CHERICIA CURTIS

Chericia Curtis, writer and director of the hit stage play, Soul Purpose, is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington. She majored in Speech Communications with a minor in marketing and is also a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. She has worked in the field of technology for most of her professional career in various areas of sales and marketing. She has worked for some of the world’s leading technology companies managing some of the largest Global accounts. Her current corporate position is as sales director for a private technology company that provides private network connectivity for under resourced and underserved schools and communities, and Industry 4.0 businesses and clientele. Her other technology passion is the development and release of several new apps, to be released in Spring of 2023. In her spare time, she manages with her husband, entertainment company, Broken Vessel Productions. The company produces faith-based and family friendly content for both film and stage. She currently produces, writes, and directs stage plays and is expanding that to include film in 2023. In addition, pitching several projects to major tv & motion networks. She has written and published over 10 scripts for both film and stage and will be touring her award-winning Gospel Stage Play “ Soul Purpose”, most recently debuted in Houston Texas to a sold-out audience. Touring will resume in 2023, performing across the country. The stage play features some of the hottest gospel artists in the industry along with all original songs written by Syleria Skinner.

She is equally excited about her new Non-Profit Organization, RiRi’s Playhouse. Her nonprofit will cater to youth in underserved communities, introducing them to the world of film and theater. The two-week summer workshop will entail all aspects of film and theater production including performing an original production created, written, and directed by the students. The Playhouse will bring in experts that will help students with the success of their project, providing them with guidance and instruction from some of the best in the industry. Every single student will have a part in the production, giving them a sense of ownership, responsibility, and success. Her passion for Christ was the biggest motivator and it is still that way today. She stays involved in her church, Antioch Christian Fellowship, Corinth, Texas, where she has been blessed to exercise her passion. She oversees the ACT Ministry (Antioch Conservatory of Thespians) under the leadership of Pastor Christopher J. Respass. The ministry performs original faith-based productions written and directed by Chericia Curtis. She also teams with tenured writer, TK Henderson for content collaboration and with songwriter/ musician Syleria Skinner for original music scores. She enjoys spending precious time with her husband, sons, family, and friends, writing/creating, exercising, cooking, and following her favorite sports teams. She commits to living life to the fullest and will forever give God the Glory for all His Goodness, Grace, and Mercy!

Hale

while feeding the homeless population in Houston, TX four times a week with Bread of Life. In December 2022, 400 homebound senior citizens received food and gift bags, 350 grandparents raising grandkids (1,000) received gifts; partnered with Houston Strong Roofing to get a senior citizen a new roof who was bedridden.

She has also received a Proclamation from Mayor Sylvester Turner, Outstanding Leadership Award and recognition from Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee, Community Service Award. Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis has also recognized the work that Ms. Lanita Hale has done in our communities. Ms. Hale was honored with a State Flag that was flown over our State Capital from State Representation Ron Reynolds for dedicated service to our communities. She has received over one hundred humanitarian awards since starting her non-profit Shining Stars Leadership Academy.

Ms. Lanita Hale received her undergraduate degree in General Business/Management from Texas Southern University. She later received her Master’s in Education from Regent University and is now enrolled in a Doctoral program for Education.

Ms. Hale believes that education is a key factor in helping to motivate our youth for success. She grew up in Acres Homes and 5th Ward community and graduated from Phyllis Wheatley High School. It was her goal not to let her environment hinder her from being successful after seeing “first-hand” the disparities that tend to impact a community with crime and violence while growing up as a child. Ms. Lanita Hale’s passion allowed her to establish Shining Stars Leadership Academy in 2017. It was initially established to become a charter school, but because of COVID-19, the school did not open. The curriculum which Ms. Hale had written had a component whereby community services would be incorporated to enrich the lives of her students. When the school did not open, Ms. Hale moved forward with initiating the community service component despite of not having the doors of school opened. She started feeding sixty people from her home driveway. Now she is feeding over 1,000 people a month and these number are growing with the help of twenty-five volunteers. She also supports and sponsors other small non-profits when they are having events. Ms. Hale’s nonprofit organization has major sponsors: Houston Strong Roofing, Buybuy Baby, Amazon, Target, Ross, and “The Department of Defense. She has also awarded other community service leaders with The President’s Volunteer Service Award”, after her organization was officially certified to conduct these honors, after being recognized by the council overseeing these organization, which have proven to be worthy of conducting these ceremonies. Her non-profit held a prestigious event in October 2022 to acknowledge both adults and youths who were performing outing services in their community.

