Chris Jones was born and raised in Southeastern San Diego. Chris created the Young And Prosperous Foundation in 2009 to make sure he continued to support and stayed connected to the needs of the community. Chris began his law enforcement career with the Atlanta Police Department before moving back to San Diego to become a police officer with the San Diego Police Department in 2014. Currently, Officer Jones is Community Resource Officer for Southeastern Division. Chris is a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc as well as a 2022 Rise San Diego Urban Leadership Fellow. Awards and Honors: 2025: Black Leaders of Influence Award 2025: CEO of the Year Finalist 2024: Unsung Hero Award 2023: Advancement In Civil Rights Award 2022: Community Social Action Award 2021: National S.J. Dilenschneider Community Award (Scripps Howard Foundation) 2021: San Diego Jewish Academy Community Service Award 2020: 10 News Leadership Award 2020: African American Educator Award

Ana Diaz-Pina has born in Southeast San Diego. Ana started her law enforcement career in 2005 and was promoted to supervisor in 2021. Ana holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership Management. Ana started working with the Young and Prosperous Foundation in 2020 to help provided students in the community of City Heights an outlet during the Covid 19 pandemic. As the director of sport for YAP, Ana has been successful in starting our free youth soccer and futsal teams at Colina Park. Ana has grown the program from 6 students to over 25 students that continuous participate in our weekly soccer training and monthly tournaments. FC_YAP club has won futsal championships in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Tamara Allen-Muhammad is San Diego native who is an enthusiastic educator and advocate for children. She has a talent for uplifting youth and their parents as both an educator and mentor. Tamara has had over twenty-five years of teaching experience within the urban areas of San Diego. As a graduate of the University of San Diego and hold a Master’s degree from National University. Tamara has maintained her level of educational growth in order to better support the community that she cares so much about. In the spring of 2022, Tamara was blessed to become a member of the Finer Women of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. It is through the Sisterhood of Zeta that Tamara has grown to become Finder in everything she does. Tamara is also the Vice Chair of Rise Urban Leadership and on the board of the Association of African American Educators. Tamara specializes in advocating for equity for all who are historically under-represented.

Dacia Madden Russell was born and raised in the city of San Diego. She is the mother of six wonderful young adults, one of whom has gone through the YAP program and is currently studying at Xavier University in Louisiana. Dacia has over 25 years of experience working with the young people of Southeast San Diego through VP Football & Cheer, Lincoln Cheer, and various religious groups. Young people are her love and passion. With her momma bear mentality, there is nothing too hard or too great to accomplish for her YAP babies. Currently, she serves in a dual role as Middle School Liaison and Fundraising Coordinator. Reaching and tapping into the minds of middle schoolers is vital to setting them on the path to college.

Joana was born and raised in San Diego, CA, and is an alumna of Lincoln High School. After high school, she continued her education at San Diego Mesa College before transferring to Texas Southern University in Houston, TX. For the past 10 years, Joana has been dedicated to serving the community of Southeast San Diego and mentoring students across the county of San Diego. Joana has been a mentor with the Young and Prosperous Foundation for 4 years. Joana firmly believes that all students can achieve their dreams if they believe in themselves, focus their efforts, and work hard. With determination and perseverance, they can succeed in anything life offers them.

Cheryl Carr is a dedicated middle school English teacher with nearly 20 years of experience serving traditionally underserved students. She has developed curriculum, assessed student progress, and guided families in academic planning. She holds a BA in Political Science from North Carolina A&T State University and an M.Ed. in Cross-Cultural Teaching from National University. A 2015 Stanford Hollyhock Fellow, Cheryl continues refining her craft through ongoing education, including workshops with the San Diego Area Writing Project and GATE certification from SDSU.

Hope, a San Diego native, is a dedicated mother, mentor, and community advocate with a heart for service. She holds a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from San Diego State University with an emphasis in Social Work, Psychology, and Special Education, and earned her Master’s in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University. A proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (Mu Sigma Zeta Chapter) since 2008 and the Order of the Eastern Star since 2003 (Ruth Chapter #11), Hope has devoted over two decades to supporting at-risk youth in the San Diego Unified School District. She currently serves as a Wellness Center Coordinator. Deeply rooted in community service, Hope holds numerous leadership roles including Scholarship Chair, NPHC Secretary, and Grand Supervisor of Youth. She is also a driving force behind local youth initiatives and community outreach projects. With a vision to one day establish a transition center for foster youth, she remains committed to providing resources, guidance, and hope for young people navigating life's challenges. Her greatest joy is being a positive role model for her daughter, a Hampton University student also active in community work.

Human Resources Professional with 25 years of progressive experience in human resources management and currently is a Sr. Talent Acquisition Consultant at Sharp HealthCare. He has served in various leadership roles such as Former Vice President of membership for SD County Black Chamber of Commerce and Member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Former President , Vice President, and Treasurer of Omicron Iota Sigma and Current President of Lambda Iota Sigma Chapter and Collegiate advisor for San Diego State University- Lambda Iota Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Cecil served 20+ years as Youth and High Scholl football coach @ Balboa and Mt. Helix Youth Football organizations, Crawford & Lincoln High School. A 2018 Father of the Year recipient, Employee of the Year for National Bankcard Association. Graduate of University of Phoenix and San Diego State University Majoring in Business and Human Resource Management.

School Office Administrator with strong expertise in customer service, communication, and problem-solving. With a background that includes Medical Assistant Training and customer service training, Jurutha excels at managing time efficiently while supporting teamwork and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations in an educational environment. Beyond work, in her spare time she loves hiking, plants, animals, and crocheting, bringing a well-rounded and compassionate perspective to her professional role.