“One of my fondest memories was watching from my bedroom window as my father’s Naval ship returned home and sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge.”

— Harriett

HARRIETT REYNOLDS

FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SERVICES MANAGER
harriett@familiestogethernc.org

Prior to joining the Families Together Team in 2016, Harriet worked in the nonprofit sector for 10 years. During that time, she oversaw Financial Stability programs. Today, her financial background and expertise are put to good work helping families review budgets and learn better money management habits. She also provides coaching to help families achieve their goals, as well as connections to community resources for services focused on enhancing self-sufficiency. Finances have been important to her since she was a child as she wanted to be a business owner when she grew up. When not serving families at FT, you can catch Harriett traveling and taking cruises on the high seas with her family.

JENNIFER PAUL

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
jennifer@familiestogethernc.org

Jennifer has focused her career helping advance child welfare, conservation and social justice causes. Before coming to Families Together, she worked in the DC area for the Ocean Conservancy and Thrive DC and started a non-profit consulting business. As the Acting Executive Director at Families Together, she works with the Board of Directors, staff, donors, volunteers and partners to build a growing community of supporters working to end family homelessness in our community. Originally from North Carolina with her earliest memories living in Raleigh and Cary, Jennifer is thrilled to be back and close to her growing extended family.

“As a child, I loved going “home” to the family farm in Eastern NC. I got to play outside at night, swim in the creek and listen to the grownups swap stories.”

— Jen

“My fondest childhood memory is attending our Annual Family Reunion.”

— Karen

KAREN LASSITER

HOUSING AND FAMILY SERVICES DIRECTOR
karen@familiestogethernc.org

As the lead of Housing and Families Services for Families Together, Karen oversees the delivery of effective supportive services for families experiencing homelessness to help them achieve housing stability. Karen received her BA from Winston-Salem State and later got her MAML and MA in Human Services Counseling Life Coach from Liberty University. Her experience in the human services field spans over a decade as she has held many roles that empower people in need. The service field is the perfect place for Karen. As a child, she wanted to be a nice and kind person.

Meredith Davis

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH/ STABILIZATION MA
meredith@familiestogethernc.org

Prior to working with Families Together, Meredith provided mental health services to families and became fully licensed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in 2021. Meredith graduated from North Carolina State University with her Bachelor's in Social Work and earned her Master's in Social Work from UNC Chapel Hill. Meredith is passionate about working with families to achieve success by implementing a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach. During her free time, Meredith likes to travel, read, go to the beach and spend time with her dog.

“My fondest childhood memory is going to family reunions in upstate New York and attending Yankees games.”

— Meredith

“As a child I loved conducting science experiments. I remember my mom snapping a photo of me as a little girl being so interested in conducting the field day experiment while other kids went to play. ”

— Taniscia

TANISCIA DAVIS

SHELTER MENTOR ADVOCATE
taniscia@familiestogethernc.org

Taniscia has several years of experience providing technical and customer support to various organizations and business in the local triangle. Taniscia has participated in tutoring services and creating afterschool programs for children of all ages. She volunteers at her family-owned food service on every 3rd weekend and loves supporting her community any way she can. She currently is working to finish her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in health service management. She also has assisted with the mentorship program at her school and continues to help others find employment and achieve their career goals. She loves spending time with her family, reading about current events, and studying history and artifacts. You can always find her engaged in some kind of creative project.

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Danielle Pennington

GRANTS AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
danielle@familiestogethernc.org

Danielle comes to Families Together from two worlds. She spent her early professional career in Washington, DC working as a lobbyist hoping to find her way into public service after garnering advocacy, legislative and communication skills through an effective lobbying organization. Upon making her way back to North Carolina, where she attended high school and college, Danielle quickly had her plans change as she became pregnant and fell into being a stay-at-home mother. She spent 7 years at home with her two young children, editing federal grants and working at her children’s preschool on the side. Danielle joins Families Together as she reenters the workforce eager to bring her professional skills and life lessons to the task of moving families from homelessness to home.

“My mother was in the Air Force and my best childhood memories are of my family and I having
adventures in new places. My brother and I came up with amazing ballads of our hijinks.
”

— Danielle

Pherona fraizer

REHOUSING MA
pherona@familiestogethernc.org

Pherona received her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from North Carolina A&T University and has experience working in the field of child welfare, family and community services, and substance abuse and mental health. Her passion is to help families help themselves; and to see their goals and dreams take flight. In her spare time, Pherona enjoys spending time with family and watching movies.

“My fondest childhood memory is catching fireflies and eating honeysuckles from a tree with my cousins”

— Pherona

“My fondest childhood memory is going to my grandmother’s house every afternoon and playing outside with my cousins until the street lights came on. We didn’t need technology, we only needed the presence of one another.”

— Faith

Faith godfrey

AFFORDABLE HOUSING MA
faith@familiestogethernc.org

Faith received her Bachelor’s Degree in Family and Community Services from East Carolina University. Prior to working at Families Together, Faith was employed at WAGES Head Start & Early Head Start. She began as a teacher assistant, was promoted to teacher, and finally a family social worker, a position she held for 6 years. After working with families for 13 years, she realized she had a desire to be a liaison between families and the community, which brought her to the Families Together team.

Faith’s hobbies include spending time with family and she is very active in her local church. In her spare time, Faith enjoys journaling and listening to music.

