The Emmanuel Cares CDC is dedicated to making a lasting impact in our community. We focus on identifying and implementing programs that address the following needs:
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Education (Access, Excellence and Equity)
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Economic Development (Job Training and Job Creation)
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Crime Prevention (Reduction, Prevention and Rehabilitation)
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Family Life (Developing Healthy Men, Women and Children)
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Financial Literacy (Earning, Saving, Investing, and Spending Wisely)
We believe that addressing these important issues will result in positive, lasting change for the families of our communities.
2016-2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mr. Elijah Easley – Chairperson
Ms. Nikki York – Vice-Chairperson
Mr. Chrisanthony Williams – Treasurer/Secretary
2016-2020 ADVISORY BOARD
Mr. Hewett Richardson, Jr. – Chairperson
Ms. Sonya Kelly – Secretary
Ms. Acqunita Earnest – Board Member
Mr. Andre Horn – Board Member
Ms. Jennifer Carrington – Board Member
Ms. Vanecia Weathersby-Gray – Major Gifts Chairperson
Biography for Elijah Easley, Board Chairperson of Emmanuel Cares CDC
Elijah Easley is the seventh son of eleven children by Deacon Charlie and Mssy. Mary Ann Easley. His early childhood education was in the Conroe Independent School District graduating in the top 10% of his class. He furthered his education by attending St. Phillips College and Trinity University. His degree is in Business Management and with a future goal to pursue a Non-Profit, Executive Leadership Certification from Notre’ Dame University.
Mr. Easley’s work experience consists of 21 years in the Financial Services industry. He has served as an Assistant Vice-President and Second Line Management in Risk Operations and Branch Services.
He has served his church on the local, district, Jurisdictional and national levels of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. He is the Godly proud parent of two sons.
Biography for Nikki York, Board Vice-Chairperson of Emmanuel Cares CDC
Nikki York graduated from Kashmere Senior High and began working with children at Bo’ Kay’s Daycare in Houston, Texas. She went on to become certified as a medical billing and coding specialist and started her career at Columbia/HCA. The experience and knowledge gained there paved the way for her to become a small business owner in 2001 by establishing S.N.Y. Billing Specialists where she provides patient accounting and medical billing services to private ambulance companies. She has a heart for the people of God and has been the President for the Singles Ministry for three years, worked on various committees and Executive Boards for Emmanuel C.O.G.I.C., supported diverse charities within the community and as Vice Chair for Emmanuel Cares, Ms. York is prayerfully moving forward and committed to working hard to ensure that the vision of these great leaders comes to pass by making a marked difference in this community and beyond.
Biography for Chrisanthony J. Williams, Board Treasurer/Secretary
Chrisanthony Williams holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Management. He has over 20 years of experience in leadership and management, accounting, financial management, change and project management, facilitating training classes, business analysis, risk management, fraud prevention, budgeting, team building, continuous process improvement, compliance, auditing and eight plus years in banking. He holds a CompTIA+ Project Management Certification and has served and participated on various committees in the workforce. He has held several managerial roles, some of which include Assistant Vice President, Supervisor of Trust Operations, Finance Manager, Supervisor of Disbursements and Store Manager. He is also Ordained Elder spreading the gospel and has worked in the ministry, serving the community by feeding the hungry, working with senior citizens and youth, and helping those in need for twenty-one plus years. He currently serves as Sunday Superintendent, Secretary of Pastors and Elders Council and Finance Chairman within the ministry.
Biography for Hewett Richardson, Jr., Advisory Board Chairperson
Hewett Richardson is the Founder of Emmanuel Cares CDC and currently serves as the Executive Pastor of the Emmanuel Church of God in Christ.
He is a solutions-oriented professional with 25+ years experience in education, information technology, and corporate accounting, with extensive experience in project management, data analysis, and leadership. He began his career with American General (AIG) in 1986 where he worked in Accounting and Information Technology Accounting/Finance departments until 2002. In 2003, He decided to pursue a career in education was employed with the Klein Independent School District for over 11 years.
He attended LeTourneau University where he received a B.S. in Business Management. He also holds a graduate degree from Lamar University where he obtained a Masters of Science in Educational Leadership.
