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.

We are proud to report that we have been certified as an Amazing Workplace!
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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 over 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.

Robert comes to Rainbow Village with a professional leadership background with, the YMCA, Boy
Scouts of America, and Boys and Girls Club of America. He has a passion for giving back to my community and the youth we serve. This stems from his mother who served as a Social Worker for 40 plus years and the passion she displayed while working with young people and people in need. Robert believes he has a responsibility to give back to the community in which we live, to help those less fortunate by providing a steppingstone to better. He started in service while attending, Alabama A&M University, volunteering with the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Special Olympics, and with his local church.

Outside of his time at Rainbow Village, Robert enjoys watching college football, loves being outdoors, working out, and learning new things.

Robert moved to Gwinnett County from Huntsville, Alabama six years ago. He graduated from Alabama A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Education.

Outside of his time at Rainbow Village, Robert enjoys watching college football, loves being outdoors, working out, and learning new things.

Robert moved to Gwinnett County from Huntsville, Alabama six years ago. He graduated from Alabama A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Education.

Program Team

Stephanie comes to Rainbow Village with a background in higher education and event management working at various organizations such as Georgia Gwinnett College and Aurora Theater. Stephanie learned about Rainbow Village while serving as the event manager for a Women’s Giving Circle event and was inspired by our mission. Stephanie enjoys helping and connecting with people. She is a graduate of the Gwinnett Young Professionals Journey Leadership Program and working towards uptraining a professional certificate in College Student Trauma, Resilience, and Wellbeing with Florida State University.

Outside of supporting the Rainbow Village team, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Spencer, their two cats and three chickens. Stephanie is always looking to grow and explore new interests. She loves playing board games, video games, exploring new crafty and creative outlets, trying new restaurants, and meeting new people.

Stephanie received her Master’s in Higher Education from Georgia Southern University and a Bachelors in English: Language and Literature from Georgia Gwinnett College.

Olivia began her professional career in 2016 at the Center for Civil and Human Rights where she worked in group marketing for almost 6 years. Following her time at NCCHR she worked as a Program Assistant for Tower Lights Charities helping with events, fundraising, and development.

She was inspired by Rainbow Village’s compassion shown for those in need but also the determination and tools that Rainbow Village provides families to help them break the cycle. She is enthusiastic to be a part of a team that is passionate about what they do and where she can help make a difference. As Family Engagement Coordinator, she hopes to bring an element of support that allows the Program team to be more efficient in helping build and transition residents into a more self-sufficient life once they move into their own homes.

Outside of her time at Rainbow Village, Olivia enjoys cuddling with her dogs and traveling to other countries to increase her culture awareness.

Olivia received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of North Georgia and a Master of Public Administration with a specialization in Nonprofit Management from Georgia State University.

Yuli comes to the Rainbow Village family with extensive experience working with families, children and the community. Her passion has always been in serving the community in any way she can.

Yuli, obtained her Associates Degree in Social Work, which led her to working with children in the Miami Dade School system as an afterschool care associate, summer camp counselor, teachers assistant and more. She then graduated in the Purdue University Honors Program, Cum Laude, where she attained her Psychology Degree focused on Applied Behavior Analysis.

Her drive to help the community led her to jobs such as, Gwinnett County Juvenile Court performing home evaluations for Private Dependency Cases. As well as working for Atlanta Public Schools as an Education Outreach Specialist, implementing one on one interventions. Her love for helping others propels her to always serve in any way she can.

Aside from the work she does with families and children, Yuli enjoys the outdoors; spending a lot of her time hiking, exploring new towns and trying delicious foods. She loves her family and likes living a life filled with positivity and joy.

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.

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.

Latoya is a native New Yorker who moved to Georgia in 2015 with her 2 children. She brings 17 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.

She has a master’s degree in Social Work from Walden University. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, listening to music, cooking, shopping, playing volleyball and watching action movies!

Anais is a dedicated professional driven by a deep passion for seeing families thrive. She is committed to making a positive impact in the lives of those she serves.

Anais was a particularly interested in Rainbow Village’s program as it offers families the opportunity for stability and permanency while equipping them with the tools to achieve long-term success.

Anais received her bachelor’s degree in public health from Delaware State University, an Historically Black College and University (HBCU). With over 9 years of experience in the human services field, Anais has worked extensively with children and families, providing support in areas such as Child Welfare Services and assisting vulnerable adults.

Outside of work, Anais enjoys spending quality time with her children and is an avid reader. As a faith-based individual, Anais holds strong values that guide both her personal and professional endeavors.

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.

Sara joined the Rainbow Village team with a deepened passion for causes such as homelessness and immigration. in 2020 she spent a year in AmeriCorps service in Colorado as a case manager for people transitioning out of homelessness. She also worked as the Advancement Coordinator.at a refugee resettlement agency.

