Melody Joiner
President
A dedicated and compassionate Human Services Professional with more than 18 years of progressive, wide-range experience. This expands over a series of social services committed to improving the quality of life of individuals in need and helping organizations perform at an optimal level. She is known to possess the knowledge and skillset that gives allowance to understand people, both as individuals and within groups; having a knowledge of varied factors in human behavior. She is familiar with human development, how culture and society impact behavior and the influence of economic structures on human behavior. An individual who is adaptable to any environment and possesses the capacity to fill a variety of roles all of which are designed to create optimal patterns for the people and organizations relevant to the world of human services.
Larika Johnson
Secretary
With over 24 years of experience in the health care field and an emphasis in customer service and billing. She has a record of attaining and exceeding company goals through detailed, focused and innovative problem solving. As an experienced professional she has developed creative strategies that have promoted leadership and outstanding results. She has worked with Aurora to enhance their employee incentive program. Larika is the mother of 3 daughters and is currently working to become a foster parent to help enhance the lives of youth in the foster care system. Due to her many proven accomplishments, Larika’s experience will only prove to enhance the mission and vision of Butterflyz LLC.
NeBritt Herring
Vice-president
A leader in education for 20+ years; demonstrating unyielding passion and drive that positively impacts Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). She uniquely offers well-rounded and multi-faceted experience in middle and high school education as an Assistant Principal In-Charge. NeBritt is known for cultivating an environment that motivates students to succeed academically and personally. She excels in supervising staff and managing day-to-day operations of an urban middle and high school. She also holds high expectations and accountability of self her staff to exceed top standards in student achievement. NeBritt is the proud mother of a 16-year old Rufus King IB High School student and is heavily involved in her church and surrounding community. She is a 22-year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Larina Hightower
Board Member
Originally from Kankakee, Illinois moved to Milwaukee in 1993. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Educational Policy and Community Studies. She later went on to receive a Master’s of Science in Exceptional Education. Larina taught in Milwaukee Public Schools for 15 years as a special education teacher. In this field she has learned that the parents of the students she taught needed to be empowered and have access to necessary resources. This started a journey to empower mothers with the hopes of affecting the entire family. She is co-founder of Caring for the Community where she works with pregnant women and mothers to ensure they have access to resources in the community. She is the co-owner of Home away From Home Living Center a facility that houses youth in out of home care. Most recently she has founded Building Youth Assessment Center an emergency shelter for youth in out of home care. Larina states that her mission in life is to enhance the lives of the families she works with.
Baboonie Tatum
Board Member
Affectionately known as Bobbi by her friends and family has lived in Milwaukee all of her Life. She is a product of Milwaukee Public Schools and earned her Bachelors Degree from Mount Mary College. She has always indulged herself in the needs of her community through volunteering, housing youth in foster care and actively participating in her children’s school. She started Caring for the Community in 2011 to assist mothers with obtaining necessary resources needed for their families. Caring for the Community is a non- profit organization whose mission is to ensure that pregnant girls and women have access to the resources in their community to ensure their family will have a successful outcome. She serves as the Program Manager at Home Away From Home Living Center a facility that houses youth in out of home care. Most recently she has opened Rise and Grind Café with a mission to be a community hub where customers can get a good meal and be connected to resources within the community.