Biography for Sonya Kelly, Advisory Board Secretary
Sonya Kelly holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Management and Masters in Psychology. She is a former mentor coordinator for New Life Perinatal Health Care Services, Inc., mentoring young pregnant mothers and helping them access resources within their community and be productive to achieve an outcome that would help them accomplish more in their life. From there she join with a ministry, Victim by Way of Trespassing ministry volunteering with an ordained Pastor for individuals that have been victims of tragedy. She currently volunteers in a local women’s prison, serves as an ordained minister with Stephen Ministry under Pastoral Care, ministering to individuals who are encountering various tragedies. She is also a prayer partner in her local church where she serves as an ordained minister.
Biography for Acqunita Earnest, Advisory Board Member
Acqunita Earnest was born in the Kashmere Gardens Area of Houston. She graduated from Kashmere Senior High school in 1979 and later attended Houston Community College in the fall 1979, pursuing a major in Business and a minor in Education. In 1986 she married her high school sweetheart from Phyllis Wheatley High School, A.D. Earnest, Jr., from Carthage, Mississippi. They have 3 beautiful children.
In the spring of 1986, she was employed as a Medical Secretary for the St. Luke Episcopal Hospital, located in the Houston Medical Center. While there she received a Certification as a Clerical Administrative Assistant. In 1992 she was certified as a Medical Assistant/Medical Code and Billing Tech. In 1996 she received her Certification as Patient Care Tech II. She enjoyed her career, working with patients and physicians. She also worked in the Emergency Room at St. Luke Hospital from 1994-2009, retiring in the summer of 2009.
She is a member of Volunteer in Public Schools (VIPS) in the Houston Independent School District., for 25 plus years; a member of the Positive Interactions Program (PIP) for the Northeast Police Station on Ley Rd., for 4years.
She has been a member of the Emmanuel Church of God in Christ since 1967 and currently serves as the Community Liaison and Coordinator of the Young At Heart Ministry which provides health, financial literacy, and fun fields trips for senior citizens in the church and community.
Biography for Andre Horn, Advisory Board Member
Andre Horn is the founder & CEO of Industrial Welding Academy. He is a dedicated professional with over 20 years training experience in the welding industry.
IWA Certified Welding Educators (CWEs) are credentialed by the American Welding Society (AWS), the multifaceted nonprofit organization advancing the science, technology and application of welding and related disciplines all across the United States. Working with welders of all levels and companies of all sizes, our certified welding instructors have more than 20 years experience in the welding industry. We have worked as welding quality control inspectors, all-in-one combination pipe welders, welding engineers, welding trainers, and rig welders. Students not only rely on our expertise to help them prepare for and pass AWS exams, but also improve their skills while working on-the-job!
He is a Certified Welding Educator (CWE) and has been a senior welding contractor with major industrial companies, such as: Dynamic Laboratories, Inc, Zachary Construction, Technip USA Corporation, US Contractors, Harmony Corporation, Ref-Chem Corporation, S&B Engineers, Enpro Systems, Inc., Austin Industrial, Dynamic Offshore, Rust Engineers, Brown & Root, Inc., Holman Boiler Works, Promar International, Tejas Engineers.
Mr. Horn is a proud husband, and the proud father of 3. He is a member of the Emmanuel Church of God in Christ where he has served in various capacities.
Biography for Jennifer Carrington, Advisory Board Member
Jennifer Carrington is the founder and CEO of JCarrington & Associates, a graphic design and multimedia firm and 5StarAppMaker.com. She is also an author and speaker with a passion to equip businesses with effective tools to increase their branding and marketing success.
Jennifer attended the Harvard Graduate School of Design, in Boston, Massachusetts and holds a degree in Graphic Design and Architecture. She has served as an Adjunct Professor at ITT in Houston, Texas.
Jennifer is a proud member of the National Association of Professional Women.
In 2017, Jennifer was appointed President of the Business and Professional Women Federation for the Texas Central Metropolitan Jurisdiction, a branch of the Churches of God in Christ, Inc.
She spends time giving back to youth in the Houston community as an Advisory Board member of the Emmanuel Cares Community Development Corporation.