Dr. Keith Parker, Chair

Dr. Keith Parker is the founder and CEO of the National Education and Empowerment Coalition, Inc.  He is also a professor of sociology and criminal justice at Florida A&M University. He is author and co-author of numerous articles including Pathways to Reducing Recidivism: Providing Formerly Incarcerated Individuals with Resources to Achieve Attainable Goals in Society (2022), Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: Implications for Higher Education (2022), Voter Participation in the Absence of the 1965 Voting Rights Act (2021) and Using Microaggression to Examine U.S. Voter Suppression Tactics (2018).

Keith is listed in Who’s Who in Science and Engineering, Who’s Who Among African Americans, Outstanding Young Men of America, and 2000 Outstanding Scholars of the 20th Century.  He serves on numerous committees of professional associations and as a reviewer for professional journals.

Known for his dynamic and gentle-giant leadership skills, Keith is highly sought after as a lecturer and diversity facilitator. He is the recipient of many awards.  For example, in November 2013, he was inducted into the Delta State University Alumni Association Alumni Hall of Fame inductees; in 2008 he was listed among Cambridge Who’s Who among Executives, Professionals and Entrepreneurs; in 2006 he was presented the Ladies of Elegance Organization, Citizenship Award for Outstanding Contributions and Volunteer Services, Cleveland, MS; in 2003 he was presented the NAACP-Lincoln Chapter, Lenora Letcher Community Service Award, Lincoln, NE; in 2002 he was listed among Who’s Who in America; in 1998 he was presented the First Annual Chancellor’s University of Nebraska-Lincoln “Fulfilling the Dream” Award, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE; just to mention a few!

Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, Jessica attended undergraduate studies at Elon University in North Carolina, where she studied International Studies and Political Science. After graduation, she joined the Peace Corps in Morocco as a rural community health volunteer. After returning to the States, Jessica completed her law degree at Stetson University in St. Petersburg, Florida. Following graduation from Stetson, Jessica worked for International Justice Mission as a Legal Fellow tackling gender-based violence in Uganda. As a fellow, she implemented trainings for key groups within the public justice system and she assisted local attorneys with cases targeted for their impact on system reform. Once Jessica’s fellowship ended, she did work involving complex multi-state litigation in Washington D.C. before ultimately retuning to Florida. She has been a Staff Attorney with Legal Services of North Florida (LSNF) since April 2019 and is enjoying a return to public interest after gaining valuable experience in corporate litigation. At LSNF, Jessica is currently the Immigration Project Attorney.

Erin has a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Management and a Master’s in Business Administration from Florida State University. She has been in Tallahassee 15 years and worked in various capacities within state and local government. Previous roles have included analytical, administrative, and legislative support with the Executive Office of the Governor, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Currently she is employed with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) and serves as an Administrative Manager. In this role she works with citizens daily to support those that are leaving the detention facility, the unsheltered population, and others within the community in need. Her passion is connecting people and resources together, and she always strives to ensure new partnerships are developed. She is known to coordinate various community events in conjunction with LCSO and other community partners. She also serves as the Treasurer for the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts and as the lead within her neighborhood.

Tamara has a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Jacksonville Baptist Theological Seminary School. She is an ordained minister. She works for Community Action Agency where serving and helping others is her passion.

Tamara is a member of Toastmasters Public Speaking club where she has gained experience in public speaking and leadership skills. She’s currently Big Bend After Reentry’s Women’s support group facilitator. She is here to give hope and encouragement to those who are coming home from being incarcerated. Tamara’s goal is to provide a safe place for a peer support group to discuss various topics, such as: Employment, Housing, Basic needs, Goals, Education, Desires, Healing, Family. Many have gone through trauma while in prison. This peer support group’s aim is for women to revise their dreams and desires. To become their whole person before prison. Focusing also on how to navigate and have a clean start at a New Beginning.

Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Shirley sees her greatest accomplishment as being a mom to six children – all grown up now. Shirley has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, a Master of Science Degree in Management (Specializing in Non-profit Leadership), and Master of Arts in Professional Writing.

Shirley worked for nonprofits such as Daniel Memorial (residential treatment facility in Jacksonville for 5-17-year-olds), Program Director for Florida’s First Coast YMCA, General Manager for Planet Fitness, and most recently I worked in education for the past 6 years as Full-time Faculty and Instructional Program Manager at Florida State College at Jacksonville.

When the opportunity presented itself for Goodwill’s Ignite 2.0 Program Manager position, she was excited and knew it was the type of work she wanted to do. Shirley is passionate about helping others and finding opportunities and resources to help them achieve their goals. Shirley has been the Program Manager for the Ignite 2.0 grant Since January 4, 2022.

Rachel earned her Masters in Social Work at Florida State University in 2019, and is the Senior Social Worker at Joseph House.

