Our Team

Christina Yaya, President – Alec’s mom (3), Community Outreach Coordinator for Westside Homeless Prevention. Development & Fundraising professional with over 16 years of experience working for various Houston non-profits.

Melissa Dominick – Bennett’s mom (10 months), relocated to Houston, TX January 2014. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at Texas Children's Hospital and previously worked at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio for 16 years.

William Dominick – Bennett’s dad (10 months), relocated to Houston, TX January 2014. Sales Executive for the Lubrizol Corporation with an MBA in Finance. Previous non-profit experience included 8 years of board participation with the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Terri Higgins – Emily’s mom (28), elementary special needs paraprofessional for 20 years, administrative assistant and accounting clerk for 8 years, and a stay at home mom for three daughters (11 years).

Emily Higgins – 28 year old self advocate with Down syndrome. Emily is employed at Celebration Company where she creates art that is transformed into note cards, calendars and gift bags. She also cuts beeswax for custom made candles. In addition she is an intern with a pre-school class at the Jewish Community Center and she volunteers at Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast.

 

Monique Johnson-Garner, MA – Marley’s mom (7), HISD Strategic Partnership Liaison working with internal and external partners on behalf of the district to identify, engage, and integrate resources to support schools, students and their families to increase student achievement.

Sabita Kamnani – Gunitaa’s sister (22), dedicated sister mother to one young son and former early childhood educator.

Christina Klahn – Michael’s sister (34), registered nurse, owner/photographer Twinflower Photography LLC, and PTA assistant Treasurer 2014-2015 and 2015-2016

Katie McConnell, MA – COO, Children at Risk, with 15 years of experience in education, research, and advocacy.

Millicent Moelhman - Alex's mom (7), Account Executive at TransUnion, with over 15 years of experience volunteering for various Houston non-profits and an active volunteer for Spring Branch Independent School District.

Tenyse Tasby - Adapted Physical Education teacher, Special Olympics coach. With over 13 years of experience as an educator and 7 of those years working with special needs individuals.

Shruti Varadarajan, MD – Assistant Professor, Family Physician and Director of Quality with Baylor College of Medicine in the Department of Community and Family Medicine, advocate for at risk families and dedicated wife & mother of two children ages 5 and 7.