Our Leadership

Fred is the Co-Founder and CEO of Kidz With Purpose. He and Gary began co-authoring books in 1997 that help the youth of the world overcome negative stereotypes and build good self-esteem. As a Pastor and Program Director of several community-based organizations, Fred has been working to build the social and emotional strength of K-12 students for more than 3 decades. Fred is married and the father of five adult children. He currently lives in Atlanta, GA.

Gary is the storybook illustrator and animator. He has created more than fifty characters that make up the Good Newz Crew, the elementary school division of the Kidz With Purpose Peer Mentoring Program. He designs cartoon characters that represent youth of various races and cultures of the world. He is the Co-Founder of the Program along with Fred. They have co-authored several books, since beginning their partnership in 1997, that help youth overcome negative stereotypes and build good self-esteem. He received a bachelor’s degree in Commercial Art and Advertising from Texas State Technical College. Gary currently lives in Houston, TX.

Jerome attended Morehouse College and is a graduate of Atlanta DeVry Institute Of Technology in Electronic Engineering.

He joined Kidz With Purpose as a member of The Board of Directors and Vice President of National Sales & Marketing in 2008. Jerome works in corporate America and has a passion for shaping the lives of young people through coaching college, high school and AAU basketball. 

Jerome is married to his beautiful wife Delena, is the father of four and grandfather of three.  He is also an active member of his church and lives in Cleveland, Heights, Ohio.

Yolanda M. Black is a licensed real estate Broker in Huntsville, AL. She earned her real

estate license in 2001. In 2022, Yolanda obtained her Broker License to further

establish her ability to lead others and look toward other roles in real estate.

As a businesswoman, a licensed minister and certified FreddieMac Smart Coach she

desires to give back in many ways. She prides herself as an expert educating her

clients so they can make the best decisions for their needs.

Yolanda is a member of her local and state boards of Realtors, and the National

Association of REALTORS. In addition, she is a member of NAACP, of NAREB the

premier organization of Black real estate professionals called REALTIST. NAREB is the

oldest trade organization that advocates for democracy in housing that respectfully

work with the Black Caucus and other leaders, Housing and Urban Development to

ensure homeownership is made possible fairly and equitable for all but especially for

Black and Brown communities.

She is excited, now, to extend her services to Kidz with Purpose, as it is a perfect fit as

she enters the role of becoming a real estate developer.

In her free time, Yolanda enjoys her family including five grandchildren, traveling

and volunteering in her community.

Ayeme is the recent graduate of Charles H. Flowers High School, Prince George’s County Maryland. Ayeme was Youth Ambassador for his high school and recipient of several community leadership awards while in high school. Ayeme joined Kidz With Purpose as a youth advisor to the Board of Directors and the Vice President of Youth Engagement in 2023. He is presently pursuing a Cyber Security Degree at Prince George’s County Community College in Maryland.