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About Us

The mission: To help youth accomplish their academic success by offering resources so students have a better chance for success.

 

How:  Our mission is s accomplished through the distribution of school supplies with meal cards or a hot meal, scholarship resource as well as our own organizational sponsored scholarships in the name of the Tracy Terry Sr. Culinary Scholarship and the William F. McDowell Scholarship.

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REACH Initiative,Inc. is a nonprofit organization established in 2017 to inspire youth to not only dream but give them tools to help them accomplish those dreams.  This empowerment helps to foster bigger and brighter goals that surpass their current environment which will  culminate in a positive economy for the future generation as well as the communities they reside.

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Our Founder

Melinda A. Terry is a registered nurse by profession who has served in the U S Army Reserves, worked over 15 years in the Emergency Room, over 10 years as a Corrections Nurse Manager and over 10 years with the Veterans Health Administration.  In addition to her years in the medical field Melinda is a ordained elder and strong supporter of her community. 

 

Since moving back to her native home of Emporia, Virginia in 2003 Melinda earned both her BSN and MBA with a Concentration in Nurse Management from Oklahoma Wesleyan University.  It was during the process of earing these degrees she discovered the truly low health and educational statistics related to her community.  With the sincere desire to educate and instill hope into the hearts and lives of the next generation through mentorship Melinda founded REACH Initiative in January 2017. 

 

As the founder of REACH Initiative, Inc (a 501c3 nonprofit organization) that offers mentoring to youth aged 15 to 23 towards entrepreneurship and or professional careers through partnering with local entrepreneurs and career professionals.   She has conducted quarterly youth sessions bringing in speakers to discuss topics ranging from “Banking 101 For Youth” to “Navigating High School” with successful results.  So far as a result of REACH Initiative numerous students in attendance have been inspired with hope, joined in-school academic clubs and developed a positive change in perspective regarding their academic and future goals.  It is her motivation  to connect with youth and impact their lives in a positive manner which translates to developing the next generation to stand in better health, stronger wealth and a knowledge of  who they are and why they are.

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Credentials

Alumni of Halifax Community College (Nursing)
Alumni of Oklahoma Wesleyan University (Nursing)
Alumni of Oklahoma Wesleyan University (Masters in Business)

Member of Emporia Chamber of Commerce                                                                 

Member of Eta Eta Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority, Inc. (Petersburg,VA)

Call or email for more information

434-594-5226

REACHInitiative@outlook.com

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