History

UJIMA, Incorporated enhances the quality of life of the people in the Houston area by creating, coordinating and managing HUD Neighborhood Network community learning centers that improve computer access, promote health, advance literacy and educational attainment, and create employment/volunteer opportunities for disadvantaged, minority adults, children, and seniors living in low-income and Section 8 apartment communities in the Greater Houston area.

UJIMA, Inc began as an apartment ministry in 1990, serving at-risk youth through a sports outreach program initiated by Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell and a group of men from Windsor Village United Methodist Church (WVUMC). The men formed the program based on the community impact of several violent incidents involving youth at neighboring apartment complexes, culminating in the death and incarceration of two young African American male residents. Through the sports outreach program, the men discovered that while the youth lacked basic social skills, independent living skills, could not read at or near their grade level, and were performing poorly in school, the community lacked the tools necessary to become economically self-sufficient and as a result, continued in the cycle of social and economic dependence.

Our Staff

Successfully expanded programming in the predominantly minority complexes, with continued support of WVUMC, local government and foundation contributions, resulted in the creation of an incorporated non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in 1995. For the past fifteen years, UJIMA, Inc has served the Greater Houston area with a mission to assist families of disadvantaged communities in overcoming obstacles by promoting the achievement of economic self-sufficiency. UJIMA considers a family to be economically self-sufficient when the family no longer receives subsidized housing or benefits from federal public assistance programs.

Staff

Thelissa Edwards
Executive Director - Email
Phone: 713.551.8772

Prior to joining UJIMA, Mrs. Edwards served as Grant/Project Coordinator at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Nursing for Project BRIDGE, a three-year collaborative effort between The University of Texas Health Science Center Schools of Nursing and Public Health and the WAM Foundation, Inc. Project BRIDGE was funded by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP). Through the formation of a coalition to develop a comprehensive, faith-based, integrated substance abuse and HIV/AIDS prevention program, Project BRIDGE resulted in a significant expansion of services to African American adolescents in the community of Windsor Village United Methodist Church (WVUMC) and surrounding areas in Houston, Texas. Mrs. Edwards began her career as a financial analyst for a major entertainment firm before discovering her passion for community outreach and education.

Mrs. Edwards obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. She possesses a cadre of professional experience including grant writing, consulting services, non-profit organizational management, fiscal management and curriculum development. She has served as a guest lecturer and workshop facilitator for various conferences and organizational functions. Mrs. Edwards has over ten years experience in corporate training, over seven years experience in teaching/working with women and adolescents and over five years experience working with non-profit organizations. Mrs. Edwards continues to demonstrate the ability to create innovative approaches and strategies at disseminating prevention-related information to communities of color. She is married to Nakia and they are the proud parents of Jacob and Hannah.

	Tarsha Marcellus Email Director of Operations Ph: 713.551.8771	Brooke Giles Email Special Projects Manager Ph: 713.551.8774
	LaToya Shields Email Social Service Coordinator – Gulf Coast Arms Apartments	Tyler Jackson Email Social Service Coordinator – Settegast Heights Apartments
	Danielle Ewing Email Tools to Touch Lives Conference Coordinator		UJIMA, Inc. Physical Address: 12401 1/2 S. Post Oak Houston, TX 77045 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 451376 Houston, TX 77245-1376

Board

Dion Byrd
Chairperson - Email

A native Houstonian Mr. Byrd has been a teacher and counselor in the areas of personal finances and leadership development for the past 15 years. Dion Byrd worked for Foleys Department Stores for 10 years as a Credit Manager and 5 years as a Collection Manager for PT&T Federal Credit Union. Presently Dion Byrd works with area churches, non-profit agencies, The City of Houston, local banks, and credit unions teaching setting up credit seminars and leadership development classes. Dion Byrd has been a leader at Windsor Village United Methodist Church for the past 20 years.  He currently serves as Chairperson of the Board of Trustees.  He is also Treasurer for the Third John Two Family Life Center in Southwest Houston.

Kimberly Caldwell 
Secretary - Email

Mrs. Caldwell is an independent education consultant for her own business, CALDWELL Consulting.  She is a native Houstonian who is a product of the Houston Independent School District.  After graduating from the University of Houston with a Bachelor's in Psychology, she decided to enter into the world of teaching. Teaching English/language arts to middle school students while obtaining a Masters in Education was her next endeavor.  After six years of teaching, Kimberly decided to venture into other aspects of education.  Kimberly became a Reading Teacher Trainer, Reading Grants Coordinator, and Reading Specialist within a four year span.  Along the way, Kimberly has taught on the college level, gotten certified to be a school principal, and trained thousands of educators nationally.  Kimberly is married to Ivan, a native Oklahoman, and they are the proud parents of a daughter, Kennedy Ivonne.

Tamara Spears 
Treasure - Email

Mrs. Spears earned a Bachelor's of Science in Accounting from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in 1996. After graduating, she relocated to Houston where she became a Certified Public Accountant.  She began her career in the concerts division of Clear Channel Communications as a Financial Accountant responsible for financial reporting and other areas ranging from budgeting to cash forecasting.  In 2001, Tamara joined the Internal Audit department of Reliant Energy prior to a company separation due to Texas utility deregulation. As a charter employee of the newly formed CenterPoint Energy, Tamara currently conducts financial and operational audits of various areas across the company.  She is also a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors.  Additionally, Tamara offers consulting services to various small businesses throughout the Houston area.  Using her expertise she helps start-up companies reach their true potential as God has done in her life.  She truly lives by the fact that God blesses us to be a blessing to others.