Meet Our Staff

*Better Family Life's Youth Department has assembled a faculty of leading educators who have diverse teaching styles but a communal goal: to impact student engagement and develop leaders within the community. We strive to create an environment that encourage youth who are willing and able to be their best selves possible. Our entire staff is committed to fostering a dynamic, passionate learning environment where every child is valued, challenged, loved, and nurtured.

MEET OUR BELOVED STAFF BELOW
​*Click on photos to read some bios*

Miranda D. Jones

Erica J. Driver

Vice President of Youth, Family & Clinical Services

Sr. Director of Youth, Family Services & Compliance

Vivian Watt

Director of Arts & Education

Marquette King-Connor

Director of Family & Wellness

Terrance Cauley

Director of 21st Century Afterschool

Joy Camp

Director of Clinical Services

Gerald Q. Jones

Making Proud Choices (MPC) Program Lead

Gerald Q. Jones is the Youth Prevention Lead for Making Proud Choices at Better Family Life.

Michelle Bowie

Promoting Health Among Teens (PHAT-AO) Program Lead | 14 years

Michelle Patton Bowie, Born in St. Louis, MO; she attended St. Louis Public Schools and is a graduate of Northwest High School.  Michelle has an Associate’s Degree in Human Services from Florissant Valley Community College with additional credits towards her Bachelor’s Degree from Fontbonne University. Mrs. Bowie has over 10 years’ experience teaching in the public school system in St. Louis City and County including working in the St. Louis County Special School District. 

Vernon Scott

 Job Developer | 9 years

Vernon ‘ Bishop V-Luv ‘ Scott is from St. Louis, Missouri where he graduated from Affton High School and attended Forest Park Community College. Vernon currently works as a Job Developer and Community Specialist at Better Family Life and has been a part of the Youth Department team for 16 years. Vernon first started at Better Family Life as a volunteer (DJing events for 6 years) and later became an employee at Better Family Life back in 2010. Vernon teaches each one that adversity is a small thing to a giant; they can overcome it. President of Thro-Down DJ Service, Community Outreach Coordinator for Derrty DJs, A proud Brother of the Great Lodge of John P. Parr #8 F.& A.M. and Vice President St. Louis Drifters Motorcycle Club. 
​"I am motivated and committed to awarding ordinary youth for extraordinary things. I am determined to catch those children that would fall through the cracks and help them to make life-affirming choices. I am proof that one person can make a difference in the life of a child." 

Samantha Madison

Performing Arts Coordinator| 6 years

Samantha Madison is a Youth Prevention Educator at Better Family Life.

Valli McElroy

21st Century Program Coordinator | 5 years

Valli McElroy is a Youth Specialist and Teen Pregnancy Prevention Educator. She was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee where she attended Melrose High school. After high school, Valli attended Sanford Brown and Fontbonne University where she received her Associate Degree of Science -Fashion Merchandising. She has been with the company Better Family Life for over five years. My passion is being able to provide alternatives for the children, help them grow within themselves by changeling there mind. I serve the youth by being there when they need me the most. (Just being a comfort for them as well as their parents.) I provide solutions to the problem as well as understanding to what the 21st century program can offer and how we as a family can work together to better serve our youth.

Valli coordinates the 21st Century after-school Cheerleading program and created/conducts the Annual cheerleading competition showcase. Valli is very involved in the fashion industry as she does freelance modeling, she’s a designer and a modeling coach. 

Gonz Jove

 Artistic Coordinator | 5 years

Gonzalo “Gonz” Jove, BA Art, is a celebrated and internationally-known muralist whose works have been displayed in numerous locations including Southern Illinois University’s Art & Design Building, the St. Louis Art Museum, universities and other locations in Bolivia, where Jove was born. His recent project fills the entryway of Better Family Life (BFL) Community Center in St. Louis. Gonz spent 2 ½ years researching and creating a 95-feet-long painting, Missouri’s largest African American history mural. 

Gonz also has a passion for helping develop youth, he really enjoyed working in the 21st Century Program at Normandy Middle school for the last five and half years. 

Melody Nelson

 Office Manager | 3 years

Melody Nelson, Office Manager at Better Family Life.

