Our Team

Visionary Leadership

Meet Our Team

Executive Director

Jonathan Spikes

Jonathan Spikes, is a Doctoral Candidate in the Department of Social Work at the University of Southern California.

He has served as a community-based research scientist in a number of capacities for over a decade, including Principal Investigator, Clinician, and Community Expert. His study employs a variety of tools, including longitudinal designs, quantitative and qualitative methods, to harness sociocultural and community-based frameworks. His funded research focuses on community violence (including gang violence, trauma, and child victimization; and the consequences of victimization); strategies for reducing Adverse Childhood Experiences; and the development of novel strategies to close service gaps associated with violence reduction.

Numerous federal funds and contracts have supported his study, including those from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. To accomplish this, he establishes highly collaborative and varied research teams, bringing together scientists and community members to generate mutually advantageous skills for the advancement of community health knowledge.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Joy J. Davis

Joy J. Davis, Ed.D., a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Dr. Davis has over 28 years of experience in educational settings addressing students’ academic, career, and social/emotional development needs by designing, implementing, evaluating, and enhancing comprehensive programs that promote and enhance student success. Dr. Davis has provided empirically validated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy interventions to youth and adult populations. She has extensive expertise in DSM-IV-TR/DSM 5 diagnoses, client-centered counseling, individual and group counseling, parent/teacher consultation, case management, bio-psycho-social assessments, Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, LBGTQ affirmative models, and grief counseling. Dr. Davis participates in the development of behavioral goals for students’ Individualized Education Plans. She is a Qualified Supervisor in the State of Florida and holds a certification in the National Board Teacher Certification in School Counseling – PK -12.
Project Manager

Chaundra Whitehead

Chaundra Whitehead, Ed.D., Researcher with skills in educational evaluation, program effectiveness, and strong knowledge of examining program performance. She has a strong foundation in qualitative and quantitative methods in research, including critical evaluation of research questions, data collection/analysis, the compilation of a wide array of data sources, and descriptive statistics. Her dissertation research explores the impact of Alternatives to Violence Project workshops has on incarcerated facilitators and participants. She served as the Vice President for Alternatives to Violence Project USA (2016-2018). AVP USA is an association of community, school, and prison-based groups offering experiential workshops in personal growth, community development, and creative conflict management.
Program Manager

Ronald A. Mumford, MA

Ronald A. Mumford, MA, Community Services professional with over twenty years of experience in the lawful execution of investigative procedures, monitoring caseloads, and coordinating program services. Experience in providing leadership and working with various stakeholders to establish long-range goals, strategies, plans, and policies. He has certifications as a Certified MAPP Trainer (Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting), Certified PRIDE Trainer (Parents Resource for Information Development and Education, and a Certified State of Florida Child Welfare Licensing Professional.
Master of Public Health Policy and Management - Intern

Isnavys Perez

Isnavys Perez, MPH, a graduate of New York University with a BA in Psychology minoring in Chemistry. Ms. Perez has over 4 years of research experience in the fields of organic chemistry, psychology, and public health. Her current research at Affirming YOUth Foundation, Inc., is on the Social Determinants of Health and the long-term psychological and physical impact of gun violence. Ms. Perez plans to attend medial school and pursue a career in medicine via a holistic approach. 

Translate »