Our Board of Directors

Christian Ellis, Founder/CEO

Retired professional athlete, model and actor. Passionate about people. Focused on strengthening community and genuinely helping others.

Toya D. Releford, Director

A distinguished figure in both the education sector and collegiate athletics, blending her passion for community engagement and leadership prowess. Toya is a former Division I women's basketball player with a wealth of experience spanning various facets of education and athletics. She currently holds a senior leadership position for the largest charter school PreK-12 network in North Texas, overseeing multiple departments dedicated to fostering community and strategic partnerships, organizing signature events, enhancing the scholar experience, and fostering robust engagement with families and scholars alike.

Gary Clayton, Director

An Associate Pastor at Light of Joy Church in Riverdale, Georgia. where he oversees the Seniors Ministry and actively involved in the Men’s and Youth Ministries. He is also actively involved in Morehouse College Alumni as he serves as the Financial Secretary for the Morehouse College National Alumni Association. He is employed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation where he is a Senior Examination Specialist in the Division of Depositor and Consumer Protection.

Josh Howard, Director

Retired NBA Allstar, greatly respected and admired thru active work in the community of Winston-Salem, NC as well as Dallas, TX. Heavily involved in community outreach as well as youth education and mentoring.

John Smith, Director

An accomplished Firefighter and seasoned retired professional athlete. Dedicated to serving and empowering the youth. Passionate about helping others and has volunteered with various organizations throughout his career, both as a basketball player and a firefighter but more importantly as a human. A Lieutenant in the San Francisco Fire Department actively involved in recruitment, public education, outreach, and community events. In addition, serves as the Vice President of the San Francisco Black Firefighters Association, an organization which tirelessly fights for equity and inclusion.