Meet The Team

It Takes a Village

Without the dedicated support of our team, we wouldn’t be able to transform the lives of our residents, alumni and children here at Rainbow Village. Our team comes from all backgrounds, each bringing a unique passion for the work we’re doing. Learn more below about each member of this team and how they move the needle for our residents.

Administration

Coming to Rainbow Village in 2017 truly was a “God thing.” Melanie has always had a passion for doing work that empowers women. As CEO, Melanie wants to ensure that families experiencing homelessness have the confidence to take the first step on their journey to self-sufficiency. But that’s not all she wants. Melanie wants all families to have access to affordable childcare, health care, and economic independence to break free from poverty and pursue their dreams. Her focus is on helping the families and the organization evolve and be purpose-driven. Drawing on her extensive experience obtained through her work with corporations, government, and nonprofits, Melanie brings a broad perspective to the table and works to impact lives by providing a safe place to live, a caring, supportive, and qualified staff, and the resources and training that they need to improve their quality of life.

Melanie values spending time with her family and is keenly aware it is a privilege she should never take for granted. She has been married to the love of her life for 30 years. She is the mother to two tall, dark and handsome adult sons and her fur baby, Jack Jack.

Melanie has previously served as the Social Services Program Manager at the Governer’s Office of Transition, Support & Reentry as well as as the Executive Director of the Zion Hill Community Development Corporation.

Rachel has three decade long connection with Rainbow Village. She was an active member of the Christ Church where Rainbow Village was founded, and the first CEO, Nancy Yancey was her Sunday School teacher. Rachel first served as a member of the Finance Committee before transitioning into the role of CFO in 2016. Though she is the woman behind the curtain, Rachel’s maintenance of the internal financial structure is vital so Rainbow Village can continue to support residents and alumni.

Outside of her time at Rainbow Village, Rachel spends time with her children and three marvelous grandchildren. If she’s not spending time with family, she’s likely traveling to the next place on her bucket list.

Rachel received her Bachelor of Business Administration-Accounting from Georgia State in 1983. In 1994, she received her Certified Public Accountant Designation.

Randy learned about Rainbow Village more than 20 years ago and feels as if he has come full-circle. He is passionate and dedicated to help families through the provision of housing and programs. As Chief Strategist, he will help to identify ways to expand Rainbow Village programs and serve even more families. Randy is a visionary of leadership and is immersed in Gwinnett County Community engagement, he will serve the organization well.

Outside of his time at Rainbow Village, Randy spends time with his family.

Randy previously served Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society and United Methodist Children’s Home over the course of a combined 15 years, Redner is perhaps best known in the nonprofit realm for his most recent seven-year turn as President & CEO for the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia (CFNEG)

Program Team

Rachelle’s passion and gift from God is helping others. She has worked with homeless families for over 20 years and believes that having a place to live significantly impacts a person’s mental and physical health as well as the community at large.

Rachelle is excited to be part of the Rainbow Village team to guide homeless families to permanent affordable housing and employment opportunities that will sustain them on their life journey.

Rachelle is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, enjoys Zumba and hiking in beautiful parks.

Jennifer has 20 years of experience working with low – income families, homeless families and individuals facing homelessness. She holds a master’s degree in Public Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a master’s degree in Social Work from Kennesaw State University. She has gained a wealth of experience working at various local agencies including, Department of Children Services, Must Ministries, North Fulton Community Charities and Zaban Paradies Center.

Rainbow Village’s focus on the family unit as a whole providing housing, children and youth services, family life skills and supportive case management led Jennifer to pursue employment with our team. Our trauma-informed approach resonates strongly with her because she understands how homelessness can mentally and physically impact the entire family.

In her role as Success Coach, she aspires to create positive outcomes for the families she will work with such as: permanent housing, stable employment, healthy choices, (mental health, healthy eating, and positive parenting). Her desire is for the parents and the children to thrive mentally, physically and academically during their stay at Rainbow Village.

When Jennifer is not coaching families at Rainbow Village, she enjoys yoga, visiting vineyards, and traveling with her husband.

Latoya is a native New Yorker who moved to Georgia in 2015 with her 2 children. She has a master’s degree in Social Work from Walden University. She brings 13 years of experience to her role as Success Coach to Rainbow Village. Her experience includes case management working with clients with mental health issues, developmental disabilities, at risk youth and families experiencing homelessness.

She was lead to Rainbow Village by our mission of providing help, hope, housing and healing to families. Working in the non-profit arena is her passion. She loves to give back to the community and being able to put a smile on her client’s face means the world to her.

Latoya gets greats pleasure helping families achieve their target goals to become economically self-sufficient and securing permanent housing. She believes that without stable housing, families will continue to struggle to put the broken pieces of their lives together in order for their family to thrive.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, listening to music, cooking, shopping, playing volleyball and watching action movies!

China loves working with women that have been down on their luck, oppressed, incarcerated, and homeless. She specializes in identifying and resolving life crises, she realizes that every person and family have strengths, and at times need additional resources and skills to get them back on track to the life God intended for them. Therefore, China focuses on the Person-Centered Approach and this approach meets the individual and/or family where they are. China’s solution is to support this person or family with a Case Manager, Shelter, Food, Life Coach, and Recovery. With these primary services in place every person that is bound to crisis will become set free of the bondage that has been holding from exceeding in life.

China successfully advocates for services needed and encourages women to stick to their goals that would have a positive impact in their lives. Due to her life’s struggles as a widow, a single mom, homeless and divorce; she uses her testimonies to encourage others that they can make it too.

Community Engagement

Michelle first began her journey with Rainbow Village as the Liason between Rainbow Village and Perimeter Church. In this role, Michelle organized service projects, co-chaired fundraising event committees, organized faith partner serving efforts. She was recognized as Volunteer of the Year in 2010.