Sharnell Sharp - Browder

 Marketing | 3 years

Sharnell Sharp-Browder, born and raised in St. Louis, MO., graduated from Normandy High School in 2007. After high school, she attended the University of Missouri-St. Louis to study Media Studies in radio broadcasting with a minor in Marketing. In 2016, Sharnell joined Better Family Life as a Teen Pregnancy Prevention educator with an emphasis on marketing and coordinating events. She implements evidence based interventions in middle and high schools and community based settings in St. Louis and surrounding cities. Sharnell has been trained to teach evidence based curriculums such as Making Proud Choices, Promoting Health Among Teens and Sisters Saving Sisters. Sharnell is currently the program lead for Sisters Saving Sisters and the Marketing Coordinator for the Youth, Families and Clinical Services Department.

When she is not working, she spends a majority of her time traveling with her husband, spending time with family and mentoring.

ReNeaSha Ford

Prevention Educator | 2 years

ReNeaSha Ford, born and raised in Saint Louis, MO., graduated from Soldan International Studies High School in 2010. After high school, she attended the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where she completed her bachelor’s degree in Asian Languages and Literature with a focus on Chinese and a minor in Family Social Science. ReNeaSha returned to Saint Louis to further her education at Saint Louis University where she completed her master’s in Public Health in 2017.
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Shortly after graduating, ReNeaSha joined Better Family Life as a Teen Pregnancy Prevention Educator for middle and high schools students. "Teaching sexual health has been a dream of mine since I was a peer sexual health educator in school. I noticed early on in my high school career the number of my peers were pregnant or already had children. Growing up I was taught that knowledge is power so I believe we should empower our youth by giving them all the information so that they can make an informed decision."

​When ReNeaSha is not working, she's traveling, working out, meditating, reading, yoga, and binge watching TV shows.  

Jennifer Watt

Prevention Educator | 1 year

Jennifer Watt was born and raised in the city of St. Louis and graduated from McClure North High School in 2013. After high school, Jennifer attended and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff with a ​Bachelor's Degree in Psychology.

Jennifer started as an intern at Better Family Life in 2015. After graduating in May 2018, Jennifer joined the Youth Department as a full-time case manager and youth specialist. At the age of 13, Jennifer wanted to serve kids in our community. Jennifer currently mentors an all-girls group called "Girl Power" with the wide age range of 6-18.  "I believe our African-American children deserve the same opportunities as anybody else, and it is our job to help guide them in the right direction."

Her goal is to make a difference in at least one child's life.

Dana Morgan

 Prevention Educator | 1 year

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​Dana Morgan is currently working at Better Family Life as a Youth Educator. He came to Better Family life after serving as a Basketball Coach for the past 15 years. Dana attended Tennessee State University and graduated with a Degree in Business Administration. "My passion for serving youth in the community is to ensure they can achieve and live the best life possible."

Simona Charles

 Job and Training Coordinator | 1 year

Simona J Charles, MSW, BBM is a member of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation located in Owyhee, Nevada. Simona received her Masters of Social Work with a concentration in children, youth and family from the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University located in St. Louis, MO. Simona completed her undergraduate degree with Bachelors in Business Administration with an emphasis in management from Haskell Indian Nations University.
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Before Simona became a full-time employee for Better Family Life, Inc. (BFL, Inc.). Simona served as one of our practicum students for a year. Working directly with Community Outreach, BFL, Inc. Entrepreneur Program, and completing research for our Housing department. Simona currently serves as our Job and Training Coordinator for our Youth, Family, and Clinical Department. As a social worker Simona serves as one of our educators teaching Evidence-Based Curriculum’s in our St. Louis Public School Districts, while also providing case management, individual, and group counseling. During Simona’s down time she enjoys traveling, being a gifted designer, licensed Zumba instructor, public speaker, activist, educator, volunteer, event coordinator, mother, grandmother, and active alumni of Gamma Delta Pi.

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow from our children.” (Chief Seattle.1852) 

Troy Jones

Prevention Educator | 1 year

Troy Jones currently works for Better Family Life’s Youth department as an Prevention Educator and Youth Specialist. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Troy graduated from University City Senior High School and continued his education in Marshall, Missouri at Missouri Valley College. Troy graduated and obtained his Bachelor Degree in Mass Communications with a minor in public relations. "I’ve been with the BFL youth department for under a year, but my passion for impacting my community and the youth goes back several years. I personally want to see a change in the relation between the youth and adults that see them as the issue and vice versa." Troy is a freelance photographer and videographer, who enjoys to meet and interact with all shades of life.  

