Founders Officers and Board Members

Our Founders Officers and Board Members

Michelle M. Heard, Ed.D

Founder

Michelle Heard, Ed.D is the President of the EEP Foundation. She is the eldest daughter of the organization's namesake and retired educator who served in public schools as a classroom teacher for more than a dozen year with the Los Angeles Unified School District. Dr. Michelle is a graduate of the University of Souther California Rossier School of Education, with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Assisting in opportunities to expand educational opportunities for young people is Dr. Heard's passion and the mission of the EEP Foundation. Her hobbies include writing in all genres, singing and ballroom dancing.

Danessa I. Jackson, MBA

Founder

Danessa Jackson serves Vice President/CFO the organization, and is a co-founder and the visionary for the development of time the EEP Scholarship Foundation, As the middle daughter of the foundation's namesake, she received both her Bachelor's and MBA degrees in Organizational Management and Organizational Leadership from the University of LaVerne- LaVerne, California, She has always had a love for serving and helping others as well as working with children and young people. Danessa has been a licensed real estate professional for more than 30 years-helping numerous friends and families obtain home loans and achieved home ownership , as well as helping investors and business owners with their commercial real estate needs. She also volunteered time in her community serving seniors at the local community center, and served alongside her husband as the Children's Ministry Leader (20+yrs) and VBS Director (10 yrs.) for Loveland Church, Fontana

Danessa grew up in Pasadena/Altadena, California area where she attended elementary and high school, and attended Pasadena City College and Cal State University Los Angeles, majoring in Sociology. She enjoys real estate, reading, cooking, listening to music and home decorating.

Trudi L. Perkins, Ed.D

Founder

Kaly N. Davis

Corporate Secretary/Officer

Kaly Davis is the granddaughter of the namesake and has a background in Human Resources and has been in working in HR for over 12 years. She currently works in Human Resources for an Environmental Engineering Company and loves meeting and interacting with people. Kaly believes in education and believes that all young people should have the opportunity to pursue higher education. She enjoys spending time with her family, watching action and old classic movies, and cooking.

Jocelyn R. Jackson

Recording Secretary/Officer

Jocelyn Jackson is the granddaughter of the namesake and has a background in health and wellness with a Bachelor's degree in health science from Cal State University, Fullerton and a Master's in nutrition and Wellness from Benedictine University. She has spent most of her working career studying health disparities and gaps among minorities.

She is passionate about health but also education and believes all students should have the ability to pursue higher education if they wish to do so. She currently works in Public Health for Los Angeles County and resides in the Inland Empire. She enjoys reading, cooking, volunteer work, traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Steven A. Saunders, Jr.

Board Memeber

Steven A. Saunders, Jr. is the grandson of the namesake and has been an educator for more than twenty years. Currently, he is a member of the administrative team and an 8th grade teacher at the Bridges Preparatory Academy in Compton, CA. Steven graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a B.A. in Liberal Studies and a Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership. He was awarded the Unsung Hero Award for Educators in 2011.

James Hubbert

Board Member

James L. Hubbert, aka “Rocky”, is a business owner who has been serving clients in the Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties for more than 35 yrs.

His skills as an electronics technician include repairing computers and installing home entertainment and security systems. He is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson H.S. in Los Angeles and attended Los Angeles Trade Tech and Southwest Jr. College in Culver City, CA. James Hubbert is the founder of the West Coast Urban Ballroom Gents, a group of distinguished gentlemen promoting the elegance and enjoyment of ballroom dancing. He is also a popular instructor in the Los Angeles ballroom community.

Luella Hairston, Attorney

Board Member

Certified Family Law Attorney with 15 years of ethical, empathetic and effective service.

Alma Ward

Board Member

Alma Ward is a retired educator with more than 50 years of educational experience.

The revered labor of love ensured she enjoyed a career doing what she loved and made retiring so bittersweet that she temporarily came out of retirement to continue teaching young people.

She has been a member of the organization for over 14 years and is a continued educator to her children and grandchildren. She is vocal promoter of the organization and a zealous supporter of its message and motives.

Pastor Marlon Jackson

Board Member

Marlon Jackson is a graduate of Blair High School and attended Pasadena City College in Pasadena, CA

and a retired Southern California Edison employee of 37 years. He is currently an Associate Pastor and oversees the Minister's Alliance at Loveland Church and served as Children's Church Pastor with his wife for over 20 (yrs). Marlon loves spending time with his family, watching sports, and national geographics.