Since joining the Rainbow Village Team in 2016, Michelle has continued to focused on engaging the community to provide the support and resources needed to fund the Rainbow Village programming that gives these families stability, safety, and second chances. As a member of the team, Michelle gets to see first hand how that programming can equip, teach and coach residents to give them a hand up!

Michelle previously worked for 11 years with Charter Behavioral Health Services in Marketing and Business Development. She spent 5 years consulting in the behavioral health field before entering her second career as a full time Mom in 1997!

Brittany joined the Rainbow Village team in January 2021 in part because their mission resonates with her. Growing up her story has been similar to some of the families at Rainbow Village and she is proud to be a part of the change and growth for the families in our community.

Brittany focuses on increasing awareness of the Rainbow Village message and activating volunteers from the community to become more involved not only by donating financially, but by donating their time to the Rainbow Village families. Outside of her time at Rainbow Village, Brittany loves to travel and spend time with family– especially her son!

Brittany completed her Hospitality Management Degree from Gwinnett Technical College. Before joining Rainbow Village, Brittany lent her talents at The River Club, Suwanee Towne Florist and Chateau Elan Winery & Resort specializing in Weddings and Private Events.

Support Services

Seeing lives transform from a place of hopelessness to a place of hope is Lanie’s passion. She is inspired by our mission because Rainbow Village offers hope in empowering tangible ways. She considers it a great honor to work in a place that offers hope to someone else until they have a hope of their own.

Lanie’s previous work experience includes serving as the Founder and Executive Director for Redeeming Joy, a Restoration Housing Program for Sexually Trafficked women. Her passion, drive for excellence and servant heart along with an intimate understanding of our mission allows her to support the staff to make it easier for the staff to focus on the needs of the families we serve.

Lanie has been married to her best friend for 28 years! She is mother to 4 awesome children, grandmother to 2 adorable grandbabies, and has one wild and crazy furball. She enjoys working out, painting, sushi, and game nights with family and friends.

Tracy was drawn to Rainbow Village because the the mission matches his passion for helping families heal from the trauma of homelessness.

As the Facilities Manager, Tracy makes sure that each apartment is not just “ready” for move in but up to the standards of most upper crest apartments on the market. He strives to make Rainbow Village a stable community that’s more than a place for families to move into to get out of homelessness but also a place they can be proud to call home while getting themselves together.

Outside of supporting residents at Rainbow Village, Tracy enjoys attending dog shows, traveling to nice beaches and cheering on the Atlanta Falcons and University of Georgia football teams!

Tracy graduated cum laude from Fort Valley State University, Tracy has worked for non-profit organizations primarily serving youth in foster care as an advisor and life coach. He has also worked in the mental health arena counseling youth.

Rainbow Village ACADEMY Team

Sondra Blue first came to Rainbow Village as a resident in 2002. Following her time on campus she stayed involved through volunteering, then part-time employment, and finally joining the team full-time. Sondra has been a full-time staff member for over 14 years.

As the Academy Director, Sondra makes sure that each each child’s individual needs are met. She is passionate about making Rainbow Village Academy a stable and nurturing atmosphere for the youth we serve. She helps to provide a creative and fun learning environment while also helping the youth to develop leaderships skills and open communication.

Sondra spent 11 years in the military before getting her Medical Administrative Assistant Certificate.

Curtis has always been passionate about working with and mentoring youth. He was attracted to Rainbow Village because of our mission of “transforming lives”. He believes strongly that transformation is a process and along the way, “life happens” and brings ups and downs creating a journey of discovery.

He has worked for the US Department of Education discretionary grant program called GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) for the past 11 years. This program was designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.

Curtis holds a degree from Governors State University in Public Affairs. He has been married to his best friend for 22 years and has three children and a female Cane Corso named Nova.

2022 Board Members

The Reverend Joel P. Hudson, Chairman Emeritus

Jacqueline Neilson, (Chair) Executive and Leadership Coach, Owner, Jackie Neilson Coaching

Cathe Reams, (Vice Chair), Communication Director, Sustainability and Urban Infrastructure, Siemens Corporation

Michelle Livingstone, (Secretary) -Transportation, The Home Depot (Retired)

Carrie Chaney, Rainbow Village Graduate

Marshall Burke Barton, Vice President, Animal Health Business Law
Boehringer Ingelheim USA Corporation (Retired)

Paul Culbreth, Certified Financial Planner, Your Wealth Partners

Jill Edwards, Senior Vice President, United Community Bank

Wayne Ellison, Ellison Insurance Agency

Indran Indrakrishnan, MD, CEO & Founder Gwinnett Digestive Clinic PC and Endoscopy Center LLC, Adjunct Professor Of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine

Dr. Jann L. Joseph, President, Georgia Gwinnett College

C.G. McBride, Vitalysys Technologies, Owner

Debbie Mitcham, President and CEO Northside Hospital- Gwinnett

Steve Emert, Attorney at Law, Emert Law Firm LLC.

Mona Reiser Armstrong, Owner and Assistant School Director, International School of Skin and Nailcare

Scott Phelan, Executive Vice President, Janney

Jan Trantham, EVP Operations Administration, Primerica

Menu

Menu

Meet The Team

It Takes a Village

Administration

Rev. Melanie Conner

Rachel Berhannan

Randy Redner

Program Team

Rachelle Dowell

Jennifer Alexander

Latoya McLennon

China Bland

Community Engagement

Michelle Alcorn

Brittany Lowe

Support Services

Lanie George

Tracy Turner

Rainbow Village ACADEMY Team

Sondra Blue

Curtis Allen

2022 Board Members

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