Rachel has experience working with at-risk youth and adults in residential settings and re-entry case management. She has been serving on the board for the Big Bend After Reentry Coalition since January 2020.

Marcellas is a Senior Case Manager at Capital Area Community Action Agency.

It took over twenty years for Freda to realize her potential and ability to overcome all odds, which included a 20-year addiction, living a criminal lifestyle, severe trauma, and a lack of education. Freda worked eleven and ½ years in the Governor’s Office under Governor Bush and Governor Crist. Freda had been employed by DISC Village, Inc. for over a decade, she was the Project Director for the Jail Re-Reentry Network for the DISC Village, Inc. and she served in other leadership positions, The new DOJ project will provide new programing for the Wakulla, Jefferson and Madison County jails. This will include substance education and re-reentry classes, pre/post case management and transition services for male and female offenders.

Additionally, Freda is an Adjunct Professor at Tallahassee Community
College; she is a Certified Addiction Professional and has a master’s degree from the Florida State University-Criminal Justice Studies program. Currently, Freda is the CEO OF FredaSpeaks, LLC since 2019. Freda is a 2017 JustLeadershipUSA Leading with Conviction fellow. Freda is a motivational speaker who shares her journey by speaking to men and women in prisons. Additionally, she trains other professionals in the criminal justice system and facilitates substance abuse, trauma training conferences for adults and youth throughout the State of Florida. Additionally, Freda encourages others to make positive changes in their lives and she is giving hope to people who want to pursue their dreams of stability, education and life of hope, despite a history of mistakes or bad choices.

Ms. Yvonne Powell graduated from Florida A&M University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Library Science and a Master of Science Degree in Counseling. Powell spent 28 years as a civil service employee and 17 years in education. Currently Ms. Powell is a case manager at Keeton Corrections Federal Halfway House Tallahassee. Since earning her degree in counseling, she began her social service and reentry work in the North Florida area in the following positions:

• Victim Advocate
• Batterer’s Intervention Program Facilitator
• Counselor Bannum Place Federal Halfway House
• High School Guidance Counselor 
• Case Manager Gadsden Reentry Prison
• Substance Abuse Counselor Gadsden Reentry Prison
• Social Services Counselor GRC
• WHYTRY Facilitator GRC

Ms. Powell has earned many certificates in Reentry training as well as Employment and Development which assist her in her mission to provide viable community resources to her clients. 

Sydney, originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, holds Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Community & Non-Profit Leadership from Mars Hill University. She relocated to Florida in 2023, where she joined the Florida Department of Corrections in December.

At the Department, Sydney began her role as the Employment Specialist for Circuit Two, where she has been instrumental in assisting clients with employment, housing, food assistance, and career counseling. In addition, Sydney serves as an instructor for the Thinking for a Change program and is currently enrolled in the Law Enforcement Academy to become a Certified Correctional Probation Officer. She is also set to begin her Master’s degree at Florida State University in the summer of 2025.

Outside of her professional pursuits, Sydney is actively involved in her local church, where she serves with the youth group and participates in mission trips. She is passionate about traveling and enjoys exploring new places.

Oliver is a part of the higher educational profession with over twenty years of experience in management, leadership, and outreach. Mr. Sapp’s knowledge of building community partnerships has enhanced his ability to strategically meet the goals and objectives of alliances. He has a strong passion for working within communities to strengthen them.

Oliver is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and is pursuing a graduate degree in Public Administration. Professionally, he serves as the Senior Regional Advisor of the North Florida TRIO Educational Opportunity Center at Florida A&M University. He, therefore, carries out the mission of that office, which is to empower returning adult learners become productive citizens in the Big Bend.

Oliver is enthusiastic about people’s abilities to restore and rebuild their lives. He is energized about the human spirit through his work with organizations such as the Urban League, Florida Department of Corrections, Local College Access Networks, Florida Rights and Restoration, and voting initiatives.

Oliver’s commitment is to assist people and our returning citizens with the necessary tools to renew themselves and the belief in their ability with hard work and dedication to develop a new outlook on life and what opportunities await them.

Oliver is a native of Tallahassee with deep ties to the Big Bend. He looks forward to serving as a servant leader with Big Bend A.F.T.E.R Reentry Coalition and fulfilling their mission.

Anne Meisenzahl has an MS in Exceptional Education from Bank Street College in New York City and an MFA in Creative Writing from Florida State University. She is a retired adult education / GED teacher, curriculum writer, reentry advocate, and poet. She is the author of Taking Care of Yourself: Making the Transition from Corrections to Work, Education & Daily Life, a free, reproducible on-line life skills curriculum for people releasing from incarceration, and The Open Book: Teaching Poetry in Prison.  Her novel Long Time Gone was published in 2019 by TouchPoint Press.  She and Beth Nichols co-founded the Big Bend AFTER Reentry Coalition in 2012, and she has been an active Board member ever since.