We are here to give children the support they need in order to shape them into leaders of the future.
Amber Govan
Tamika Newborn
I have spent the last 20 years working in the healthcare field at UAMS. I have a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and am currently pursuing a master's degree. In addition, I work as an afterschool specialist for Carter's Crew. I like working with our youth because I know I can make a difference. With our group of kids, there is never a dull moment, and I am so excited to watch them learn and grow.
Gabrielle Ross
I’m the Program Specialist for Carter’s Crew. I have 15 years experience working with vulnerable youth and I enjoy building relationships with the youth and their families. Growing up, I needed the extra support from mentors and organized programs like Carter’s Crew and I can personally say that support made a difference in my life throughout school. I’m happy to serve as role model and encourager today by working with such an amazing program. My goal is to impact the youth in a positive way and motivate and encourage them to see their full potential in life and no matter the background they come from, they can still be positive world changer. The community I was raised in most of my life was drug stricken, gang heavy, and violence was pretty normal. At a young age I decided I wanted to be set apart from what I had grown accustomed to seeing as “normal”. I graduated from High School and went on to receive a basketball scholarship to Ouachita Baptist University. I became the first to graduate in my family. Working with Carter’s Crew has given me the opportunity to serve youth and give the same help I received as a teen.
Walter Sims
After School Program Specialist at Carter's Crew. Minister and Inspirational/Motivational Speaker. Founder of Sims Strategic Mentoring Program. Volunteer in Little Rock Public Schools. Certified Counselor in Modern Applied Psychology. Certified in First Aid Mental Health. Self- Defense Instructor and Youth Advocate.
Dr. Cheryl D. Jackson-Golden
Dr. Jackson-Golden's initial professional employer was the Southern Good Faith Fund, Pine Bluff, AR. There she worked as the Program Coordinator of Workforce Development Program for Low-income and Welfare Recipients. It was at Good Faith Fund where Cheryl developed her passion to work families, women and women issues. This helped influence her decision to obtain her Master Degree from UAPB in Addiction Studies. After receiving her Master's Degree (she is currently an Assistant Professor in the Addiction Studies at UAPB), Cheryl began working at Davis Life Care Center as a Social Worker. Later she moved into the Director of Education for the facility. Presently, Former Department Chair for Arkansas Baptist College, Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences in Little Rock, AR.
She is the CEO of Cre8ting Changes Community Prevention & Behavioral Health & Consulting Services providing assistance with: educational programming, prevention training and technical assistance, community needs assessment, program design, development and evaluation. Dr. Cheryl has been a presenter for international, national, state, and local professional conferences and workshops, President of Kiwanis of Greater Bryant, Committee member of Single Parent Scholarship of Pulaski county, founder of the Arkansas Birthing Project-Sister Friends for Saline County, and has published two educational works. Her doctorate is in Public Service Leadership Human Services from Capella University.
Dr. Cheryl is most passionate about the sustainability of black family infrastructure. Her future goals are to continuing writing and to start a program working with a specific population of women and children that have success barriers who are in need of assistance and direction.
Shawn Blasczczyk
Shawn is a graduate of Arkansas State University with a bachelor's degree in psychology with an emphasis in early childhood education. She is a results driven professional with expertise in career readiness, case management, Social Security administration policy and procedures, vocational rehabilitation services and project management. Shawn currently serves as the director of career readiness for Carter’s Crew and has a passion working with youth as they are the future leaders of our nation.
Brother Al
On June 19, 1990 at 19 years old, I was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison and on November 9,1994, at 23 years old I was sentenced to life in prison for a gang related murder in 1994. At the beginning of the banging in Little Rock! I was sent to The Maximum Security Unit in 1997. For a prison raid at Cummins Unit! I was in prison for 27 years and 25 of those years.
At the Maximum Security Unit I met the person who changed my life for the better and forever. He was my mentor and someone I looked up too and respected. He was a father figure and role model to me!
Captain J. Davis, AKA “Captain Jack Mule,” was the most feared Captain in the ADC and the most respected by all officers and inmates! We started a gang intervention n prevention program called UNITY (You n I helping Teen Youth) in 2004.
We had the most violence and dangerous inmates in the ADC and Arkansas in our class! 25 at a time! They we’re in the problem for 6 Months! PBS in 2009 did a documentary on me. “U.N.I.T.Y” received an Emmy Award for Best Documentary (Public Affairs) in the 2012 annual awards competition of the Mid-America Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Governor Asa Hutchinson commuted my time in 2022 and I was released February 2,2022!
Now I work for the City of Little Rock in the Department of Community Programs as the Positive Intervention & Transition Coordinator for the City!
I began my journey of serving youth early in my life when I was a teenager living in Forrest City Arkansas.
One of my many mentors taught me the importance of giving to others by taking us around our
neighborhood providing community services for the Elderly. In 1998 I graduated with a bachelor’s
degree in social work from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and in 2015 I earned my master’s
degree in public administration from Arkansas State University. I have a deep seeded passion for
working with kids and young people. This passion has led me to work in many areas of employment
with youth with Carter’s Crew Little Rock, Arkansas, including founding our Non-profit organization
Jamison Alexander Success Center HELLO Program.
Lahairoi is the Director of Outreach at Carter's Crew.
