ARISE COLLECTIVE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chairman / Minister, Life Coach, Substance Abuse Counseling and Intervention
Chaplain James is a graduate of the Mason Kelly Religious Institute where he earned his credentials as a certified Para-Chaplin, HIV Counselor, and Crisis Intervention Specialist. In his role as Organization Driver, Anthony is responsible for safely transporting WRP participants to and from various destinations and appointments in the community. These include medical appointments, mental health appointments, job interviews, classes, etc. His first book, The Millionaire's Brother: Overcoming the Addictions of Life shares his life story of overcoming drug addiction, incarceration, and challenging relationships. "Keep striving for greatness. Keep pushing toward your desired result and don't give up. Don't give in. Always look to win."
Job Titles:
- PROJECT MANAGER
- Public Arts Project Manager
Bethany has almost 10 years of project management experience as she enters her role at Arise Collective. She attended the University of Michigan for architecture and Italian before completing her Master's degree in Architecture at the Politecnico di Milano in Milan, Italy.
Bethany prides herself on the well-rounded humanist approach that living abroad afforded her. Once she returned to the United States, she began working in the architecture/construction field, where she has worked for the past 13 years.
Bethany owns her own art business, BAN Artwork, which specializes in LED art. Using this experience and more, she is very excited to bring the Stitching Stories project to life.
Bonita is a person who loves to do whatever she can to help others regardless of situations that she has been in or going through.
She retired in March of 2023 and moved to NC to make this her home. She previously worked at Bradley Hospital for 12 years which is the nation's first psychiatric hospital exclusively for children and adolescents. She provided secretarial services for the Outpatient, Neuropsychology, and CADD departments.
Before that, Bonita worked for over 20 years in the accounting field. Her experience and organizational skills give her the know-how and determination to succeed at Arise Collective.
In her spare time, Bonita loves spending time with family, crafting, binge-watching movies/tv shows, and line dancing. She enjoys going to church and is actively looking for a church home.
Cherisse has worked with non-profit organizations since graduating from Frostburg State University with a BS in Business Administration. Originally from Baltimore, MD, Cherisse's prior employment included working with underserved communities in a healthcare setting. She is excited to have found a ministry since relocating to North Carolina, where she can continue to help others in need.
In her spare time, Cherisse enjoys her role of caring for and spending time with her family, volunteering at her children's schools through PTA, watching movies, and attending functions at her church.
Job Titles:
- Interim Chief / Program Officer
Doris brings 20 years of leadership experience in student, academic, judicial, and community affairs to her position at Arise Collective. Her most recent position in higher education was at Edward Waters University, where she served as Associate Vice President for Student Success & Retention. She began her career in higher education at her alma mater, Shaw University, where she served in roles including Coordinator for the Freshman Year Programs, the first female Dean of Students in the history of the university, and more recently, as the Director of Student Retention. She also held several positions at Saint Augustine's College/University for 14 years of her higher education career.
The recipient of numerous awards, Doris received the Doctor of Education degree in higher education leadership from High Point University in May 2020 after an intense four-year journey. Her dissertation research was "Incarceration and the Impact of Educational Rehabilitation on Recidivism." She also earned her Associate's degree in Business Management and Bachelor's degree in Behavioral Science/Sociology from Shaw University and an MBA from Strayer University. A 2010 graduate of HERS (Higher Education Resource Services), a leadership development and research organization, she is also a former board member of Arise Collective and a founding member of the Southeast Raleigh Rotary Club, currently serving as chair of the membership committee. A passionate leader, positive student advocate, and a true example of Zig Ziglar's quote, "It is not where you start, but where you finish that counts," and Brene Brown's quote, "One day you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through and it will be someone else's survival guide."
Doris lives in Raleigh with her husband Cedric of 20 years.
Job Titles:
- Program Coordinator of Accounting
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor in Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Duke University Medical Center and Associate Director of Integrative Mental Health at Durham VA Hospital
I serve as a board member because I believe that building and rebuilding lives requires tangible engagement at a person's point of need - whether that be emotional, physical, vocational, or spiritual. I believe that Arise Collective is committed to meaningfully addressing this full range of needs for women in and out of prison.
Elisa is a Humanist-endorsed, interfaith Clinical Chaplain. She has a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in New York City as well as a Master of Education in Early Childhood and Special Education.
Prior to working for IPMW, Elisa was a hospital Chaplain specializing in palliative care and pediatrics. She has provided diverse people with spiritual and/or emotional care in Washington, D.C., New York, and North Carolina. Elisa now resides in Durham, North Carolina with her husband and two "children," a Siberian husky and a chihuahua rescue. She is passionate about holistic health, spending time in nature, all forms of dance, the fine arts, reading, and writing.
Elizabeth is in her second year pursuing her Master of Divinity at Duke. When she first heard about Duke Divinity School's Prison Ministry Certificate and opportunities to take courses alongside those incarcerated, she knew that was her next step. She tries to tailor her coursework towards learning about serving those on the margins. Prior to attending Duke, Elizabeth worked in fundraising for a prison ministry. At Arise, Elizabeth works with Chaplain Elisa, providing spiritual care to women behind bars and those experiencing reentry.
