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Team Members
Serving for a Brighter Future

Tai Aracen

The Capital Coherence Group

Tai Aracen

The Capital Coherence Group

Bio:
Tai Aracen is Principal of The Capital Coherence Group, a capital architecture platform building investable infrastructure across The United States, Africa and Latin America. A former attorney and systems thinker with a deep commitment to creating pathways for young people to build sovereign, purpose-driven lives, she co-founded Cultivated Brilliance, an education sovereignty platform within the CCG ecosystem. Tai is a mother of three building family life across multiple continents

Dr. Edward Brown

Character Mentoring Institute

Dr. Edward Brown

Character Mentoring Institute

Bio:
Dr. Ed Brown is a seasoned leader in human development with more than 40 years of experience working across youth, higher education, families, and community systems. His work is grounded in the belief that character, emotional intelligence, and resilience are the true drivers of long-term success—far beyond academic achievement alone.

Throughout his career, Dr. Brown has helped individuals at every stage of life build core capacities such as self-awareness, integrity, accountability, and leadership in complex environments. He has directed character-based programs, advised universities, mentored at-risk youth, coached leaders, and developed cross-generational training frameworks that strengthen both individuals and communities.

He is the founder of the Character Mentoring Institute, an Alabama-based 501(c)(3) dedicated to delivering structured, evidence-informed character development in underserved communities. Through this work and national partnerships with organizations like 100 Black Men of America and CARES Mentoring, he continues to advance initiatives that build human potential and prepare individuals to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Jameal Brown

The Building People

Jameal Brown

The Building People

Bio:
Coming Soon

Ma'Sheila Brown

Make It Special, LLC

Ma'Sheila Brown

Make It Special, LLC

Bio:
Coming Soon

Dr. Tara Dixon

Eval Group

Dr. Tara Dixon

Eval Group

Dr. Tara Dixon is the Founder and CEO of Research and Evaluation Group (EvalGroup), a research and evaluation consulting firm established in 2009 that supports federal, state, and community organizations in advancing public health and social impact through data-driven strategy, program evaluation, and applied research. With more than 15 years of experience, she specializes in translating complex data into actionable insights that strengthen programs, improve outcomes, and inform decision-making.

Dr. Dixon serves as a board member of Montgomery CARES Mentoring, where she is committed to supporting youth development, leadership, and long-term opportunity pathways. She was recently inducted into The B.O.W. (Black Owners & Women) Collective, https://www.thebowcollective.org/ a national network of accomplished women entrepreneurs focused on collaboration, economic empowerment, and growing successful businesses that positively impact their communities. Through her professional work and community leadership, Dr. Dixon remains dedicated to mentoring the next generation and building systems that create equitable and sustainable change.

Mecco Gourdine

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Mecco Gourdine

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Paul Gourdine

Engaged Christian Church

Paul Gourdine

Engaged Christian Church

Bio:
Goal-oriented leader with 10 year ministry experience and over 7 years’ work experience improving cost savings, employee productivity, and customer relations for organizations such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Dexter Avenue UMC, Community Congregational UCC and various state departments. Skilled at developing customer service initiatives that drive quality and productivity. Career highlights include receiving Governor’s Constituent Services Office Award for Customer Service for designing and implementing 3 programs that improved customer response time by 40%.

Charles Jackson

Alabama Power

Charles Jackson

Alabama Power

Charles Jackson is an Innovation Development Manager at Alabama Power, where he leads efforts to strengthen tech-based economic development across the state. In this role, he recruits and supports startup companies, fosters collaboration with tech accelerators, and manages corporate and stakeholder engagement. His team builds strategic partnerships that expand innovation initiatives throughout Alabama, enhancing efficiency and competitive advantage for existing industry.

Before joining Alabama Power, Charles served on the faculty at Auburn University at Montgomery, where he taught Marketing and Entrepreneurship and directed Graduate Programs for the College of Business.

A proud veteran of the United States Air Force, Charles is deeply committed to advancing education, innovation, and economic mobility.

Patrica Jones

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Patrica Jones

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Stephanie McCladdie

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Stephanie McCladdie

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Katherine Pauling

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Katherine Pauling

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Dr. JeNeen Ridgeway

Better Health Solutions

Dr. JeNeen Ridgeway

Better Health Solutions

Bio:
Dr. JeNeen Ridgeway, affectionately known as “Dr. JeNeen” is an Atlanta Chiropractor and a Traditional Naturopathic Doctor. She has been practicing Holistic Healthcare since 2006. She specializes in clinical nutrition, allergy desensitizing, and natural hormone balancing using acupressure based techniques, whole food supplements, homeopathy and herbs. She also assesses patients with comprehensive functional lab work when needed.

Dr. JeNeen is a native of snowy Buffalo, New York. She relocated to Atlanta to attend Spelman College, where she earned her B.S. in Mathematics. She was drawn to the natural healing arts because of her desire to help people achieve optimal health and her strong belief that the body was created to heal itself.

Kim Smith

Alabama State University

Kim Smith

Alabama State University

Bio:
Accomplishments:

Shenice Smith

She Smith Consulting

Shenice Smith

She Smith Consulting

Bio:
Shenice W. Smith is an experienced business strategist, consultant, and community leader with over a decade of expertise in organizational development, human resources, and project management. As CEO of She Smith Consulting, she advises public and private sector clients on operational efficiency, strategic growth, and sustainable impact.

Previously, Shenice served as Director of Strategic Initiatives for Unite Inc., where she led partnerships, managed annual conferences serving over 1,100 HBCU students, and oversaw internship and grant programs. Her professional background also includes key leadership roles in Human Resources at Cintas and Regions Bank, where she directed workforce planning, organizational restructures, and diversity initiatives.

She holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Roosevelt University and a Bachelor of Business Management with a minor in International Business from Alabama State University. Shenice is a Project Management Professional (PMP), Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and a licensed Realtor in Alabama and South Carolina.

A committed advocate for professional and civic engagement, she serves on the Board of Directors for Opelika Young Professionals (Past Chair) and was recognized as a 2024 Opelika Chamber of Commerce 20 Under 40 inductee and 2026 Leadership Lee County Program participant. She is a member of the Project Management Institute, the National Black MBA Association, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

Dr. Danita Stapelton

Alabama State University

Dr. Danita Stapelton

Alabama State University

Bio:
Dr. Danita H. Stapleton, EdD, LPC-S, CRC, NCC, BC-TMH, is a native of North Florida and currently serves as Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Studies at Alabama State University. She also coordinates the Online Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling program. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, National Certified Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor, and Board-Certified Telemental Health Provider. She brings more than 30 years of professional experience across diverse rehabilitation settings, including corrections, forensic rehabilitation, inpatient and outpatient substance use treatment centers, adoption and foster care services, and intermediate care facilities for adults with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, she has provided mental health services to older adults in skilled nursing facilities.

Karl Wright

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Karl Wright

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Montgomery Cares is an affiliate member of the National Cares Mentoring Movement, a multi-city network committed to ensuring that children in our communities have the mentoring, support, and guidance they need to thrive.

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