Shining Stars Leadership Academy is currently providing services to 350 homebound senior citizens, 350 grandparents who are raising grandchildren, 600 veterans

Lakisha Allen began her journey of “Service to all Mankind” at the age eight, where she went with the deacons from her church to assist in serving communion to those who were convalescent.

Lakisha Allen received her B.S from Truman State University in Kirksville, MO. While there she helped to organize a ministry called Worship in African American Tradition (WAAT).

In April of 1999 Lakisha Allen was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Since this time she has worked tirelessly on different service projects and initiatives.

Lakisha built a career in the Not for Profit Sector providing social services for those who were less fortunate in her community.

She has dedicated her time, finances and energy to Allison Foundation for Better Living, Womens Division of Cook County Jail Division 4, Door of Hope Rescue Ministry, Communities that Care, A Safe Haven and Harbor quest.

Lakisha Allen is the Founder and Executive Director of the Women’s Interfaith Coalition a 501c3 where Women Empower Women to Impact the World.

Lakisha Allen is also the President of Allen Quality Investments, LLC where seniors and single mothers are placed in quality housing.

All of her accomplishments are wonderful; however she prides herself on being a wife of 15 years to Thomas Allen and a mother to Taylynn, Trenzel and Tekimbria Allen.

DR. SHANNON T. HARRINGTON

Dr. Shannon T. Harrington, Ph.D., RN, NASM-CPT, is a nurse leader and entrepreneur with over two decades of nursing experience spanning roles from nurse assistant to Dean. Dr. Harrington completed her undergraduate education at Old Dominion University and holds a Master’s in Nursing and a nursing doctorate from the University of Virginia. Dr. Harrington also completed a post-doctoral research fellowship at Harvard Cancer Center where she studied nutrition and exercise interventions for African American Breast Cancer Survivors. As the CEO of T.R.Y. Again Health and Fitness, LLC, she specializes in training and developing nurses and leaders to beat burnout and transform their lives and careers by implementing intentional self-care strategies. She is a tantalizing motivational speaker, whose story of resilience inspires audiences to discover and birth an unrecognizable version of them, utilizing self-care. Dr. Harrington is an Amazon #1 Best Selling author and has four published books. Dr. Harrington is very involved in the community, her church and she serves on the Community Outreach Council for the American Diabetes Association.

Apostle William Campbell

Mr. William P. Campbell was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and would later move to Houston. He is a man who is extensively renowned for being after God’s own heart. Campbell is unique and special in his own way, having accomplished significant things in the past several years.

William Campbell owns numerous companies under that cater to all kinds of needs in different ways. They have a universal reach that caters to cultural diversity, purpose empowerment, and identity development and much more. Campbell also facilitates classes, workshops, and conferences to support up-and-coming millennials in the marketplace, creative entrepreneurs, business-minded people, and more to create a strategy-filled foundation to become successful in life, mentally, financially, business, socially, and more.

Help communities functioning below the poverty line. Although his reach is global, he is aware that there are still areas in America that need financial backing to push better schools and homes. However, the pandemic has caused a shift in their mindset in many ways. William realized that it is the perfect time to start rebuilding less fortunate communities.

With a passion for giving, William enjoys seeing families living in better homes with better living conditions and has been working hard to make a difference globally and hope to continue his services in the years to come.

Karen Miles

Karen Miles is an entrepreneur and philanthropist. She enjoys giving back to the community and paying it forward. Professionally, Karen is a Human Resources Business Partner and has been in that line of work for 30 years. As an entrepreneur, she currently provides HR Generalist services to small business owners. She is in the process of starting her own staffing company. To honor her father who was an Army War Veteran, she has a group home for veterans. It’s not just a place for them to lay their heads, but Karen offers job skills, computer skills, and life skills. She wants her Vets to be self-sufficient and able to survive in civilian life. Karen has recently been the Chairperson for three years for the Men of Style, a nonprofit organization that raises fund for sickle cell. She is currently on the Board of Directors for Veterans Advocacy Services & Training. She holds various officer positions for many nonprofit organizations but her favorite is being the President of Brentwood Employment Ministry. She renders her human resources skills and knowledge to help the unemployed and underemployed. Its not how much you give, but how much love you put into giving.