Building Relationships, Creating Change.
OUR MISSION
To Strengthen youth achievement by providing an opportunity for success through mentoring, case management, parent engagement and community outreach.
OUR VISION
To rebuild the hearts, minds and spirits of the family unit, one person at a time.
OUR PROMISE
- Believe - We believe we can create our own destiny of growth and prosperity by remaining focused, driven and motivated.
- Achieve - We will achieve a renewed perspective and a mindset of victory while dismissing the mentality of defeat.
- Receive - We will receive guidance, education, training and life skills that we will incorporate into our daily lives.
- Succeed - We will succeed by being the best that we can be and accomplish each goal that we set forth. We understand that our struggles do not define our future, but help shape our character.
Who Are We?
KARA JOHNSON
Co-Founder/Executive Director
Being raised in a single-parent home with one parent imprisoned, Kara understands the challenges children, specifically girls, face with an incarcerated parent. In and out of trouble during her teen years, Kara made the conscious decision to turn around her life and conquer the obstacles that life had thrown her. Kara started her journey working with children as a Pre-school teacher and served at Children's World Learning Center. Eventually, Kara joined corporate America where she would move her way up the corporate ladder for the next 15 years. Even though she embraced the lessons learned and the overall experience working in the corporate world, she always knew her passion and destiny was to go back to working with the younger population specifically young ladies that found themselves in the same type of situations that she once did. Kara studied Psychology at the University of Phoenix and furthered her studies in Non-profit Leadership at the Center of Nonprofit Management. Kara co-founded, "The F.I.N.D (Families in Need of Direction) Design" in 2013 to help teenage girls and women "find" their way in society and become productive citizens despite all odds being against them. TFD became incorporated in November 2014. As Co-Founder and Executive Director of The F.I.N.D Design®, Kara is accountable for development and fundraising, board relations, communication and marketing, and overall vital direction and leadership.
SHARESE CHAPMAN
Co-Founder/Director of Programs
Raised by a single mother on Detroit’s west
side, Sharese learned that “life” will not always show you mercy. Being a child in a domestic violence situation and losing family members to tragedies, Sharese learned early that you can’t let “life” define or destroy you. Sharese’s mom instilled in her that if you keep God first in all that you do, “life” will never win. Despite the challenges that life brought her way, Sharese excelled in school, graduated with honors and went on to attend Tennessee State University where she continues her education. Sharese realized once she made it through those early years of “life” that there was an obligation to give back to young girls and help them make it as well. Sharese co-founded “The F.I.N.D (Families In Need of Direction) Design” in 2013 to help those girls and young women to overcome their circumstances and redefine their lives. Sharese's life model is "Never let your pain stop your Purpose!" As Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of The F.I.N.D Design®, Sharese is also accountable for development and fundraising, board relations, collaborative efforts and marketing, and overall vital direction and leadership.
EDWINA FREEMAN
Youth Development Coordinator
Edwina is a true city girl, born and raised in the local projects in Detroit, Michigan and is unapologetic about her grassroots. She was taught early that education was the key to success. Being raised by a single mother, Edwina was a beneficiary of an at-risk, youth program that changed the trajectory of her life. The program used compassionate, authentic, and knowledgeable mentors, that helped her avoid risky behaviors that invaded her environment such as dropping out of school, teen pregnancies, drugs, gangs, and killings. Through personal experiences, Edwina has fully realized that her own backstory is a testimony that it doesn’t matter where you came from but where you are going that counts. Edwina attended Tennessee State University and has received numerous service awards for her philanthropic work. Additionally, Edwina has worked and volunteered for organizations such as The Hope Clinic for Women, Room in the Inn, The F.I.N.D. Design, and Young Lives.
CAMILLE HAYGOOD
Youth Development Coordinator
A small-town girl from Franklin, Kentucky, Camille grew up wanting to help people at an early age and she was always the one people sought advice from in middle and high school. This is part of what inspired her to pursue a degree in Social Work upon graduating from high school. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work at The University of Kentucky. As she completed her degree she started working with youth in the Nashville community. Camille is also a Parent Life Director for Youth for Christmas. Through her work in different roles in the community, she realized the need for mentorship and positive role models so she sought out The F.I.N.D Design to help young people know their worth and overcome life's challenges.
KATIE BINDERT
Program Support Assistant
Katie was born in Staten Island, New York. Her mother showed her from a young age that you're stronger than you think when she decided to leave an unhealthy marriage and travel across the United States to start a new life. One of Katie's earliest memories is sitting on her mother's lap in the rooms of AA. For the next 15 years, she would witness all life had to offer. From the successes, including celebrating her mother's sober milestones which forever changed the course of her family's life, to the challenges, witnessing and being a support system to kids whose parents had been taken by the disease of addiction. Katie has always known her true purpose in life; to empower others to live their full potential. Her biggest inspiration is her mother who taught her the motto she would come to live by, "It's never too late to become the person you want to be."