Tiffany L Watkins grew up on the far southside of Chicago. She moved to Washington DC to attend Howard University. After graduating she went back to Chicago to practice accounting for several corporate companies before deciding she need a career change.

She begins a new career with the Chicago Public Schools where she realized the communities within her city need a lot of assistance socially and emotional.

She realized that for people to be socially and emotional healthy we need to address their immediate concern which is poverty. So, in August 2022, she started a not-for-profit organization named Riley Mae Foundation. The foundation was organized to teach financial literacy to women & children.

Laveries received a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from Governors State University in 2006 and a MBA in Human Resources from Keller Graduate School of Management in 2012. 

She has a widespread experience in managing full spectrum of Human Resources programs, applications, functions, and services.  She is skilled in handling complex HR related matters, interpreting various policies and procedures, fulfilling organizations staffing needs and requirements, etc. 

LaVeries professional skills assists the organization in developing curriculum that improve individual ability to obtain gainful employment.

Delcine Thompson is an attorney and has been in practice for 42 years.  She graduated from New York School of Law and received her BA in Political Science from the University of Chicago.  She also attended Harvard University. She has served most of her time as an attorney in the public sphere as a public servant in government agencies. She is currently semi-retired with a small private practice and does volunteer work. Along with her husband she manages a real estate business.

She is committed to public service and helping women gain financial knowledge and independence.

Larry has a passion for learning and personal growth, proven by him earning a Master of Computer Science from DePaul University and a Bachelor of Computer Information Systems from Howard University.

As a Principal Consultant at SEI Chicago, Larry has been instrumental in advising and leading technical initiatives for several global clients. In this capacity, he has utilized a repertoire of skills such as program/project management, process modeling, strategic planning, and data and operational analysis to develop solutions and lead their implementation.

Having graduated from St. Ignatius College Prep, Larry was taught in the Jesuit tradition to be a man or women for others. That led to his strong sense of devotion for the nonprofit sector and has advised, supported, and volunteered at several organizations focused on recognizing the needs of disadvantaged and underserved communities and aiding the victims of social justice.

Michael Johnson is the owner-manager of Johnson-Thompson Properties, LLC., a real estate business and a retired educator who devoted his career to special needs students. He received his master’s degree in special education from the University of Illinois and his BA from Bradley University in speech communications and secondary regular education.  During his career and beyond he mentored students by advising them and teaching them skills using his real estate business.

He is a firm believer in teaching young people how to be self-sufficient and self-reliant. He is a firm believer that everyone should strive for more in life.  He has always emphasized to his students to have goals and work hard to achieve them.

Dawn Morris graduate of Howard University in Washington, D. C. with a BBA-Marketing and having continued her studies in the Master of Arts-Training and Communication program at Governors State University in Illinois, Ms. Morris is a strong proponent of quality education. Dawn is a highly energetic and engaging speaker. She makes sure to combine knowledge of the topic, creativity in design and articulation in delivery so that her audiences are left educated, entertained, and inspired.

Dawn has been invited to speak on; social justice advocacy in the workplace, she has developed and delivered her program, “Inspiring Presidential Tools for the Leader in Every Student”, based off of her book, W.W. B. D-What Would Barack Do? Inspiring Presidential Tools for the Leader in You and inspiring careers for veterans at the University of Pittsburgh, Virginia State University, and Tennessee State University, respectively.

Dawn ability to coach and trainer leaders throughout the nation has given her the skills needed to train our staff and volunteers in order for the Foundation to perform at full capacity.

Cassandra L. Reed was born and raised in Chicago, IL on the southside. She attended Hyde Park Career Academy. After graduating high school, she went to Grambling State University in Grambling, LA and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Accounting 2001.  In 2019, she graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with an MBA in executive leadership and global management.

Cassandra Reed has worked for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for over 20 years. Throughout her career she has worked in several departments that has led her to the current position as Manager of Joint Committee Team. In this process she drafts and review projects involving emerging issues in areas of non-compliance to the tax law. Serves as an issue expert in the examination of LB&I returns, a lead for other revenue agents and specialists assigned to an examination and counsel attorneys. Finally, collaborates and coordinates with other experts, revenue agents, counsel attorneys, appeals officers, and/or specialists throughout IRS to leverage and expand expertise and ensure consistent application and interpretation of tax laws within those areas.

Cassandra financial background is instrumental in developing financial curriculum in helping women and children break generational curse.