For Ella’s Sake
Ella Josephine Baker was an integral leader in the Civil Rights Movement, organizing and mentoring hundreds of young people. Often a powerful behind-the-scenes advisor to close colleagues like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Ella Baker believed in shared leadership and encouraged young people to find and lift their own voices. She understood the need for hard, daily, persistent work, and was an institution builder.
Today, Children’s Defense Fund honors Ella’s legacy and her lessons through our Ella Baker Child Policy Institute, through which more than 15,000 college students and recent graduates have been trained by the Ella Baker Trainers to deliver the Integrated Reading Curriculum (IRC) and to make learning fun for children.
EBTs and the Power of the I.R.C.
Meet our 2023 Ella Baker Trainers
Where Are They Now?
Tiffany Davis
Tiffany Davis, M. LD, SHRM-CP holds a bachelor’s degree in strategic and Organizational Communication from Temple University and a master’s degree in Leadership Development from Pennsylvania State University. Professionally, Tiffany, is the Director of Learning and Development in healthcare working to develop and support clinical and operational teams through her expertise in leadership coaching, team development, employment engagement, succession planning, and change management. Tiffany wanted to use her skills in organizational development, training, and coaching to properly prepare young girls to be leaders in the home, school, and community. Tiffany created SHE, Inc. and passionately serves as the Co-founder and Executive Director of Securing HER Experience, Inc. (SHE, Inc.) Tiffany responsibility is growth, quality, and sustainability of SHE, Inc.’s programming both financially and the overall girl experience. SHE, Inc. has built a sense of sisterhood, accountability, and community amongst the girls and their parents/guardians. Since the inception of SHE, Inc.’s Tiffany along with her team has been able to provide services to girls from the Philadelphia and Montgomery County communities.
Rashida Ford
Rashida Ford, serves as the founder and Executive Director of P.O.P. Inc. With over 15 years of experience in youth leadership and development, Rashida has demonstrated an unyielding enthusiasm towards developing youth through high quality, purpose-driven programming. At an early age, Ford became the Owner and Manager of NIA Training and Consultant Services (NTCS), a training and development company which specializes in team building and development workshops for both children and adults working in school settings. Additionally, she served as a celebrated Out of School Time Coordinator for a local East Baltimore school service provider, where she impacted the lives of students through parent engagement, academic enrichment, leadership development and civic engagement. Furthermore, she is a former National Ella Baker Trainer for the National Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools Program, in addition to coordinating the program locally for over six years. She believes that every child is capable of achievement, and more importantly, that achievement looks differently for every child. She believes that it is the responsibility of the community to ensure that every child’s aspirations come to life, which is what she strives to do daily.
Eric Handy
Professor Handy is a motivational speaker, a dedicated and multifaceted social justice educator and counselor with a passion for service; empowering college students and facilitating in their academic, personal, and professional success. With over 10 years’ experience as an education professional working with underrepresented populations in K-higher education Professor Handy aligns dynamic vision with accessible outcomes through holistic development.
Amiri B. Hooker
Amiri B. Hooker serves as senior pastor of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in Lake City, South Carolina. Reverend Hooker has prophetically served churches with a passion towards community organizer and social justice advocating. He has chaired and continues to advise the Advocacy Ministry Team of the South Carolina United Methodist Annual Conference and chaired the inaugural Racial Reconciliation Design Team (RRDT) (dealing with Racism and Justice issues in South Carolina). He currently serves as a board member of the South Carolina Christian Action Council (SCCAC) (The State’s largest and oldest ecumenical advocacy group centering on justice, poverty, and education) and Hooker is an active member of the National African American Ministers Leadership Council (AAMLC) serving as the chair of the MICAH Group. Furthermore, Reverend Hooker is one of the Tri-Chairs in the South Carolina Division Poor People’s Campaign working to build a broad, fusion movement that can unite poor and impacted communities across the state and target issues of voter engagement. Rev Hooker is a member and trainer for the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) & BMCR (Black Methodist for Church Renewal).
Myah Woods
Myah Woods has served as an advocate, teacher leader, mentor, instructional coach and school administrator throughout her experience in education. She currently serves as a school administrator in the Richland One School District in Columbia, SC. As an Ella Baker Trainer Alumni and former Freedom Schools scholar, servant-leader intern, site-coordinator, project director and executive director, she has a strong passion for service to children through the Freedom Schools movement pedagogy. It is her desire to impact children despite the obstacles, so they can succeed. It is also her desire to inspire teachers and those who work with children to cultivate this success in our future generations. In addition to her role as a school administrator, Miss Woods is a Ph.D. candidate. Ms. Woods is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., the South Carolina Education Association, and the South Carolina Association of School Administrators.