* Click on a picture to learn more about a board member.
Dr. Amina Sillah-Kebbeh has been an integral part of the Jurarim Organization for Youth Excellence (JOYE) since 2013, serving as President from 2017 to 2025. Under her visionary leadership, JOYE expanded its youth empowerment programs and deepened its impact across education, leadership, and community initiatives.
Now serving as President Emeritus and Chair of the Sponsorship Committee, Dr. Sillah-Kebbeh continues to guide JOYE as a trusted advisor and champion for its mission. Her ongoing commitment helps strengthen partnerships and sustain the organization’s capacity to support young changemakers.
An educator, entrepreneur, and international development analyst, Dr. Sillah-Kebbeh brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit management and development policy. She is an active mentor with various organizations and a global advocate for youth development and institutional excellence.
Dr. Sillah-Kebbeh holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Urban Government and a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Management.
Marcy Edwards has been a dedicated volunteer with JOYE since 2015, beginning her service as a Communications Specialist, and later serving as Vice President from 2017 to 2025. She continues to stay involved as Director Emeritus and a member of the Advisory Council, offering guidance and volunteering in any capacity where needed.
With over 27 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, Marcy currently serves as a Billing Systems Specialist at Vyve Broadband. She is deeply passionate about empowering young people through education and mentorship, believing in the power of confidence, opportunity, and perseverance to shape a brighter future for all children.
Ragan Brown, PhD is the Director of Education at JOYE. A professional in the field of Education and Child Development, Dr. Brown, thrives on tapping into the interest of a child, and building on their strengths to help them unlock their potential. She is driven by her passion and purpose to positively impact the lives of children and other educators. Dr. Brown is an educator, author, entrepreneur, and speaker.
With over 15 years of service as an educator, her expertise lies in reading intervention, executive functioning, dyslexia, educator professional development, new teacher support, and self care.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Patholoand Audiology, Master of Business Administration with a Management Concentration and obtained a PhD in Early Childhood Development and Education. Dr. Brown’s research centered around Positive Youth Development.
Sonja Dixon is a visionary Solution Specialist and President of JOYE, known for strategic innovation, leadership coaching, mentorship, and a deep commitment to empowering others. She blends executive leadership with hands-on problem-solving to guide teams and initiatives with precision, empathy, and purpose. With over a decade of experience in Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, and relationship management, Sonja has delivered transformative results for global clients. Her ability to implement impactful solutions has earned her multiple published success stories, over a dozen industry awards and certifications, and Microsoft’s prestigious Platinum Achievers Award—recognizing the top 1% of high-performing sellers.
Her leadership is defined by strategic foresight, inclusive team-building, and a passion for mission-driven work, especially in the nonprofit sector where she advocates for underprivileged youth. Originally from the greater Chicago area, Sonja’s journey reflects resilience and a lifelong dedication to philanthropy and community service. Whether leading multimillion-dollar portfolios or mentoring emerging leaders, she remains focused on creating a better future—one solution, one life, and one opportunity at a time.
Amanda is a litigation attorney who is licensed in Texas and Louisiana. Education and learning have always been her roadmap and path of upward mobility. Amanda was drawn to JOYE because the organization values educating the youth through books, people of diverse backgrounds, and new experiences, which will help them reach their full potential.
She was a college athlete for the University of Texas at Tyler and she earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law. Amanda attends Gracehill Church in Dallas, and she enjoys reading, working out, playing tennis, and pottery. She believes her greatest gifts are her family and friends.
Samantha is a committed Event Coordinator at JOYE, where she channels her passion for community service into organizing impactful events. With a deep commitment to giving back, Samantha finds immense joy in creating opportunities that bring people together and support those in need.
Currently, Samantha Campbell is a dedicated Wellness Coordinator for the Health and Performance team at HUB International, where she has been with the company for five years. In her current role, Samantha helps clients prioritize employee well-being through comprehensive health strategies.
Previously, she was a Community Outreach Manager for a non-profit organization, leading initiatives to improve the health and wellness of children and families through nutrition education, exercise programs, and access to essential healthcare resources.
Lydia Renner has been volunteering for JOYE for the past ten years with dedication and willingness to serve, always supportive and ready to offer kind assistance whenever needed.
