FORMER PROGRAM SPECIALIST, JADE LEE
AmeriCorps Member (2017/18)
Jade Lee is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. She served her second year as an AmeriCorps member as one of two Program Specialists at ACE. Her first year as an AmeriCorps member was with CampFire Alabama where she helped to expand the outdoor and environmental program by creating and revising curriculum materials. In 2015, Jade graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Montevallo. During her undergraduate years, Jade volunteered to serve as a mentor with Alabama Possible’s Blueprints College Access Initiative program in 2013 and 2014. She is passionate advocate of youth and adolescents, and mental health awareness. In her free time, Jade loves reading historical fiction and nonfiction books, as well as dystopian novels. Besides books, she enjoys watching musicals and plays, which is one of the reasons she likes to host mini-concerts in her car. She is thrilled to have been a part of the ACE family and continues to spread the mission of increasing access to Social and Emotional Learning in the community.
AmeriCorps Member (2017/18)
Jade Lee is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. She served her second year as an AmeriCorps member as one of two Program Specialists at ACE. Her first year as an AmeriCorps member was with CampFire Alabama where she helped to expand the outdoor and environmental program by creating and revising curriculum materials. In 2015, Jade graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Montevallo. During her undergraduate years, Jade volunteered to serve as a mentor with Alabama Possible’s Blueprints College Access Initiative program in 2013 and 2014. She is passionate advocate of youth and adolescents, and mental health awareness. In her free time, Jade loves reading historical fiction and nonfiction books, as well as dystopian novels. Besides books, she enjoys watching musicals and plays, which is one of the reasons she likes to host mini-concerts in her car. She is thrilled to have been a part of the ACE family and continues to spread the mission of increasing access to Social and Emotional Learning in the community.
FORMER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, SUFIA ALAM
AlaQuest (2018/19)
Born and raised in Alabama, Sufia has always possessed a passion for being of service to her local community. She loves working with children, often through her mosque -the Birmingham Islamic Society. She began her education journey through a small private school known the Islamic Academy of Alabama and, in 2018, she graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Bachelor’s in Psychology. As an undergraduate, she served as a research ambassador and as a research assistant at the Youth Safety Lab at UAB. She also formed and led that university's Students for Human Rights Organization. Sufia is currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Health, studying Health Care Organization with a concentration of Maternal and Child Health Care and is the Managing Editor of the UAB undergraduate newspaper, the Kaleidoscope. In her free time, she enjoys reading historical nonfiction, writing, and re-watching episodes of her all-time favorite T.V. show, Doctor Who.
AlaQuest (2018/19)
Born and raised in Alabama, Sufia has always possessed a passion for being of service to her local community. She loves working with children, often through her mosque -the Birmingham Islamic Society. She began her education journey through a small private school known the Islamic Academy of Alabama and, in 2018, she graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Bachelor’s in Psychology. As an undergraduate, she served as a research ambassador and as a research assistant at the Youth Safety Lab at UAB. She also formed and led that university's Students for Human Rights Organization. Sufia is currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Health, studying Health Care Organization with a concentration of Maternal and Child Health Care and is the Managing Editor of the UAB undergraduate newspaper, the Kaleidoscope. In her free time, she enjoys reading historical nonfiction, writing, and re-watching episodes of her all-time favorite T.V. show, Doctor Who.
KATHERINE SMITH, CO-FOUNDER
AND EDUCATION CONSULTANT
Katherine has spent the last fourteen years taking an active role in education initiatives. Her previous experiences include tutoring, coordinating outdoor recreation education clinics, leading experimental environmental science field trips, and developing curriculum for a leadership empowerment program for young girls. Katherine became a classroom teacher through the Mississippi Teacher Corps program. She earned a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from a University of Mississippi in 2015. Katherine is currently a proud employee of the Jefferson County School system, Teaching Environmental Science at Clay-Chalkville High School.
AND EDUCATION CONSULTANT
Katherine has spent the last fourteen years taking an active role in education initiatives. Her previous experiences include tutoring, coordinating outdoor recreation education clinics, leading experimental environmental science field trips, and developing curriculum for a leadership empowerment program for young girls. Katherine became a classroom teacher through the Mississippi Teacher Corps program. She earned a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from a University of Mississippi in 2015. Katherine is currently a proud employee of the Jefferson County School system, Teaching Environmental Science at Clay-Chalkville High School.
FORMER INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN SPECIALIST,
ASHLEY JAMES,
Intern (2018/19)
Ashley is a native of Birmingham, AL. Her passion is effectively teaching and helping others bridge knowledge gaps. She has fulfilled that passion for the past 8 years as an early childhood educator. She is currently a graduate student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she is studying the field of instructional design and development. She plans to use her degree to continue helping bridge knowledge gaps in a variety of sectors including public education, community, small business, and churches. Ashley believes the fundamental differences between people simply lie in what they have learned and experienced. If we can bridge knowledge gaps, we can bridge, heal, and foster positive relationships. In her spare time, Ashley enjoys spending time with her family and reading Christian non-fiction.
