FOUNDER-Traci Ali

Traci Ali's life story is one of remarkable dedication and service to her community, particularly the youth. Born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, her upbringing instilled in her a profound love and passion for supporting young people. With a Master’s Degree in Business Administration/Human Resources, Traci's journey has been marked by a diverse range of experiences, from corporate management roles to teaching special needs education.

Her decision to found Tomorrow's Cultivating Youth Inc. in 2017 was fueled by her desire to give back and provide the kind of support and opportunities she wished she had received growing up. Traci recognized the importance of breaking generational cycles of economic struggles and crime by empowering youth with knowledge and resources. Her extensive background in education, coupled with her roles as a mother and community leader, uniquely positioned her to spearhead this mission.

Traci's commitment to serving the youth extends beyond her role as the Founder and President of TCYouth Inc. She has actively engaged with various youth-focused organizations and initiatives, serving on boards and advisory committees to bring valuable knowledge and skills to the community, and girl scout leader for many years. Her dedication is further evidenced by her self-employment as the Director/Owner of Knowledge Begins Here Learning Academy, since 2012, where she teaches homeschoolers and imparts essential life skills to the next generation.

As a mother of four adult children and two grandchildren, Traci's personal experiences have undoubtedly shaped her passion for youth advocacy. Her leadership, mentorship, and philanthropy have left an indelible mark on the communities she serves, inspiring others to join her in creating a brighter future for generations to come. 

Traci Ali's journey as a survivor of domestic violence and attempted suicide, has fueled her passion for advocating for mental health awareness, particularly among young people. Drawing from her own experiences, she understands the importance of addressing mental health issues and providing support to those who may be struggling.

As a mentor and educator, Traci emphasizes the importance of self-love and self-worth, instilling in youth the understanding that it's okay not to be okay and that their feelings are valid. By creating a safe space for open dialogue and promoting mental health awareness, she aims to break down the stigma surrounding mental illness and encourage individuals to seek help when needed.

One of Traci's key missions is to combat the alarming rate of suicide among youth. Through her advocacy work, she endeavors to raise awareness about the prevalence of mental health issues and the importance of early intervention and support. She recognizes the power of collaboration and seeks to bring together various nonprofits and community organizations to collectively address mental health challenges and reach a broader audience of young people.

By sharing her story, advocating for mental health education, and fostering a supportive community, Traci Ali is making a significant impact in the lives of youth, empowering them to prioritize their mental well-being and seek help when needed. Her resilience, compassion, and dedication serve as an inspiration to all those she encounters on her mission to promote mental health awareness and support.

 As a beacon of inspiration and mentorship, Ms. Ali embodies the essence of resilience, compassion, and empowerment. Her unwavering dedication to uplifting and guiding the younger generation has left an indelible mark on countless lives, instilling in them a sense of hope, purpose, and ambition. 

Ms. Tracey Thomas, a native of Brooklyn, New York, boasts a remarkable 35-year career in government service, adorned with prestigious positions within the U.S. Army Finance Division and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. A dedicated mother of four children and four grandchildren, her journey unfolded as a tapestry of service, compassion, and leadership, transforming her into an esteemed figure within her community.

In 2017, Ms. Thomas co-founded Tomorrow’s Cultivating Youth Inc., a charitable non-profit organization addressing the dearth of positive activities outside the school system in Prince William County. As the first Vice President, she spearheads a dynamic array of initiatives, including mentorship activities, financial literacy programs, leadership workshops, community service, college preparation, college tours, mental health workshops, and basic skills workshops.

Passionate about steering youth toward success, Ms. Thomas champions the belief that "It Takes a Village." Her commitment to the organization, Ms. Thomas dedicates herself to uplifting the broader community. Her altruistic efforts extend to creating opportunities to assist with displaced veterans and families in Woodbridge and Washington D.C. by supplying essential items and meals. She believes in making a positive impact on the lives of others within local neighborhoods, a sentiment that echoes through her compassionate involvement in community service.

Ms. Thomas's impact reaches further as she takes a leading role in the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Spearheading the "Pillowcase Smiles" project, she ensures every child at RMH receives comfort in the form of a bag of goodies and a personalized pillowcase. Her dedication to providing food supplies and maintaining a welcoming environment showcases her commitment to positively impacting the lives of these teens in her organization.

Undeterred in her quest to empower teens, Ms. Thomas conducts Basic Skills workshops, imparting essential life skills to navigate the challenges of adulthood. From practical tasks like sewing buttons and sorting laundry to guidance on dental hygiene, interview dressing, and cooking tips, she plays a pivotal role in preparing the youth for the realities of life.

In addition, Ms. Thomas organizes Vision Board workshops, guiding both teenagers and adults in envisioning their futures and setting goals. These workshops emphasize the importance of continuous goal-setting and adaptation, fostering purpose and direction within the community. Ms. Thomas's unwavering dedication underscores her commitment to supporting the holistic development of the community's youth, inspiring personal growth and self-awareness among all participants.

 Ms. Thomas's endeavors in community engagement epitomizes a profound dedication to continual self-improvement and the empowerment of individuals to bring about positive change in society.

Born in Milwaukee, WI, Sharmine Jones realized that she had a passion for the youth and actively sought to be a volunteer in her community at a young age. Her personal motto was to “Make a Difference”. Always willing to offer a helping hand from Brownies (Girl Scouts) to Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., the importance of giving back to the community has been a resounding passion in Mrs. Jones’s life. 