KENNETH NIXON

HOUSING NAVIGATOR
kenneth@familiestogethernc.org

Ken grew up in Camden, South Carolina which is just north of Columbia. Prior to becoming a part of Families Together, Ken worked in education and healthcare staffing. Ken is excited to work as a part of the Program Team as he’s passionate about making a difference in the community. When not working Ken enjoys traveling, art, and spending time with his family. Growing up Ken enjoyed working in his uncle’s restaurant tucked away in the equestrian community of Aiken, SC during the summer.

“One of my fondest memories is visiting family in New York City at Christmas time. There was something magical about the city during the winter holidays and if it snowed it was even more amazing. ”

— Kenneth

Erin Hill Carter

STABILIZATION TEAM LEAD
erin@familiestogethernc.org

Erin Hill Carter, a native of Lynchburg, VA, matriculated at the South’s oldest HBCU (Shaw University) where she received a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology and earned her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Liberty University. Erin came to Families Together after many years of working in nonprofits and domestic violence.

Professionally, Erin has extensive experience working with adults, children, and families providing therapeutic services in homes, underserved communities, and outpatient settings through community-based services, and has a passion for working in family systems models. Erin specializes in trauma-informed advocacy and cultural competence work with clients. Erin enjoys helping individuals to focus on communicative approaches to bring about change, mentoring youth and women; cultivating healthy relationships, and empowering individuals to obtain self-sufficiency and self-awareness.

Erin implores to problem-solve, create learning opportunities to educate, and promote perseverance through times of adversity. Erin believes that finding one’s inner peace creates healing in all areas of one’s life, especially in the relationships that are the most meaningful and sacred.

As a part of her self-care, Erin enjoys quality time with family and friends, traveling to warm destinations, attending concerts, and artistic expression. Erin is very active in serving the community with her sorority.

“My fondest childhood memory is spending time with my grandparents, helping to pick fresh vegetables from their beautiful garden, and eating Sunday dinner with our whole family.”

— Erin

Paul Rowland

FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT& EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST
paul@familiestogethernc.org

Paul Rowland was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. He received his Bachelor's in Social Work from Barton College. He credits his family and his fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, for teaching him how to give back to the community. He has experience working with those in low-income situations and dealing with homelessness. When he's not working, Paul enjoys running around the city or playing his ukulele.

“When I look back on my childhood, the memories that make me smile the most are those of my grandmother’s farm outside of Raleigh where I and the rest of my family could enjoy good food, play basketball, and be with each other.”

— Paul

“My favorite memory is Family Reunions! There was always lots of food, hugs, and smiles.”

— Gloria

Gloria Turner

HOTEL SHELTER REHOUSING MA
gloria@familiestogethernc.org

Gloria Turner is a native of North Carolina, born and raised in Raleigh. She was employed as a Homeschool Coordinator with the Wake County School System and as a Field Director with the Girl Scouts of Carolina. Gloria also has worked as a case manager with several non-profits in the Raleigh community. Empowering and encouraging families in the Raleigh community is her passion. Gloria’s 15 years of experience have been dedicated to working with homeless populations. This allowed her to develop resources, identify safe affordable housing, access treatment needs, and develop, monitor, and evaluate treatment plans. For leisure, Gloria enjoys swimming and refinishing antique furniture. She also enjoys listening to anything by Nina Simone.

“One of my fondest childhood memories is spending a lot of my time during the summer at my aunt’s house. She had a pool and a trampoline and all the fun stuff. This meant all the neighborhood kids would come to her house. Sometimes there would be 15-20 kids there at a time.”

— Sara

Sara Karbley

VOLUNTEER & OUTREACH COORDINATOR
sara@familiestogethernc.org

Sara is joining Families Together with experience working with various types of nonprofits from helping children to domestic violence/sexual assault survivors. She moved to North Carolina from West Virginia in 2020 with her husband, lab/mastiff rescue, and their orange cat. She graduated from Marshall University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and continued her education by obtaining a Master of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration. In her free time, Sara loves to spend time with family and friends, bake, binge reality TV, and read books.

“My favorite childhood memories are the years spent in Barbados. Times were so serene and simple back then. We went to school, went to church, and went to the beach!”

— Valentina

Valentina Achille

FAMILY SUPPORT ADVOCATE
valentina@familiestogethernc.org

Valentina Achille graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Psychology Degree. She is a former client of Families Together and now is working as a Family Advocate. She also works as a MedTech at an Assisted Living facility. Her hobbies include reading, crocheting, and attending church.

DANIELA hERRERA

DONATIONS ASSISTANT
daniela@familiestogethernc.org

Daniela Herrera graduated from college with a degree in Sociology and Film Studies. While attending college, she worked in the Montserrat Office for students with high financial aid needs. She also worked for an anti-racist activism organization. For fun, Daniela likes to watch movies, attend concerts and is always down to get boba tea whenever possible.

“A favorite childhood memory is spending the summers in the public library sitting in a corner reading all the Spider-Man/Marvel comic books I could get my hands on”

— Daniela

Anita Leach

FINANCE DIRECTOR
anita@familiestogethernc.org

Anita has a degree in Accounting from Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York. Before working at families together Anita worked at the Men’s Shelter of Charlotte, NC now called Roof Above as their COO. When she isn’t working, she enjoys reading, traveling, and Youtubing/TICTOKing (viewing not creating, yet). Since travel is so expensive, she is also content with allowing her mind to travel through reading.

“Some of my most favorite memories consist of my summers in NYC visiting my Dad and other family.”

— Anita