Founded in 1989 as Families Under Urban and Social Attack (FUUSA), and most recently known as Change Happens!, Civic Heart Community Services has a thirty-three-year proven track record in working with vulnerable and disadvantaged populations to create life-altering impact.
Civic Heart has grown from one program to more than 25 programs and 70+ employees. Through our programs, we provide services to over 65,000 individuals annually, including:
- prevention education skills training and alternative activities to over 7,000 youth ages 6 to 17
- after school and summer enrichment program to over 150 youth annually
- housing for 72 individuals experiencing homelessness
- assistance to help enroll over 2,000 families in health insurance
- education, training and connections to employment for 200 low-income adults
In addition, our work helps reduce recidivism and improve public outcomes for 90 justice-involved youth. We have enrolled over 100 justice involved girls in the VOICES program, 80% of whom have not reoffended since enrollment.
We take a holistic approach to providing programs and services, uniquely positioning Civic Heart to work with populations that experience the greatest disparities in social determinants of health.
![Historical Kids U Photo of kids in an event room](https://civicheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Historical-Kids-U.jpg)
Mission, Vision & Values
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Civic Heart Community Services, diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to our work. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve, where everyone feels empowered. Together, we continue to build an inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices of our employees and the people we serve.
Leadership Team
![Untitled design (16)](https://civicheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Untitled-design-16.png)
Kionta Carter
Chief Executive Officer
![portrait-erica-davis Portrait of Erica Davis](https://civicheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/portrait-erica-davis.jpg)
Erica Davis
Chief Operating Officer
![portrait-angelica_castillo Portrait of Angelica Castillo](https://civicheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/portrait-angelica_castillo.jpg)
Angelica Castillo
Chief Financial Officer
![portrait-kelva-clay Portrait of Kelva Clay](https://civicheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/portrait-kelva-clay.jpg)
Kelva Clay
Chief Program Officer
![portrait-ana-hale portrait-ana-hale](https://civicheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/DSC01887-scaled-e1718310711366-263x263.jpg)
Ana Hale
Senior Program Manager
![portrait-abdi-hassan Portrait of Abdi Hassan](https://civicheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/portrait-abdi-hassan.jpg)
Abdi Hassan
Senior Program Manager
![portrait-jenes-sherrell Photo of Jenes Sherrell](https://civicheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/portrait-jenes-sherrell.jpg)
Jeness Sherrell
Program Director
![portrait-candy-brown Portrait of Candy Brown](https://civicheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/portrait-candy-brown.jpg)
Candy Brown
Rescue In Motion
Program Coordinator
![portrait-samuel-brown Portrait of Samual Brown](https://civicheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/portrait-samuel-brown.jpg)
Sam Brown
HIV Prevention & Wellness
Program Coordinator
![portraits-demarcus-foster Portrait of Demarcus Foster](https://civicheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/portraits-demarcus-foster.jpg)
Demarcus Foster
Northern Third Ward
Program Manager
![portrait-terrance-frazier Portrait of Terrance Fraizer](https://civicheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/portrait-terrance-frazier.jpg)
Terrance Frazier
Rescue Youth
Program Coordinator
![Untitled design (17)](https://civicheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Untitled-design-17.png)
Jasmine Pena
Teen Pregnancy Prevention
Program Coordinator
![portrait-stacey-thompson Portrait of Stacey Thompson](https://civicheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/portrait-stacey-thompson.jpg)
Stacey Thompson
ACA Navigator & Connecting Kids to Coverage
Program Coordinator
![portrait-valencia-w-gray Portrait of Valencia Weathersby Gray](https://civicheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/portrait-valencia-w-gray.jpg)
Vanecia Weathersby Gray
Mentoring & Juvenile Justice
Program Coordinator
Board of Directors
Vanessa T. Reed
Community Member
Debbie Salazar
Board Secretary
Senior Vice President
Corporate Head Teller
IBC Bank
Marian Cabanillas
Health Plan CEO
United Healthcare
Community Plan of Texas
Janette Hammond
Community Member
Jené Guess Cash
Real Estate Manager
City of Houston
Jennifer Kalvaitis
Managing Director
Oilfield Services
J.P. Morgan Securities
Carl Townsend Kidd
Principal
Townsend Lanier Consulting and Associates, Inc.