It was with pleasure that Mrs. Jones joined Tomorrow Cultivating Youth as the org motto “It takes a village” accurately reflected Mrs. Jones growing understanding of the socioeconomic changes that many are confronted with. This motto resonated with Mrs. Jones as she once served as an investigator for child abuse and neglect and realized it was the absence of this village (i.e. support system) that allowed some families to fall into disarray. Additionally, with the current school curriculum TCYouth, Inc., stands in the void to offer workshops, tutoring, and assistance that were either no longer offered or was never an option. 

Currently Mrs. Jones sits on the Executive Board and serves as the Volunteer Director. She is prior military having serve in the U.S. Coast Guard for twenty years, first as an enlisted member and later as an Officer. Mrs. Jones has a Bachelor of Social Work from Jackson State University and a Masters in Human Services specializing in Social and Community Program from Capella. 

  Kehara Passmore is a proactive, detail-oriented, and performance-driven professional with over 12 years of experience in project management and web development. Her expertise spans planning, coordinating, managing, and guiding change processes in projects, with a focus on leadership, problem-solving, and delivering flawless results. Kehara is known for her ability to work effectively within diverse populations, leveraging her strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills to create impactful solutions.

With a deep knowledge of business priorities and a genuine team-player mentality, Kehara excels at managing operations and projects to completion. Her versatility and innovation allow her to see both the "big picture" and the small details, while her commitment to continuous growth is evident in her proactive pursuit of training opportunities to enhance her skill set and further her professional development.

In addition to her project management expertise, Kehara is also highly skilled in SharePoint, with over 9 years of experience in site creation, migration, and customization. She also brings technical proficiency to her role as a SharePoint Developer  in designing, developing, and implementing data solutions. Her work with SharePoint includes creating interactive dashboards and reports that help businesses make informed decisions.

Kehara's passion for creating opportunities for growth extends beyond her professional life. She joined TCYouth Inc. with the goal of providing her sons with a community where they could engage with peers who look like them and find a supportive social environment that would elevate them and lay a strong foundation for their futures. 

As a new member of the Adult Advisory Board, Kehara is excited to contribute her expertise to advancing the board’s mission of improving lives within the community. With a passion for youth empowerment, education, and building bridges across different generations, Kehara is eager to work alongside fellow board members to create opportunities for growth and transformation.

In her free time, Kehara enjoys journaling, nature walks, traveling and enjoying time with her family, and is deeply committed to the TCYouth Inc.’s cause and mission. 

Leah Rawlings has just completed her 9th year as a middle school language

arts teacher and 12th year in education. Her time in education has afforded her the

opportunity to interact with 6 th to 8 th grade students from a variety of demographics to include

affluent, disadvantaged, English Language Learners, and students in Special Education.

Impacting my students through teaching has always been a top priority; however, during her time

at Rippon Middle School, I have been able to utilize school activities to interact and impact

students throughout the school. For the past two years, she has been the sponsor of the B.O.S.S

Club (Bold Outstanding Strong Students). The club’s mission is to foster a safe space where we

can empower, educate, and inspire the young ladies to be fearless leaders in our school and

community. As sponsor, I have worked to meet this mission by holding monthly meetings where

we focus on activities that promote self-love and self-identify, partnered with two community

organizations to provide workshops that promote self-love, confidence building, and

communication skills, connected the club members with their community by hosting a school-

wide step-show, donating to local food-pantries in the area, and visiting a local animal shelter,

and organized an HBCU Tour for the club members (and other young ladies in the school) so that

they can be exposed to college-life and possible future endeavors. Beyond the club, I have

coached students for the MLK Oratorical Competition and Program sponsored by the Prince

William Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. with the purpose to honor Martin

Luther King Jr.’s legacy through public speaking.

Community service is also a passion of mine. During COVID, I provided weekly bags of

groceries to families in need identified by the social worker at my school. Prior to that, I

volunteered with “The 25 th Project”, to provide food and necessities to the local homeless

communities. Most recently, I was invited to speak at the Delta Academy Retreat, where I spoke

to young middle school girls on the topic of empowerment and staying driven.

When I am not working or looking for community involvement opportunities, I enjoy spending

time with my family and friends, reading, watching documentaries, and puzzling.

Marketing/Social Media Chairperson

Kamaria originally reached out to TCY in September 2024. She said that she was looking for an opportunity to support the local youth. She holds a degree in English and Communications from Old Dominion University, and has worked for over 10 years with non-profit organizations supporting their marketing and multimedia needs. We are excited that she will be supporting TCY as our new Marketing/Social Media Chairperson.

Adult Advisory Board Member

Adult Advisory Board Member

Adult Advisory Board Member

We at TCYouth Inc is very proud of our Founder/President…one of the nominees for the 2023 Prince William Living Influential Women’s Award. She truly has a passion for the youth. She is out in the neighborhoods speaking to the youth on their needs and providing FREE workshops and educating the youth on financial literacy, mental health awareness, basic life skills, college readiness, workforce readiness and life skills needed to succeed during and  beyond high school. She has testified on behalf of some of the youth to change their lives around. She is like a “Mom” to the youth in the communities. Never turns her back to any youth whom she can help. We love and appreciate our Founder-Traci Ali. You are truly an amazing and “Influential Woman”!  

Congratulations to our Founder/President on being the Honoree/Recipient of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women-PWCC 2022 Courageous Generational Women’s Leadership Award on Financial Literacy!  We are so very proud of our Founder. 

Congratulations to our Founder/President on being the Honoree/Recipient of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women-PWCC 2022 Courageous Generational Women’s Leadership Award on Financial Literacy!  We are so very proud of our Founder. 

Congratulations TCYouth Inc on being a recipient of the Rosie‘s Gaming Community Give back grant.

Thank you Rick  and Megan for believing in our Financial Literacy Program. With your grant we can reach more youth. 

Congratulations Tracey Thomas as the 2024 Top Ladies of Distinction Orchid Award