ASHLEY JAMES,
Intern (2018/19)
Ashley is a native of Birmingham, AL. Her passion is effectively teaching and helping others bridge knowledge gaps. She has fulfilled that passion for the past 8 years as an early childhood educator. She is currently a graduate student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she is studying the field of instructional design and development. She plans to use her degree to continue helping bridge knowledge gaps in a variety of sectors including public education, community, small business, and churches. Ashley believes the fundamental differences between people simply lie in what they have learned and experienced. If we can bridge knowledge gaps, we can bridge, heal, and foster positive relationships. In her spare time, Ashley enjoys spending time with her family and reading Christian non-fiction.
FORMER PROGRAM SPECIALIST, RAVEN MOORE
AmeriCorps Member (2018/19)
Born and raised in Birmingham, Raven is a proud Alabama native. With over 8 years of youth development experience, she is driven by her love for young people and seeing them succeed. A product of Birmingham City and Jefferson County schools, her love for reaching local youth runs deep. Raven is currently serving as an AmeriCorps member and Program Specialist for ACE. In 2013, she graduated from Florida A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy and Religion and in December 2018 she will receive her Master of Divinity degree from Samford University. Raven has also completed two units of Clinical Pastoral Education and is a licensed minister. In her down time, she loves journaling, planning events, and shopping. Raven is ecstatic to be a part of the ACE Team. She truly believes that social and emotional learning will greatly impact our future generations.
AmeriCorps Member (2018/19)
Born and raised in Birmingham, Raven is a proud Alabama native. With over 8 years of youth development experience, she is driven by her love for young people and seeing them succeed. A product of Birmingham City and Jefferson County schools, her love for reaching local youth runs deep. Raven is currently serving as an AmeriCorps member and Program Specialist for ACE. In 2013, she graduated from Florida A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy and Religion and in December 2018 she will receive her Master of Divinity degree from Samford University. Raven has also completed two units of Clinical Pastoral Education and is a licensed minister. In her down time, she loves journaling, planning events, and shopping. Raven is ecstatic to be a part of the ACE Team. She truly believes that social and emotional learning will greatly impact our future generations.
FORMER CULTURE COACH SPECIALIST, PORSCHIA JENKINS
Intern (2019)
Porschia was born in raised in Butler, AL, but Birmingham is now her place to call home. She is a UAB senior majoring in Community Health. She has a passion for helping and comforting kids. They are such an innocent joy in her eyes. She plans to combine her passion with her career by working in the maternal and infant care field. She enjoys drawing, arts and crafts, journaling, shopping, and spending time with family and friends. She is excited to be a member of the ACE team because she loves what ACE stands for.
Intern (2019)
Porschia was born in raised in Butler, AL, but Birmingham is now her place to call home. She is a UAB senior majoring in Community Health. She has a passion for helping and comforting kids. They are such an innocent joy in her eyes. She plans to combine her passion with her career by working in the maternal and infant care field. She enjoys drawing, arts and crafts, journaling, shopping, and spending time with family and friends. She is excited to be a member of the ACE team because she loves what ACE stands for.

FORMER CULTURE COACH, ELIZABETH SIMMONS,
(2018/19)
Elizabeth was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. After beginning her career in law, she made the decision to transition into education in order to help create positive and lasting change in her community. She has experience as an instructor at both the high school and college levels and recently spent 3 years as an administrator and career coach at UAB Career and Professional Development. She is joining ACE after spending the summer as an Education Pioneers Fellow with Chicago Public Schools. Elizabeth believes in the power of holistic, child-centered approaches to learning and the importance of community and school-wide commitments to Social Emotional health. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys hiking at Ruffner Mountain and practicing (sometimes teaching!) yoga. She is excited to join the ACE team and eager to support schools, teachers, parents and communities as they continue to create safe and supportive spaces for our children to grow and learn!
(2018/19)
Elizabeth was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. After beginning her career in law, she made the decision to transition into education in order to help create positive and lasting change in her community. She has experience as an instructor at both the high school and college levels and recently spent 3 years as an administrator and career coach at UAB Career and Professional Development. She is joining ACE after spending the summer as an Education Pioneers Fellow with Chicago Public Schools. Elizabeth believes in the power of holistic, child-centered approaches to learning and the importance of community and school-wide commitments to Social Emotional health. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys hiking at Ruffner Mountain and practicing (sometimes teaching!) yoga. She is excited to join the ACE team and eager to support schools, teachers, parents and communities as they continue to create safe and supportive spaces for our children to grow and learn!