Left to right: Debra Smallwood, Molly Belcher, Judy Johnston, Ethan Biamonte, Lakeisha George, Tina Bennefield, Kim Shirley, Melanie Crockett, Alison Cayton, India Williams. Not pictured: Brandi Gerew
Staff
Lakeisha George, MSW, LCSWA, Program Director
“Seasons Village cultivates the natural resilience of families through guidance, empowerment, and providing critical resources as they seek to improve their socio-economic status. Drawing from my own lived experience as a single mother, I know the life changing benefits of a supportive network. I welcome the opportunity to work alongside each family because I wholeheartedly believe, when given the opportunity and access to resources, single mothers and their children thrive as contributing members of an engaged and equitable community.”
Kim Shirley, Executive Director, Co-Founder
“I am passionate about Seasons Village because of the focus on opening opportunities and pathways for single mothers to pursue their aspirations for themselves and their families. The Seasons Village families inspire me, and I have great admiration for the perseverance, motivation, strengths, and talents of the mothers. I learn from them daily. Partnering with families to support transformative growth that can change the trajectory of lives for generations – that is exciting and motivating. I am honored to be a part of our village that supports thriving communities.”
Board of Directors
Debra Smallwood, Board Chair
“I’ve had many mentors in my life’s journey and find that it is important in everyone’s growth. The support and guidance I received deserves paying it forward, and Season’s Village is the place for me to continue to make that happen. I believe in and value the power within every person to control their own life and we as a community can empower them to accomplish their personal and professional goals.”
Judy Johnston, Ph.D., Vice Chair
“As a former single mother, I understand and appreciate the complexity of single parenting. I am passionate about supporting the paradox of single mothering as a state of being, a station in life with purpose. My enthusiasm for Season’s Village centers on creating a more positive narrative for single mothers as they utilize their voices and talents to realize their vision and purpose for their families.
I am focused on helping single mothers to lead their families towards a stated goal with success. A process that is materialized through their experiences. By being realistically aware of their circumstance and through steadfast motivation, they develop as leaders and leadership is pioneered. They then can emerge as trailblazers in their personal and professional development as “life happens”.”
Ethan Biamonte, CPA, Treasurer
Assistant Controller, Get Spiffy, Inc.
“I acknowledge that I have been afforded many opportunities in life, and I believe in the mission of giving back to my community. Building a more promising future for single mothers and their children to end the cycle of poverty is one of the best ways I can think of to accomplish this mission. Our holistic approach, which focuses on transformative education, health and wellness, economic prosperity, community partnerships, and a stable home environment builds on the strength of single mothers to encourage and support the aspirations they have for themselves and their children.”
Molly Belcher, Secretary
Coordinator Admissions Information Services, Wake Technical Community College
Owner/Operator/CFO, Belcher & Belcher Properties, LLC
“It has always been my desire to be positioned to more directly empower, encourage, and impact young women to do more and be more than they could imagine or dream. Not only because of my educational credential and my background of equitable career opportunities, but also my personal and life experiences position me to serve in this capacity in an impactful manner. I have quite a bit of experience in management and education therefore my passion is to help other women through their career development and life situations. Because of my love for people and their growth, I feel that I am able to relate to many women on a level that is unparalleled. I aim to encourage, motivate, reach, and rally around those who seek support via Seasons Village, to ensure that they achieve as much as they are able to envision and beyond. Like Seasons Village, I aspire to impact change for single moms.”
Tina Bennefield
“I learned early on in my life the importance of having a space where you are safe to be your authentic self, to be able to dream and strive for a better future in this world. Unfortunately, I have seen too many single mothers lose hope and faith in themselves as they struggle to navigate the complex systems and obstacles placed in front of them by our society. Throughout my work as an educator and leadership development specialist, I have sought to create safe spaces for others to share their unique voice and rediscover their courage to dream, grow and achieve a better future and world for themselves and the communities they live in. Within Season’s Village, I believe we will create a community that empowers single mothers and their children to change the trajectory of their lives and create a more promising future for themselves and future generations.”
Alison Cayton
“Promoting and supporting women who want to pursue and complete an education resonates with me. I believe that an education is a personal benefit that someone can build on for a lifetime. In today’s world every degree, credential or other qualification is a ticket to economic strength and independence. I appreciate the fact that Season’s Village supports the education of mothers who may not otherwise have that opportunity and multiplies that effect by supporting their children as well. It’s extremely exciting to consider the potential for the long-term benefits that the Season’s Village mothers, and their families can experience. Serving Season’s Village is a natural extension of my prior volunteer work in the schools attended by my children and working with children and youth education at my church. I am excited to see the impact of this organization grow to benefit the women served, their children, and our community.”
Melanie Crockett, Co-Founder
“Rather we recognize it or not, most of us have had a village at our back pushing us forward with love and encouragement. To me that is what Season’s Village is all about: loving people where they are and then guiding them to realize their own dreams, for themselves and for their family, through education. I feel like God has given me a gift in this new season of my own life to be involved with such inspiring women. Not only are the mothers and children changing the course of their own lives but they also are making a difference in their communities for generations to come.”
Brandi Gerew
“I came across Seasons Village while looking for nonprofits to bring into my previous bank. I banked over 500 nonprofits, so I spent a lot of time looking at missions and objectives of nonprofits. Seasons Village really resonated with me because of the impact that it can make on its participants and the fact that it can change multiple lives and families going forward. You can help folks out, but if you don’t educate them to help themselves, it’s an endless cycle. I’m honored to be a part of such a wonderful organization!”
India Williams
“As a single mother of three and survivor of domestic violence, I’ve been on a mission to pay forward all the love, support, and encouragement that was poured into me over the years. The mission of Seasons Village perfectly aligns with what I believe is God’s purpose for this season of my life. Empowering single mothers to shift from surviving to thriving will impact generations to come. I consider it to be an honor and my duty to contribute to this mission.”