Our Story

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Debora Colbert - Green serves as our Executive Director of the organization, Microschools and Vice Chair of the Governing Board.  Debora is a wife, mother and grandmother with a passion to see our children's socio-emotional well-being in tact and have the freedom to operate in academic excellence. 

Gwen Payton serves as a Governing Board and Charter Member of the organization and one of our Central and South Phoenix Lead Parent Advocate.  Gwen is a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother with a passion to see our children safe, supported and free to pursue their academic endeavors. 

Janice Varnado serves as Governing Board member and Charter member of the organization. is our West Valley Parent Lead Advocate.  Janice is a wife, mother and grandmother with a passion to see our children treated with dignity, respect and free to pursue academic excellence. 

Pastor Donna Foster serves as a Core Team Member and Leads our Prayer and Wellness Team.  Pastor Foster is a wife, mother and grandmother with a heart for children in Foster Care and has passionately volunteered in Foster Care communities and agencies to make sure these children are socio-emotionally in tact and academically successful. 

 Janelle Wood is the Founder and serves as President/CEO.  Janelle is a wife and mother with a passion to see that all of our Black sons and daughters are free to live in safe and supportive communities. 

Shannon Hayes serves on our Governing Board and Parent Advocacy Lead. Shannon is a mother with a passion to see our Black community gain financial literacy and pursue economic freedom. 

 Juanita R. Williams serves as Leader of the Economic Development Team. She is a mother of two, business entrepreneur, and registered investment adviser representative holding both life insurance and securities licenses (S6, S63, S65, S26) in multiple states including Arizona. She is passionate about empowering women to become financially independent and building financial literacy skills for our youth.

 Da’Naeja Sutton serves as the Executive Assistant. She is an ASU Alumni with a Bachelor's Degree in African/ African American Studies with a concentration on the African Diaspora. Her passion is to protect, uplift, and to consciously heal the Black community through holistic modalities such as Sound Healing meditation and by creating a safe space for all. 

Kylie Chamblee serves as the Education Coordinator for all of our BMF Microschools. Kylie is a mother of two and educator (M.A.Ed.) who has served for almost a decade in many education settings and roles grades K-12. She has a passion of encouraging our children and parents to embrace the power of knowledge and education and dedication to help build a more equitable and just future in education for our children.

 Christina Foster leads our organizational Education programs and also serves as a Core Team member. Christina is a mother with a passion to see our children safe, supported and free to pursue their academic endeavors.