Deborah Boone
Outside Board Representative
The Junior League of Houston
Tim Stuhlreyer
Managing Director
PwC
Reva Witherspoon
Community Member
Kionta Carter
Chief Executive Officer
Sponsors
![drive-288-logo Drive 288 logo](https://civicheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/drive-288-logo.png)
![guidry-associates Guidry & Associates logo](https://civicheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/guidry-associates.png)
![hyla-logo Houston Young Lawyers Association Logo](https://civicheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/hyla-logo.png)
![MarekLogo Marek Logo](https://civicheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MarekLogo.png)
![PS042018_logo_color Primary Services Logo](https://civicheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/PS042018_logo_color.jpg)
- AD Players Theater
- Albert & Ethel Herzstein Foundation
- Amerigroup
- BB&T
- BanCorp South
- Barnes & Noble Booksellers
- Baylor University
- Bayway Lincoln
- Be Glammed
- Bennie Ferrell Catering
- Buffalo Wild Wings
- Capital One Bank
- Carmelo’s Ristorante Italiano
- CenterPoint Energy
- CES- Community Education Services
- City of Houston
- Chuy’s
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Colliers International
- Comcast
- Comerica Bank
- Community Coffee
- CVS
- Disneyland Resort
- Empower with Purpose
- Exxon Mobil Foundation
- Frenchy’s Chicken
- Frost Bank
- Game Stop
- Guess Group
- Guidry News
- Gringo’s Tex Mex
- HEB
- Houston Astros
- Houston Children’s Museum
- Houston Museum of Natural Science
- Houston Style Magazine
- Houston Young Lawyers Foundation
- Jason’s Deli
- Jones Lang LaSalle
- Kelly Bill Montgomery
- Kendra Scott
- Laguitas Brewing Company
- LAMJIK Beauty
- Major League Baseball
- Melodrama Boutique
- Molina Healthcare
- Nestle
- Norris of Houston Salon
- Northern Trust
- Outerwall
- PerryLee Home Health Care
- Pink Calyx
- Primary Services
- Sambuca
- Satterfield & Pontikes
- Schlumberger
- Signature Physiques Fitness
- Sprinkles
- Smith Graham
- Strake Foundation
- United Healthcare
- University of Houston
- Unleashed
- UPS
- Vickie Pink Photography
- Vintage Villas
- Walmart
- Wells Fargo Foundation
- Womack Development Investment Realtors
- Leadership
-
Leadership Team
Kionta Carter
Chief Executive OfficerErica Davis
Chief Operating OfficerAngelica Castillo
Chief Financial OfficerKelva Clay
Chief Program OfficerAna Hale
Senior Program ManagerAbdi Hassan
Senior Program ManagerJeness Sherrell
Program DirectorCandy Brown
Rescue In MotionProgram Coordinator
Sam Brown
HIV Prevention & WellnessProgram Coordinator
Demarcus Foster
Northern Third WardProgram Manager
Terrance Frazier
Rescue YouthProgram Coordinator
Jasmine Pena
Teen Pregnancy PreventionProgram Coordinator
Stacey Thompson
ACA Navigator & Connecting Kids to CoverageProgram Coordinator
Vanecia Weathersby Gray
Mentoring & Juvenile JusticeProgram Coordinator
- Board of Directors
-
Board of Directors
Vanessa T. Reed
Community MemberDebbie Salazar
Board Secretary
Senior Vice President
Corporate Head Teller
IBC BankMarian Cabanillas
Health Plan CEO
United Healthcare
Community Plan of TexasJanette Hammond
Community MemberJené Guess Cash
Real Estate Manager
City of HoustonJennifer Kalvaitis
Managing Director
Oilfield Services
J.P. Morgan SecuritiesCarl Townsend Kidd
Principal
Townsend Lanier Consulting and Associates, Inc.Deborah Boone
Outside Board Representative
The Junior League of HoustonTim Stuhlreyer
Managing Director
PwCReva Witherspoon
Community MemberKionta Carter
Chief Executive Officer - Sponsors
-
Sponsors
- AD Players Theater
- Albert & Ethel Herzstein Foundation
- Amerigroup
- BB&T
- BanCorp South
- Barnes & Noble Booksellers
- Baylor University
- Bayway Lincoln
- Be Glammed
- Bennie Ferrell Catering
- Buffalo Wild Wings
- Capital One Bank
- Carmelo’s Ristorante Italiano
- CenterPoint Energy
- CES- Community Education Services
- City of Houston
- Chuy’s
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Colliers International
- Comcast
- Comerica Bank
- Community Coffee
- CVS
- Disneyland Resort
- Empower with Purpose
- Exxon Mobil Foundation
- Frenchy’s Chicken
- Frost Bank
- Game Stop
- Guess Group
- Guidry News
- Gringo’s Tex Mex
- HEB
- Houston Astros
- Houston Children’s Museum
- Houston Museum of Natural Science
- Houston Style Magazine
- Houston Young Lawyers Foundation
- Jason’s Deli
- Jones Lang LaSalle
- Kelly Bill Montgomery
- Kendra Scott
- Laguitas Brewing Company
- LAMJIK Beauty
- Major League Baseball
- Melodrama Boutique
- Molina Healthcare
- Nestle
- Norris of Houston Salon
- Northern Trust
- Outerwall
- PerryLee Home Health Care
- Pink Calyx
- Primary Services
- Sambuca
- Satterfield & Pontikes
- Schlumberger
- Signature Physiques Fitness
- Sprinkles
- Smith Graham
- Strake Foundation
- United Healthcare
- University of Houston
- Unleashed
- UPS
- Vickie Pink Photography
- Vintage Villas
- Walmart
- Wells Fargo Foundation
- Womack Development Investment Realtors
Awards
Internships
Internships
Interested in interning with Civic Heart Community Services?
Well, we’re interested in you! The ideal candidate will be energetic and enthusiastic, with a desire to learn more about the non-profit world. Our engaging internship programs give students real-world work experience by involving them in projects critical to the day-to-day work of our organization.
To apply for an internship, submit the following to our internship contact:
- The most recent copy of your college transcript (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)
- A resume & cover letter
- Contact information for two references
- A writing sample (3-5 pages)
For more information on internships, email: intern@civicheart.org