Dale Ray Smith- co-founder and president
Chaplain Dale Ray Smith has over 10 + years of experience as a Group Facilitator, Public Motivational Speaker and Consultant in California and Texas. He has facilitated at programs with the Prison Correctional Facilities, Pardon and Parole Agencies, Drug/Alcohol Treatment Facilities, Hospital/Counseling Centers and on TV/Radio Broadcast. Dale Ray is certified in anger management and domestic violence facilitation. He is a neighborhood crime prevention specialist and is certified to give life coaching and guidance to individuals, families, and groups. He has a high degree of expertise of capturing and motivating audiences which makes him exceptionally successful at working/mentoring individuals who are ex-offenders, drug/alcohol abusers, individuals who have anger/behavior issues, domestic violence issues and who are in distress.
Certifications and Awards:
Certified Chaplain, Anger Management Certification, Jail and Prison Certification, Homeland Crisis Institution
Presidential Award for Community Service
Cheryl Dawson- Co-founder and program director
Cheryl Dawson-Smith is a Credentialed State of Texas TWC/Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Specialist that works with individuals with disabilities, youth & adults providing work readiness training in values, ethics and behavior, job placement/job skills training that enables individuals to successfully find, keep and maintain a job. She has an 85% success rate of placing these individuals in competitive employment. She is a highly strategic and organized leader, trainer, and skilled communicator.
Lori Michele david- lead Tutor
Lori is Gaining Ground’s head of tutoring. She has over 15+ years of experience educating a variety of age ranges with a variety of needs. Lori was a special education teacher for 7 years and a math teacher for another 7 years. She taught thankfulness as a means to prevent drug, violence, and suicide prevention with a 100% success rate. Lori has a passion for serving at-risk and underserved youth in her community and helping them excel in school and in life.
Sidney Vallie- Peer Advocate for Justice
Sidney Vallie is a member of Texas Advocate for Justice, he is Gaining Ground’s peer advocate for justice, he will guide, support, and assist clientele and their families to navigate through the courts and appellate system. Sidney is skilled in organizing and preparing the following documents habeas corpus 1107, grievances and parole board support packages. He’s achieved 46 hours of recovery coach training and is one of Gaining Ground’s Group Facilitators teaching 12 Step NA/AA program to youth and adults who are in drug/alcohol recovery.