The F.I.N.D. "Families in Need of Direction" Design
The F.I.N.D. "Families in Need of Direction" Design
  • Home
  • About Us
    • F.L.Y. Girl
    • J.A.M. Sessions
    • Rebuilt 2 F.L.Y.
    • Gifts of Love
    • Downplaying the Drama
  • Resource Assistance
  • Join Us
  • Newsroom
  • Testimonials
  • Partners & Sponsors
  • Support Our Mission
  • Impact Report
  • Contact Us
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Programs
      • F.L.Y. Girl
      • J.A.M. Sessions
      • Rebuilt 2 F.L.Y.
      • Gifts of Love
      • Downplaying the Drama
    • Resource Assistance
    • Join Us
    • Newsroom
    • Testimonials
    • Partners & Sponsors
    • Support Our Mission
    • Impact Report
    • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Resource Assistance
  • Join Us
  • Newsroom
  • Testimonials
  • Partners & Sponsors
  • Support Our Mission
  • Impact Report
  • Contact Us

Our Focus

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OUR MISSION

  

To empower girls of color to fly and be the voice that shifts both internal and external narratives surrounding their identity and value, through cultural expressions, positive connections, curative training, and advocacy.

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OUR VISION

Girls of color will understand their value, develop positive relationships, and become confident leaders who will inspire systematic changes that enhance their lives and the lives of girls that come behind them.

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.

MEET OUR

Meet our Staff and Board

At The F.I.N.D. Design, we take pride in knowing that every person on our team truly believes in our mission, vision and values. We are not just our sister's keeper, we are our sisters!

Our Staff

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KARA JAMES-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.  

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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KEDRA SMITH

Program Support Coordinator

A small town girl with big goals, and an even bigger heart. Kedra was born, and raised in Saginaw, Michigan. Her biggest passion is to help women become who they are destined to be. She believes that you are not defined by your circumstances, and that you can become anything that you put your heart & mind to. Kedra is now a resident in Nashville, and wants nothing more than to lead by example, and share her life's experiences with other women. She believes that change starts from within, and true belief in yourself. Her grandmother has always made it clear to her that with God, ANYTHING and EVERYTHING is possible...if you just believe. 

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MYCHELLA PERRY

Youth Development Specialist

Mychella Perry was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Mychella was raised by her resilient grandmother who taught her to be confident and bold, and to have a great faith in God at a very young age, and how to heal having grown up going through some family abandonment. Through growing up with her grandma she grew a deep passion for helping others break generational burdens, and become more self aware of who they are because it happened in her own life. She wants to help the world. Especially girls of color. Mychella wants to help them figure out their purpose. Mychella went to pursue higher education at Arkansas State University, and then transferred into Bible School at the Kanakuk Institute. 


"I sought The F.I.N.D Design to help young girls find better meaning of their purpose and worth in this life." 

DR. MARY ELLEN KISS

DR. MARY ELLEN KISS

DR. MARY ELLEN KISS

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Interim Chair 

President 

Resource Development Group Inc.

CORLETRA MANCE

DR. MARY ELLEN KISS

DR. MARY ELLEN KISS

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Treasurer/Finance Committee

Attorney 

Mance Law Office

Jennifer White

DR. MARY ELLEN KISS

DR. LINDA PLUMMER WARD

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Director of Policy Services/Staff Attorney 

The Tennessee School Boards Association

DR. LINDA PLUMMER WARD

REV. DR. CINDY SCHWARTZ

DR. LINDA PLUMMER WARD

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Emergency Physician
EmCare

REV. DR. CINDY SCHWARTZ

REV. DR. CINDY SCHWARTZ

REV. DR. CINDY SCHWARTZ

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Pastor
Priest Lake Presbyterian

Heather Barton

REV. DR. CINDY SCHWARTZ

REV. DR. CINDY SCHWARTZ

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Fundraising Committee 

Community Volunteer
Child Birth Educator

  • F.L.Y. Girl
  • J.A.M. Sessions
  • Rebuilt 2 F.L.Y.
  • Gifts of Love
  • Downplaying the Drama
  • Resource Assistance
  • Join Us

The F.I.N.D. Design

2787 Smith Springs Road Nashville, Tennessee 37217

615-647-8222

"In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it."

© 2019 The F.I.N.D. Design - All Rights Reserved.