Yvette serves as the CEO for Southeast Raleigh Promise. In her role, Yvette is responsible for leading a highly-effective and dedicate team of professionals and overseeing the fiscal and operational management of the organization. As CEO of a quarterback organization, Yvette’s work involves shaping and leading strategies, attracting and leveraging investment, building relationships with residents and the community, and cultivating cross-sector partnerships to improve the quality of life and create opportunities for Southeast Raleigh residents, small businesses and non-profits.  As a thoughtful leader, Yvette comes to SERP with over 30 years of experience as a nonprofit administrator, fund raiser, and public and civic engagement specialist.

As a resident of Southeast Raleigh for over 20 years, Yvette has been instrumental in providing leadership and technical support in the start-up and growth of small non-profits and community-based coalitions focused on improving neighborhoods and addressing the needs of residents. Yvette cares deeply about issues and inequities impacting residents of Southeast Raleigh and views SERP as the conduit through which impactful solutions can be identified and implemented.

Yvette attended Morgan State University, where she majored in Computer Science. She later completed her undergraduate studies at William Peace University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.  She returned to her HBCU roots and is now enrolled in the Executive Master of Public Administration Graduate Program at North Carolina Central University.  Yvette is married and has three sons and three granddaughters. She enjoys spending time with family, creative writing, and trips to the beach. She believes in hopeful possibilities and in the promise that we hold as individuals and as a community.

Jennifer serves as the Director of Student and Family Engagement for Southeast Raleigh Promise. Jennifer has over 15 years experience working in public universities and youth-serving nonprofit organizations in Wisconsin as well as Raleigh, North Carolina. As a former Americorps Access member, she enjoys learning with and serving her community and is especially passionate about youth wellbeing and leadership, diversity and equity, and utilizing education as a transformative tool for social change. Jennifer has her Bachelor’s in Social Work and Master’s in Administrative Leadership from the University of Wisconsin and Master’s in Social Work from NC State. Jennifer currently serves on the boards of Corral Riding Academy, Seasons Village and Write, Speak, Inspire LLC. Jennifer enjoys serving in the community with her daughter, reading, walking her dog on the greenways of Raleigh, dirty chais, and backyard bonfires with friends and family.

Renada Jackson serves as Office Manager with Southeast Raleigh Promise. She is a native of North Carolina and is pursuing a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a focus on Project Management at Liberty University. Renada has 5 years of administrative experience, but has
also been an advocate for change. Over the years, Renada has expressed her passion for giving back to her community by bringing awareness to issues such as domestic violence and being involved with various community-based organizations. In her free time, Renada loves being
with her children. She loves attending her children’s’ sporting events, serving in leadership at her church, and the beach. She also has a green thumb when it comes to indoor plants.

Samara Tena serves as the FoodCorps AmeriCorps Service Member with Southeast Raleigh Promise. In addition to managing Southeast Raleigh Elementary School’s two on-site gardens, she is responsible for working alongside students, teachers, and community members to connect kids to healthy food. Samara grew up in Raleigh, NC as well as Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico, where her father is from. She has her B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics from Appalachian State University and is currently working on a M.S. in Environmental Nutrition. Through her studies and work, Samara has become passionate about food’s power to heal, connect, and sustain communities. Samara enjoys traveling with friends and family, backpacking, and tackling new recipes or DIY projects in her spare time.