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Who We Are
We are dedicated to helping people who are returning to our communities with disadvantages and in need of assistance and services to start a new life.
Our mission is to provide resources and services that enable them to gain employment and live lives that are fulfilling and free.
LaNeika R. Johnson is a devoted mother to a set of phenomenal twin girls. She’s an Entrepreneur, an International Best-Selling Author, a United States Army Iraq war veteran, a Forbes Black member, and most importantly a Woman of God.
After serving in the United States Army/Army Reserves for nine years, she focused on education and entrepreneurship. She has an Associates degree in Business Administration, Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, and Christian Counseling, and she has completed most of her coursework for her Master's in Business Administration. She is a co-founder of Alpha Delta Omega Military Sorority, INC, and also an active founding member of The National Black Association of Military Woman Dallas Chapter.
LaNeika owns her own Mobile Tax Preparation Business, Real Estate Investing Company, Virtual Mortgage Loan Officer, and Credit Restoration company and she is preparing to launch her own Legal Document Preparation business.
Her hobbies include volunteering for/ with veteran and community organizations, church, reading, listening to audiobooks, cooking healthy meals, working out, and traveling the world!
AGAINST ALL ODDS
The brief 10 year bio of a success! Started from the BOTTOM now I’m here!
Demarco Hawkins is a resident of the city of Detroit, MI. He has been involved in many civic and religious based organizations for over three decades. His work in Community Based Services which offered vocational programs for those with mental/intellectual and physical disabilities has given him a passion to help others. As a motivation to others he makes it his business to encourage everyone to smile knowing that after difficulty comes ease! Mr. Hawkins is the owner of J. Odessa LLC and Supreme Environmental Services, as a licensed asbestos abater, Inspector and supervisor, Licensed supervisor for lead abatement and a Property preservation contractor.
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He currently serves as an assistant minister, Chairman of a Non-profit organization and Senior adviser and Executive Director of Helping Hands Community Centers 1 an organization which offers services and assistance to disadvantaged citizens. All of his business entities have a vested interest in providing a service and program to the community. Demarco enjoys dedicating his time as a volunteer at the Michigan Reformatory Prison which has been truly rewarding. His plate stays full as a property owner in the city of Detroit. It is a determined goal to make his community a clean, safe and decent place to live. With an immediate goal to address and rid the any community of the hazards relating to blight, compromised infrastructures, unacceptable water and air quality. As stated above; His passion is serving those who need a helping hand to self-improvement which is the bases for community development.
Demarco Hawkins
Executive Director
Our Board of Directors
Rochelle Morton
Board Member
Rochelle M. Morton is a certified project management professional with over 15 years of project management experience. Morton possesses a diverse background in the project management and consulting fields supporting various health insurance, energy, automobile insurance, automobile manufacturing, and laboratory testing industries. Most recently, her professional experience has been focused on the successful implementation of multi-million-dollar projects supporting BCBSM, BCN, Senior Health Services, Network Management, Federal Employees Program, and Care Management programs.
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Rochelle Morton graduated Cum Laude in December 2015 from Northwood University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Morton obtained her certification in project management in 2004 from the Great Lakes chapter of Project Management Institute. She is also a very proud graduate of the Detroit Regional Chamber Foundation’s Leadership Detroit XLI. Morton serves as one of five members of the board of directors for Detroit Edison Public School Academy, and Northeast Integrated Health. She also served as a chair of the State Public Affairs Committee as well as the Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence sub-committee for the Junior League of Detroit. Morton also partnered with Damsel in Defense, where she holds the title of Director with a national team of over 100 Independent Damsel Pros.
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As a concerned resident for the state of Michigan, and an advocate for personal protection, Morton is a director with Damsel in Defense as an independent consultant and is aggressively partnering with the state’s legislative body to amend laws that restrict access to non-lethal options for personal protection. After 3.5 years of advocacy in Lansing, Morton’s pepper spray bill (HB 5220) to increase the oleoresin capsicum content to 18% was approved by the state legislators and signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder on April 3, 2018. Her legislative advocacy now focuses on her current bill (HB 4020) which will allow residents access to non lethal stun devices for personal protection. The bill was passed by the Lansing House of Representatives in January of 2020 but was stalled in the Senate during last year’s term. Morton’s passion for her city is also allowing her to volunteer as the project manager supporting a community development initiative with a focus on making the community a clean, decent, and saft place to live. Morton is the proud mother of 3 children, Lauryn, Aaron, and Evan.
Robert Olives
Board Member
The Founder and Executive Director of Righteous Sons, Robert Olive was born and raised on the Eastside of Detroit. He graduated from Central High School and went on to continue his education at Wayne State University, to obtain two Associate degrees. Although Robert has these major achievements, he experienced a setback, going to prison. While incarcerated, he thought about the problems that black and brown males experienced while in prison and hearing stories from persons that had returned to prison, due to lack of support when they got out. Upon Robert's release, he experienced those same issues of gaining employment, which came as no easy task, considering his criminal record. When Robert was released from prison, he noticed that there were many contributing factors as to why people choose a life a crime, then the opposite. While he was seeing the negatives in black and brown communities, he was also figuring out solutions that could help. Along Roberts positive journey of change, he had the vision to create Righteous Sons. An organization that would be a support to the community and for those who don't feel like they fit in or are misplaced within their community and personally. In 2018, before Righteous Sons became a fully accredited organization, Robert led Righteous Sons as part of the Judge Mathis Water Caravan Team. An event where individuals from Detroit teamed up with community leaders in Flint and distributed 10,000 cases of water for Flint residents.
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Robert created the first department within Righteous Sons, named Criminal Justice Reform, which has assisted 87 people successfully complete parole in the last four years. These individuals are still living reformed, positive, and productive lives today. Roberts vision for Righteous Sons was an organization that offered assistance for many issues that plague our communities, and to create a one stop shop of wrap around services for those that seek our services but may lack transportation. Righteous Sons is an organization that believes that to rebuild the community, we must first start with the person. Along his journey, of becoming a Mentor and a positive contributor of the community, Robert Olive recently became the President of the SCLC-Detroit, Michigan chapter. Their focus is aligned with the vision that Robert has for Righteous Sons, and together a difference can be made.
Claretha Peace Bell
Board Member
Claretha Peace Bell better known as PEACE in the Artist Community is a National Spoken Word Artist,Event Organizer and Community Activist that has been bridging arts ,culture and social consciousness in Detroit since 2008. Amidst a decade of competitive wins and world performances she prides her workings for the City of Detroit as a Community Liaison for the Late, Great Councilman Kwame Kenyatta. PEACE was an intricate part of the Councilman’s 40 school "P.R.I.D.E. Tour" & the "Ceasefire Initiative”spearheaded by radio personality and former Wayne County Commissioner Reggie Reg Davis.
PEACE has merged her knowledge of community relations and passion for literary education to produce socially conscious community events and workshops.
This poets’ poet is currently a writer-in- residence for Inside Out Literary Arts Project and City Wide Poets. She also facilitates leadership and social emotional learning for New York Times listed “Pretty Brown Girls”. PEACE is the curator of Open Mind Mic Series in Downtown Detroit.
LaNeika Johnson
Board Member