In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys reading, going for walks at Duke Gardens, and spending time with her friends exploring new places in Durham!
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Treasurer
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder, VP of Content & Programming
Jennifer has held leadership positions in several North Carolina and New York City nonprofits over the past 28 years in the areas of prison chaplaincy and reentry, social services, the arts, community development, victim services, human rights, and spiritual activism. Prior organizations include the victim services nonprofit Safe Horizon, where she served in senior leadership roles including Vice President of Human Resources, after directing Joining Forces, a project on Public-Private Partnerships in Victim Assistance funded by the US Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime. She also held leadership roles at the social justice nonprofit Stone Circles at The Stone House, the human rights nonprofit WITNESS, the Fund for the City of New York, the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, and 651 Arts. She has worked as an organizational development consultant, coach, and trainer for nonprofits and groups across the country, and as a speaker, facilitator, and presenter for conferences, panels, and other convenings.
Jennifer believes deeply in the power of forgiveness to transform hearts and minds and is committed to work that creates a more inclusive and just society. She serves on the Executive Committee for the Wake County Local Reentry Council, is an Affiliate Coach for the Rockwood Leadership Institute in Oakland, CA, and is a member of the 2019/2020 national Omega Institute Juno Leadership Collective. Previously, she served on the Board of Directors of Durham's Student Action with Farmworkers (SAF), the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation's Community Leadership Council, and the Oberlin College Alumni Leadership Council.
Jennifer received a Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin College, a Bachelor of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, her Master of Arts from Indiana University, coaching certification from Coach U, and was ordained as an Interfaith Minister from One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in New York City. She is a certified mindfulness meditation teacher, an RYT-200 certified yoga teacher, and enjoys organizing groups toward collective effort, reading, the arts, and performing in local theater.
Job Titles:
- Senior Account Executive, Government Sales
Job Titles:
- Secretary / Office Manager / Appraisals
Job Titles:
- Program Director
- Women 's Reentry Project Program Director
With nearly two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector, Kim brings to Arise Collective the heart of a servant leader. She has deep passion and compassion for both the women and the work of the Women's Reentry Project. Kim shared, "I know, firsthand, how that darkness can swallow you up, and I know what it is like to feel lost."
In addition to academic achievements from Shaw University in Business Management and Behavioral Science, she brings an expansive understanding of nonprofit operations, facility management, leadership development, and community engagement. She has received training and certification in Peer Support Services and attributes her accomplishments to being committed to her recovery, to the truth, and to do what is right - with integrity. Kim believes that in order to keep the peace she has found, she must give it away.
Treating every person with dignity and respect, particularly in their most vulnerable moments, was a core tenant of my upbringing. Arise Collective's mission is to do that. I'm truly humbled to be a part of an organization that represents what is right and just about our community and proud of the work this organization does.
Job Titles:
- Care Coordinator
- Certified Peer Support Training and Recovery Coach
- Senior Care Coordinator
Being a woman in recovery, Megan has found her purpose and passion in helping others find their own way. Having struggled for years to find and sustain recovery, Megan has been blessed with the ability to connect and relate to others in a special way.
Megan is a Certified Peer Support Training and Recovery Coach and an advocate for reducing the stigma associated with substance use disorder, Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and justice-involved individuals.
Job Titles:
- Development Director
- DEVELOPMENT
Molly Grace is an experienced fundraising and development professional with a passion for using storytelling and relationship-building to invite members of the community, potential partners, and future donors to contribute to this work.
With more than 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, and administrative duties, Regina (Regi) helps deliver the message and mission of Arise Collective to the community. She has a BA in Sociology from Shaw University and is certified in Graphic Design & Advertising from Wake Technical Community College.
Job Titles:
- Chaplain / North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women
My mother and grandparents taught my siblings and me the profound and positive lesson of "service above self." Serving reveals to others they are not alone. Serving provides hope to the hopeless, strength to the weak, and comfort to the broken. And in serving with Arise Collective, I am honoring God while living out a "service above self" journey.
Job Titles:
- CARE COORDINATOR
- Certified Peer Support Specialist
Robin is a Certified Peer Support Specialist dedicated to using her personal recovery and empathetic approach to meet people where they are and walk with them where they are going.
She has experience in case management, trauma-informed care, and supporting individuals with a history of justice involvement, substance use, and mental health recovery. Her passion is helping others live autonomous, authentic, and audacious lives rooted in integrity and surrounded by community.
When she's not at Arise Collective, Robin enjoys attending church services and events, participating in game nights with family and friends, and unwinding with highly anticipated "mom-cations."
Shirlye, a dedicated advocate for social justice, emerged resilient from a period of incarceration and is now passionately committed to fostering positive change in her community. During her incarceration, she served as the Chaplain's Clerk and played a pivotal role as one of the original four artists of Stitching Stories-a prison awareness quilt. With over 20 years of experience in accounting and project management, Shirlye brings a wealth of skills to her mission. Her unwavering determination is fueled by a deep commitment to ensuring the liberation of her fellow sisters from "Behind the Fence."
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair / Attorney & Partner at Batch, Poore & Williams