As a leader in her career, her philosophy is rooted in integrity, empathy, compassion, professionalism, and a deep sense of responsibility that she uses to contribute to drive the JOYE agenda forward. Her main interest as a JOYE volunteer is to see the organization grow and become successful in impacting the lives of under privileged children and their families.
She is a dynamic Human Resource professional with over 22 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry, contributing to organizational development, management of human and material resources as well as the search for and nurturing of talent. The growth and development of children is not only a passion but a goal that makes her go beyond the confines of her role as an HR professional to support the cause of the welfare of children.
Meet Bakary, a dedicated youth advocate with a deep passion for empowering the next generation. For over a decade, he has been an active volunteer with JOYE Foundation and other non-profit organizations, focusing on youth empowerment, education, career coaching, skill development, and fund raising.
Professionally, Bakary is a Network and Security Administrator at International Investment Bank in Djibouti, bringing over 15 years of experience in the tech industry. He leverages his expertise to partner with various organizations, driving initiatives that equip young people with the skills they need to unlock meaningful employment opportunities or embark on successful entrepreneurial journeys.
Yvonne is a committed Marketing Manager at JOYE with over 15 years of Sales and Marketing experience within the financial services & technology sectors. Her service at JOYE is driven by her passion for empowerment through education for children and women through creating and driving awareness activities for education assistance at JOYE. In her previous non-profit experience, she actively led and drove successful volunteering through high employee engagement and grassroot community collaboration in conscious social responsibility activities within large corporations including Microsoft Corporation, United States and Keystone Bank, Nigeria.
Yvonne has developed a wealth of experience in financial literacy and basic healthcare education for children and women in underserved communities in West Africa. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from the University of Ibadan and a Master’s in business administration (MBA) from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She currently works as a Sales Strategy Manager at Skooleo.
Meet Danielle, Graphic Designer on the JOYE Team! Danielle has had 10+ years working with children as a personal nanny, caregiver, and preschool educator for a 1–5-year-old Early Childhood Development School Program. There she was educated in childhood psychology and the importance of the early stages of the foundation of each individual.
Danielle, as an Attendant at The Stone Fort Museum, has participated in educational tours for school programs & volunteered with community involvement in organizing, serving, & monitoring kid-friendly events, such as the Big Read of Nacogdoches (Tx-Oct.21/22) & the 2021 Poetry Slam Event Feat. African Poet, Qui Qarre, & the 2022 Hatch Chile Cook-Off.
Danielle graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, top of her class, in Technical Design (Costume/Set Design) & Minoring in Family Development & Consumer Sciences. Danielle seeks to Design for Change & is reaching that goal in collaboration with JOYE, as she combines her compassion for children and community outreach programs with her experience and talents in design.
Mariama Sagna is a seasoned Project Coordinator with expertise in process improvement and project management. She brings a strategic mindset and a heart for service to her volunteer work with the Jurarim Organization for Youth Excellence (JOYE), a nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth in underdeveloped communities through education, clean water, and nutrition.
Originally from Senegal, Mariama spent many of her childhood summers in The Gambia, where half of her extended family lives. These formative experiences instilled in her a deep understanding of the challenges faced by underserved communities and a commitment to philanthropy.
Through her work with JOYE, Mariama combines her professional skills with her passion for social impact, helping to advance initiatives that have already reached over 1,000 students and provided clean water to tens of thousands of residents. She is proud to be part of a movement that is creating lasting changes and brighter futures for children across the region.
Aracely Nava (Chelly) is a dedicated Volunteer Relationship Manager with a strong background in hospitality, customer service, and organizational support. She brings years of experience as an executive assistant, cosmetologist and artist where she developed a talent for building meaningful relationships, managing complex schedules, and creating seamless client experiences.
A Dallas native, Chelly has always been passionate about connecting with people and uplifting her community. Her work in both the public and private sectors has given her a unique perspective on the importance of service, teamwork, and compassionate leadership.
In her role with the Jurarim Organization for Youth Excellence, Chelly is excited to harness her people-first approach to strengthen volunteer engagement and ensure that every supporter feels valued and empowered. She is proud to contribute to JOYE’s mission of expanding educational opportunities, clean water access, and nutrition to underserved communities, helping create lasting change for children and families.
