Let's create change together.
  • Home
  • About
  • News & Media
  • Contact
  • Services
  • Home
  • About
  • News & Media
  • Contact
  • Services
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

About me

Picture
Picture

I'm a community leader and activist dedicated to social change, education, and empowerment of others. With a background in social work, community organizing, facilitating, teaching, and fundraising, I've dedicated my personal and professional life to affecting change.  

Originally from Monaca, Pennsylvania, I overcame a difficult childhood plagued with significant trauma to become a walk-on on the University of Kentucky Track and Field Team, ultimately earning a full scholarship and becoming one of the top miler's in the SEC. I earned my bachelor's and master's degree in social work, with a concentration on family and community development.
​
Since graduating, I've been involved in and led many community initiatives focused on effecting change. Serving as a community leader, I've been trusted to lead many projects, conferences, and workshops as well as serve on many boards, committees, coalitions, and panels. One of my proudest accomplishments has been a
s co-founder and board president of On The Move Art Studio, a nonprofit mobile art room that has provided free arts classes to over 45,000 at-risk youth. 

I've been fortunate to work with some of the best and brightest leaders across the world. I've never had coffee before: THIS kind of work is my coffee! Below is a sample of some of my awards and recognition. I hope to work with you today! 

Picture

Awards & Recognition 

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
  • 2008-2011 South Eastern Conference (SEC) Academic Honor Roll
  • 2010 University of Kentucky Athletics Frank G. Ham Society of Character Inductee
  • 2010 USA Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association D-1 All-Academic Team
  • 2010 & 2011 State Farm-Insurance Athlete of the Month
  • 2010-2011 SEC Community Service Team
  • 2010-2011 University of Kentucky CATSPY Award for Community Service
  • 2011 Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Achievement Award (National)
  • 2011 SEC H. Boyd McWhorter Postgraduate Scholarship Award Winner
  • 2011 University of Kentucky College of Social Work Departmental Honors
  • 2011 Association of Fundraising Professionals Champions of Philanthropy Award
  • 2012 SEC Community Service Team
  • 2012 SEC Academic Honor Roll
  • 2012 John Wooden Citizen Cup Award Finalist (National)
  • 2012 University of Kentucky Athletic Department CATSPY Award for Community Service
  • 2012 University of Kentucky Algernon Sydney Sullivan Medallion Recipient
  • 2012 USA Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division 1 Track and Field All-Academic Team
  • 2012 University of Kentucky College of Social Work Most Outstanding Master’s Student
  • “Josh’s Run Day” – Declared by proclamation on March 6, 2014, by Mayor Jim Gray in support of Josh’s Run to Frankfort – Ran from Lexington to Frankfort (25.5 miles) to raise awareness and money for domestic violence and HB 8 - $5,000 raised, donated to GreenHouse17. HB 8 was subsequently passed.
  • Bring Us Home Co-Founder – Went homeless to raise awareness and money for homelessness in partnership with Catholic Action Center. Raised $3,000 which was enough to house one person for one year.
  • 24 hour Homeless Challenge – Went homeless for 24 hours with other community leaders to raise money and awareness for homeless youth in Lexington. Over $50,000 was raised.
  • Chosen as one of “Today’s Heroes” by the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department – Used on poster alongside local leaders such as Mayor Gorton, Commissioner Chris Ford, and Devine Carama to advocate for the use of carrying Narcan as a way to reduce overdoses
  •  Featured in “Kentucky’s Everyday Heroes” – A book series by author Steve Flairty, with the subtitle “Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things”
  • Lexenomics DreamFuel Grant Recipient
  • 2015 New Leaders Council Graduate
  • 2016 A Cup of Commonwealth Community Ambassador Award
  • 2017 8 80 Cities Emerging City Champion
  • 2017 Lexington Leadership Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year
  • 2018 Kentucky Colonel
  • 2019 Lauren K. Weinberg Humanitarian of the Year
  • 2020 Leadership Lexington Graduate
  • 2020 - Run for Black Lives – Event created to run and raise money for Black Lives Matter – Run from Lexington to Frankfort, raising over $7,000 for Black Lives Matter
Proudly powered by Weebly