to fill every God-given dream, every goal that you may have, and keep dreaming and setting goals until you leave this Earth.
Professional goal in five years: I hope to increase Carey Consultant Firm’s impact, clientele and funding. I hope to increase the Reech Foundation’s programming in multiple schools and increase our funding to accomplish that goal. I hope to help my nonprofit clients to secure over a million dollars in funding.
The one thing I’d change about Hampton Roads: One thing I’ve learned in working with nonprofits is there’s no such thing as a solopreneur. We need one another. We need connections. We need networks. We need resources that oftentimes come from other organizations. So, the one thing I would change is to increase nonprofits working together to accomplish their missions.
Region’s biggest asset: Rich multicultural history as well as vast multi-geographical amenities. I love that Virginia has beaches, mountains, vineyards, caves, etc. I love that my husband and I can educate our children on the rich history of events that not only shaped Hampton Roads but America as a nation. We love the museums and parks. But most of all, we love the people here.
Downtime: I love spending time with my family doing fun activities and celebrating life. I love to travel. My husband and I have been all over the world, and we still have places on our bucket lists — South Africa and Bali soon.
What gets under my skin: The thing that bothers me the most is injustice, particularly from those who are in positions of power and influence. So, I’ve always had the desire to be a voice for those whose voices have been silenced unfairly or those who have experienced injustices.