Sandra May Ricks –Hope Dealer & Chief Empowerment Officer

My passion is to create opportunities for youth to experience personal growth and employment through connecting them to like-minded individuals, companies and resources. By empowering individuals to identify their dreams and making plans to achieve them, hope is built. My dream is that those individuals spread that hope by helping others do the same, creating a community of change. I was born in Bermuda and attended Wheelock College in Boston, Mass to study Special Education. I have lived in Florida, California and settled in Texas in 1986. From 1994 to 2008 I fostered 65 children and adopted 8. During that time, I was exposed to the many dangers and heartbreaks of the Texas child welfare system. This experience prompted me to co- found Angel Reach, a nonprofit that assists kinship caregivers and provides housing and services to youth that have aged out of foster care. I had the privilege of serving as Executive Director for 12 years. I continue to be involved in efforts that advocate for children’s rights in the foster care system and providing support after they age out. I enjoy cooking, hiking , swimming and travel.

Taani Follis - Kingdom Builder, Entrepreneur & Community Revival Advocate

I have a passion for prayer and sharing the transforming power of the gospel. My husband, John and I purchased three houses in Prairie View in 2018. Our goal was to provide A+ quality housing with a residential engagement focus. Our desire was to build community and support students living off campus. We created Harvest Oaks Supportive Student Housing to offer students “not just a place to live... but a place to grow.” When we discovered the needs were far greater than we anticipated, I partnered with Sandra to launch Seed2Harvest Community Outreach. I have been able to apply my experience in problem solving and entrepreneurial background to create a successful nonprofit. We have found that believing in people helps them believe in themselves. We have seen that transformed lives, transform lives. Our work with students has enriched my life as I have seen students grow and thrive. Investing in people has given me the greatest ROI. I am on a mission to bring Community Revival and Transformational Change to Prairie View.

David Ricks - Sr. Project Coordinator - Deepwater Corrosion Services, Inc

I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. Besides academics, sports became an important part of my life. In high school, I excelled in football and track and field. In October of 2022, I was inducted to my alma mater’s Athletic Hall of Fame for both sports. In 1986, I moved to Houston, Texas. The last 27 years, I have enjoyed working in the Oil & Gas industry (22 years at one company) and seeing the world from a different perspective. Currently, I work for Deepwater Corrosion Inc. where I am the Sr. Project Coordinator.

I have always had a God-fearing spirit. I know what a profound impact God has had on my life. I seek the opportunities to pay it forward. Seed2Harvest has afforded me the chance to help those in need and to use my gift and talent to assist in the lives of young men and women’s futures. I enjoy working out and playing golf. I authored a book titled: “You’re Right…And So Am I…and Round and Round we go…(How to Avoid Stressful Conversations and the lingering effects afterwards)”.