Sara is excited to continue serving the people in our community through her new roles with Rainbow Village families.

Sara completed her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Georgia State University. In her spare time, she enjoys practicing yoga, trying new restaurants, discussing history, spending time with her cats, and curling up with a good book.

Support Services

Cathy come to Rainbow Village with a background in insurance. During her time with the Blackwell Agency she has honed her skills in building strong relationships and providing exceptional customer service. Cathy is excited to leverage her experience to support the team in achieving Rainbow Village’s mission.

As a dedicated volunteer at 12Stone Church, Cathy has a passion for serving her community, particularly children. She is currently a member of the outreach leadership team and enjoys helping those in need. Cathy is committed to making a positive impact and believes in the power of healing and growth for individuals of all ages.

In her free time Cathy and her husband enjoy watching college football and traveling. They are also proud parents of four daughters and doting grandparents to two adorable granddaughters.

Rainbow Village ACADEMY Team

Jadayia is thrilled to join Rainbow Village as the Academy Youth Program Director, where she will play a crucial role in ensuring a safe and supportive environment for children and youth to learn and grow. With over 5 years of experience in youth and family programming, summer camps, and community events for all ages, Jadayia brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to her new position.

Jadayia takes immense pride in her ability to bring youth and families together through various community programming initiatives. Whether organizing enriching summer camps or coordinating inclusive events, she is committed to fostering connections and creating opportunities for growth.

Outside of her professional commitments, Jadayia enjoys traveling and exploring new cultures, as well as spending quality time with her family and friends. Her passion for adventure and community engagement enriches her work, where she strives to instill a sense of curiosity and exploration in the youth she serves.

Originally from the vibrant state of Florida, Jadayia is a proud graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, where she earned her master’s degree. Her educational background, combined with her hands-on experience, provides her with a solid foundation to make a positive impact on the lives of the youth.

Kendra comes to Rainbow Village with a background in homelessness and youth programming. After completing her degrees in Social Work, she began her career at the YMCA, participating in various youth development programs.She also served as a Coordinator for a resource center where she coordinated community events and education programs for individuals of all ages throughout her career.

Kendra hopes to continue helping people build their lives, empowering them with the skills they need to live healthy lives. She is excited to continue working with youth, their families, and alleviating the issue of homelessness throughout the Atlanta area.

Kendra completed her Bachelor of Social Work from Augusta University and her Master of Social Work from Georgia State University. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and going to the gym.

Israel Seka brings a dynamic mix of energy, creativity, and passion to his role at Rainbow Village. With a background in business development, community engagement, and entrepreneurship, he is committed to supporting families and building systems that create lasting impact.

Outside of work, Israel enjoys spending his free time exploring new foods, dancing, and being outdoors. Whether it’s cooking up something flavorful, enjoying music, or connecting with nature, he values experiences that bring joy, culture, and connection to everyday life.

2025 Board Members

Susie Collat, (Chair) Owner, Mayer Electric Supply Company (Retired)

Mona Reiser Armstrong, (Vice Chair) Owner and Assistant School Director, International School of Skin and Nailcare

Paul Culbreth, (Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair) Certified Financial Planner, Culbreth Wealth Management

Cathe Reams, (Secretary and Board Engagement Committee Chair) Communication Director, Sustainability and Urban Infrastructure, Siemens Corporation

Cheryl Deluca-Johnson, (Program Committee Chair) Licensed Professional Counselor and Founder of Street Grace

Cole Porter, (Next Big Thing Committee Chair) President and Owner, Porter Steel Inc,

Linda Watson-Hills, (People Committee Chair) President, Watson-Hills LLC

Donnette Sturdivant, Manager, Environmental Protection Agency

Danielle Roszko, CEO & Founder,
Summit Advisors LLC

Charnette Brown, Rainbow Village Graduate

Lindsay Taylor, Vice President, Securities Licensing and Training, Primerica

Jan Luploff, Community Servant

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

Debbie Bilbro, President and CEO Northside Hospital- Gwinnett

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

Dean Collins, Senior Partner, Axis Companies LLC.

Cheryl D. Neal, Founder and CEO, Be The Now Inc.

Janis Martinez, Owner, Ashford Management Group (Retired)

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Meet The Team

It Takes a Village

Administration

Rev. Melanie Conner

Robert Laws

Name

Program Team

Stephanie Baker

Olivia Sheridan

Yuli Fernandez

Rachelle Dowell

China Bland

Latoya McLennon

Anais Hairston

Community Engagement

Michelle Alcorn

Brittany Lowe

Sara Escorza

Support Services

Cathy Cason

Rainbow Village ACADEMY Team

Jadayia Sinclair

Kendra Bethley

Isreal Seka

2025 Board Members

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