Our Team

Katina Barnes - Founder and Executive Director

A native of Suffolk, Virginia, I have always had a love for impacting change, whether through my love for fashion or using my degrees in Social Work and Community Counseling. My passion for community change was ignited while employed at Children's Hospital of The Kings Daughters where I had the opportunity to coordinate free health insurance for uninsured children. My journey of making a difference in the lives of others led me to The Up Center, a non-profit organization specializing in helping people live better lives. After serving a little over eleven years in Prevention Services, I decided to extend my career to higher education, joining Tidewater Community College in 2011 as an Adjunct Instructor and an Academic Advisor. Within the first year I was promoted to work in student engagement and then advancing as the inaugural Director of the Portsmouth Campus Student Center. I changed the culture of co-curricular learning by establishing student success initiatives, incorporating collaborative learning experiences and creating a vibrant environment for academic success. During my tenure at TCC, I also served as the Coordinator of Dual Enrollment Academies, providing opportunities for high school students to concurrently earn a high school diploma and an associate’s degree. I joined Old Dominion University in 2023 as the Assistant Director of Monarch Internship and Co--Op Success, continuing my passion for ensuring students are successful in their academic journey.

Leadership is important to me. I've had the privilege of spearheading several impactful initiatives, and serving on various board to include Girls Scouts of Colonial Coast, Portsmouth Schools Foundation, Lefcoe Board of Trustees, YMCA Effingham Street Portsmouth, and Prevent Child Abuse of Hampton Roads. As a dedicated member of Delta Sigma Theta Inc., I am committed to ensuring the well being of others. I am a minister, mother, wife, grandmother, sister, daughter, advocate, and friend. I enjoy speaking on topics that promote leadership, women's empowerment, and student success.

LaVerne R. Williams-Lewis - Board Chair

LaVerne Williams-Lewis is Talent Acquisition Consultant with LifeBridge Health, a premier health system throughout the Maryland area. LaVerne has over 20 years experience in Human Resources and Employment Services. LaVerne is a graduate of Morgan State University and Notre Dame of Maryland University. She is active in her church, The New Metropolitan Baptist Church where she serves on several ministries. LaVerne has been an active board member since the beginning of Butterfly Village and also serves as the chair for the Govenance Committee.

Andrea Long - Board Vice Chair

As a Licensed Professional Counselor who had worked in the areas of mental health and human services, I consider myself to be an advocate for all things that promote the healthy development of children and families. The opportunity to guide the work of Butterfly Village is very important and resonates with my want to be an “agent of change”. What I love most about this work is the pathways created for our young girls through the exposure to STEM learning and experiences.

I enjoy making the most of my free time, through connecting with people who like to exchange ideas and have fun- this includes my husband and two sons along with Sorors and family and friends, to create good memories!

Tracy Wright Turner - Board Treasurer

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Theresa Hamlin - Board Secretary

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Jaedda Hall

For 15 years, Jaedda Hall has ignited careers for diverse populations of students through impactful work-based learning opportunities. Her journey has included leadership roles at the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, supporting students at institutions like Tidewater Community College, and managing internship programs for over 300 interns at NASA Langley Research Center.

Currently, Jaedda is a Senior Workforce Development Consultant for Sentara Health and she plays a key role in curating partnerships that serve to reinforce experiences for Sentara’s current and future talent pipeline across the organization.

Jaedda's dedication is recognized by prestigious awards like the Inside Business Top 40 Under 40 and CoVa BIZ Magazine's Millennials on the Move, solidifying her influence in shaping the future workforce.

Beyond her professional passion, Jaedda holds degrees in mass communications and urban education from Norfolk State University. She will earn her doctorate in leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University in Spring 2024.

When not inspiring the next generation, Jaedda enjoys creating lasting memories with her high school sweetheart husband and their two daughters

Valarie Franklin - Administrative Assistant

Valerie J. Franklin is currently retired from the Navy and
Marine Corps, Public Health Center after 40 years of Civil
Service with the Department of Defense. Mrs. Franklin has
been a successful Supervisory Military Personnel Specialist,
Supervisory Human Resources Specialist, Education and
Training Officer, Deputy Conference Director and
Education and Training Department Head. Mrs. Franklin
was instrumental in standing up the Navy Medicine
Civilian Corps satellite office, in 2016, for the Navy and
Marine Corps Public Health Center.
Mrs. Franklin has received the Meritorious Civilian Service
Award on two occasions, as well as numerous other
awards for exceptional performance.
She has traveled extensively throughout the United States,
Europe, Cuba, and the Middle East instructing Military and
Civilian personnel on Leadership and Customer Service.
Mrs. Franklin attended Tidewater Community College
briefly in 1981 for Data Processing, and again in 2012 for
Business Administration. She also attended Old Dominion
University, Darden College of Education to obtain training
in Curriculum Development.
Although Mrs. Franklin has had an extremely successful
Civil Service career, she has always had a desire to obtain
her degree. In 2017, a Patient Advocate at Sentra
Princess Anne Hospital observed her providing support to
a family member and recommended that she enroll in the
Human Services Program at TCC. Because of her caring
nature and desire to make a positive change in the lives
of those she encounters, Mrs. Franklin enrolled in the
Human Services program during the Fall 2017 semester
while working full-time. She will graduate in 2020.
Mrs. Franklin volunteers in her community. She is the
Chairman of the Ministry of New Membership Committee
and is a very active member of the Hospitality and Nurses
Ministry of her church.
Mrs. Franklin believes we can accomplish our dreams, no
matter what the obstacles, if we have hope, faith and
determination.

Alexis Epps - Coordinator of Strategic Solutions

Dedicated Human Resources Coordinator with over 8 years of experience, has a comprehensive skill set encompassing administrative tasks, learning and development initiatives, and talent acquisition support. Currently employed for the City of Chesapeake where she is a Human Resource Coordinator, Alexis is known for effectively managing various responsibilities to achieve organizational objectives.