MEET THE TEAM
“People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
-Theodore Roosevelt
Martina Dailey, LMSW
FoundeR/Board President
- Licensed Social Worker in the State of Alabama
- Master of Social Work from the University of Alabama
- Bachelor of Social Work from UAB; Associates in Applied Sciences degree from Lawson State Community College Birmingham
- Graduate of the Operation Hope Entrepreneurial Training Program
- Generalist social worker with professional experience in various sectors of the social work profession, including Therapeutic Foster Care, Adolescence substance use, Nephrology and women substance use
- Martina’s desire to open and operate New Awakening is birthed out of seeing a need in the community, her family’s generational history of addiction and personal trauma that she has experienced
CIara mitchell, RD
Board Vice President/Treasurer
- Registered BioNutrition Research Dietitian
- Master of Arts degree in health studies at University of Alabama; Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Alabama
- Currently pursuing Doctor of Philosophy degree in health education and promotion with a concentration in nutrition
ashley M. Stringer, LICSW, PIP
BOARD assistant secretary
- Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
- Master of Social Work degree from the University of Alabama; Bachelor of Social Work degree from UAB
- Over 9 years experience in the social service field, specializing in mental & behavioral health, foster families and trauma informed care
- Has served as a field instructor throughout her social work career and is passionate about shaping the next generation of social workers
Toi thornton
Board Member
- Co-host of Good Day Alabama; Extra and Traffic Anchor for Good Day Alabama
- Graduate from Dillard University with a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Broadcast Journalism
- Master of Arts Degree in News Media Journalism
- Currently a Ph.D. student at Liberty University
- Previously taught journalism as an Adjunct Professor at Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL.
- Currently serves as the Public Relations Director for the International AIM Convention of the Church of God in Christ
- Creator and Host of a web show and Podcast within the WBRC Network called, Undisclosed Trauma with Toi Thornton
- Member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated, the National Association of Black Journalists, and the Rotaract Club of Birmingham
- Board Member for youth organization, Ignite Foundation
- Affiliated with the Restoration Academy Advisory Council
tangie m. macon, LICSW, PIP
Business Partner
- Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
- Master of Social Work from Alabama A&M University
- Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (minor in Psychology) from UAB
- Clinical Therapist experience with Work in Progress Counseling Services, LLC
- Previously worked as a Clinical Social Worker at Cooper Green Mercy Hospital for 14 years
- Currently employed at the Birmingham Veterans Administration Hospital as a Clinical Social Worker for the past 10 years
- Currently work as a Clinical Therapist at Willow Grace Wellness in Birmingham, AL
Judge Maria fortune
Court liaison
- Received her B.S. from the University of Northern Colorado and Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver College of law
- Serves as a District Judge in the criminal division
- Prior to taking the bench, she had her own law practice, specializing in a variety of areas of law
- Previously served the citizens of Jefferson County as a Special Circuit Court Judge in Family and Criminal Court
- Member of the Alabama State Bar, Colorado State Bar, Washington DC State Bar, the Women’s Lawyers Section, and the Criminal Justice Section of the Birmingham Bar Association
- Currently the presiding Judge for the Drug Court program in Jefferson County, Birmingham Division
Feleciana Williams
Program Assistant
- Graduated from x-ray school at Carraway Hospital in Birmingham, AL
- Certified and registered as a Radiologic Technologist at the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists
- She is an advocate for community and organizational initiatives that promotes quality health care for disadvantaged groups
- Currently employed at The Kirkland Clinic, specializing in conducting mammograms and other x-rays
Evangelist Barbara Ross
Peer mentor
- Is the founder of a ministry: Faith, Fashion, and Finance; the Owner of Unique Boutique
- Is a licensed and ordained minister and a teacher and preacher of the Gospel
- Has over 20 years of recovery
- Has volunteer experience of with speaking at various women’s shelters, offering hope, encouragement and motivation to members of the community
- Author of “The Presence of Peace”
Danielle Square, RN
Health Educator
- Over 10 years of nursing experience
- Graduated from Wallace Community College Selma with her Licensed Practical of Nursing in 2010 and Associate Degree in Nursing from Wallace Community College Selma in 2015
- She has worked in the nursing homes and hospitals in the Black Belt area caring for the community
- Now she serves as the Director of Nursing at Montgomery Women’s Facility in Montgomery, AL
Cynthia Ward
spiritual life coach
- Bachelor of Science in Education from Tuskegee University
- Master of Education from The University of Alabama at Birmingham
- She has a calling to inspire, uplift, encourage and serve others
- She has inspired others through teaching, volunteering, acting and playwriting
- Author of a children’s book, titled “God Hears Me”
- She has a parenting program called “Parenting on Purpose”
- Currently a Parent and Childbirth Educator with Birmingham Healthy Start Plus, Inc.
brenda Bush
peer mentor
- Over 5 years of recovery
- Graduate of WorkFaith Birmingham Job Readiness Program
- Previous work experience includes providing personal mentoring, coaching and advocacy for members of the recovering community
Melissa Powe
Community connections advisor
- Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resource Management from Faulkner University
- Master of Biblical Counseling from Andersonville Theological Seminary on Albany, GA
- Has extensive experience volunteering with local community organizations helping others, building relationships, being a resource for those in need and networking
mARIA hATCH
COMMUNITY OUTREACH SPECIALIST
- Business of Administrative Management Degree from Virginia College
- Founder of Maria’s Women Health and Wellness
- Member of the Order of Eastern Star
- President/Head chaperone for Fairfield band
- Active member in the community, with volunteer experience in feeding the homeless, community clean up, back to school, and with senior citizens
- Currently a Certified Community Health Resource Worker
samantha houston
Peer mentor
- 4 years of recovery
- Recovery advocate, peer mentor and peer innovator
- Internship Supervisor, training individuals to be a Certified Recovery Support Specialist
gwarmekia sturdivant
Teens & young women’s mentor
- The author of 10 inspirational and motivational books, including I’m not Kissing the Frogs, Alter Call, Colors, Shapes and Sizes
- She is driven by her passion to be a vessel for God’s use as she mentors and motivates the youth and young women
- She has previous volunteer experience as a Bible school teacher and reading to children at the Boys & Girls Club
- Her goals are to reach teen girls and young adults by giving them honest feedback from life challenges and helping them learn from those experiences and challenges
AMBER UNDERWOOD, msw
RECOVERY EDUCATOR
- Master of Social Work Degree from the University of Alabama
- Bachelor of Social Work Degree from the University of Alabama
- Professional experience includes mentoring young girls and counseling women with substance use disorders
- A trailblazer for individuals to be empowered to embrace their God-given identity so they can fulfill life’s purpose and become their best whole self
- An author, businesswoman, and social servant involved in a variety of community initiatives
- She enjoys drinking coffee, reading books, camping out in local coffee shops, growing through life lessons, and traveling globally