Tyrikk Blanks

 Youth Specialist | 1 year

Tyrikk Blanks was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. and attended Affton High School. Tyrikk has been with the Youth Department for less than one year and is currently a Youth Clinical/Counselor. With a God given gift of clairvoyance and studies in Human behavior, it enables him to assess and counsel lifestyle decisions and relationships.  The passion he has for the “At Risk” youth and the community comes from his desire to assist youth who are overcoming the systematic arrangements that keeps neighborhoods plagued with hopelessness.  In addition, Tyrikk actively participates in restoring moral dignitaries within the community relations to amend the detrimental activities he (himself) once perpetuated.

Daja Miller

 Prevention Educator | 1 year

​Daja Miller was born in Norfolk, Virginia, however, her and her family moved back to Saint Louis, Missouri where she was raised. Daja has been working for Better Family Life since 2015 as a summer camp counselor and after graduating college she joined our team as a full-time youth specialist. She is recent graduate of Alabama A&M University with a bachelors degree in psychology.
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​Daja loves working with the youth. She hopes to make a difference or leave a good impact on as many of them as she can. 

Candace Brown

 Clinical & Prevention Educator | 1 year

Candace Brown is a Prevention Educator within the Youth Department at Better Family Life who teaches evidence-based curriculum to youth within the St. Louis Public School District. She also provides individual and group therapy. Candace was born and raised in Ferguson, Missouri and completed her elementary years in Ferguson; later moving to Hazelwood. Candace graduated from Hazelwood Central High School and received her Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies/International Human Rights from Webster University, with a Paralegal Certificate. She worked for a legal non-profit organization for 2 years before attending the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University, where she received her Master’s in Social Work.

Candace has 5 years of experience working with at-risk populations within legal and nonprofit settings. "I am passionate about supporting under-served communities by meeting their holistic needs. I believe in the importance of providing culturally-responsive and evidence-based social work practice to empower and strengthen families and communities. Keen to the systemic issues that our communities face, I believe it takes a village to raise a family, and Better Family Life encourages a safe and healthy environment for youth and families by providing holistic support services to promote positive changes in our communities."

Chris Taylor

 Prevention Educator | Less than 1 year

Christopher O.C Taylor a Youth Specialist and Sport Coordinator for Better Family Life's Youth Department. Born and raised in St. Louis, whom graduated from Parkway South Sr High, and continued his education at Missouri State University Majoring in Sport Management (B.S.). I've worked with Better family life for a decade now, with volunteering and part time work in the youth department. Just recently in 2019, Aug. I've have been working full time and still volunteering at different events. For our youth I've developed a strong passion for volunteering and helping develop the youths minds in many ways. A special interest of mine are sports, I've played all sports all my life and actually got a scholarship for Track and Field for college doing all sprinting events specialising in the 4x400, open 400 and 4x200m race.  I've also did a lot of community service work in membership with the New Black Panther Party St. Louis and Seattle Chapter. 

Seriah Watt

 Prevention Educator | Less than 1 year

Tanshanee Cole

 Prevention Educator | Less than 1 year

Tanshanee Cole is a Youth Specialist and Teen Pregnancy Prevention Educator specializing in Promoting Health Among Teens (PHAT). She was born in Saint Louis, MO. After high school, she attended the University of Missouri – St. Louis to obtain her Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. Tanshanee started working at Better Family Life in 2019, but has assisted with the Teen Empowerment Rally and Summer Employment Program a year prior to becoming an employee.
 
"Being raised in St. Louis, I have witnessed the traumatic effects of violence and injustice in our community such as the killing of Mike Brown in Ferguson, Darren Wilson's lack of indictment and the protests and unrest that followed. These types of experiences have shaped the way we view society as a whole and caused a demand for change and reform. By learning and understanding the systems that allowed this injustice and issues to propel, I committed my time and efforts to helping those in my community  receive hope by way of education and planning a route to success." Working with the St. Louis Job Corps, she has helped underserved youth find employment, mentorship and housing. Volunteering her time to homeless shelters, she is committed to being in the community's doorstep to promote change. "Being with Better Family Life, I am surrounded by a group of people with the passion to help and commitment to the community we serve. The culture of Better Family Life has opened doors for so many and I am proud to be apart of such a great organization."