Our Team Members
Ray’s Place, Inc is formed as a non-profit entity under the Internal Revenue Service and the District of Columbia laws and headed by Wanda Gillis, Karen Fletcher, Astoria Taylor-Turner, Karen Kanneh, and Cheryl Stewart.
Within the collective body, there are post graduate Business and Education degrees, Financial experts (more than 30 years)
previous experience as a foster parent and Court Appointed Special Advocate for youth in care
(more than 22 years of experience in Fairfax County, VA and Charles County, Maryland),
Ministry Support, Leadership and Management experience, and National Certified Teacher.
Management Team
Ray’s Place has assembled an experienced team:
Karen Yvette Taylor-Fletcher
Director
Post-graduate degree in Business and Finance, 32 years in the federal government, more than 18 years as a foster mom and a Court Appointed Special Advocate for youth.
Wanda Gillis
Director
Over 25 years of Federal service in Financial
Management.
Minister Cheryl A. Stewart
Director
Over 15 years in Ministry and youth services.
Karen Kanneh
Director
Bi-lingual, experience with foster care, security guard for federal agencies.
Astoria Taylor-Turner
Director
Educator, E.DS post graduate, National Certified Teacher.
.png)
Lavern Chatman
Advisory Board
Lavern Chatman is a community leader with experience in business development, advocacy, and philanthropy in Washington, D.C. She ran for Congress in Virginia's 8th District in 2014, focusing on youth empowerment and social justice. Chatman led the creation of the Freedom House Museum in Alexandria, VA, highlighting the domestic slave trade. She holds a BA in Business Administration from George Washington University and enjoys travel, mentoring, golf, and family time.
Dr. Jeff & Elder Lisa Chandler
Advisory Board
Dr. Jeff (Dr. J) and Elder Lisa Chandler lead Abiding Faith Ministries (AFM) under the spiritual guidance of Drs. Harold B. and Kellie V. Hayes. They focus on living by faith through various activities including prayer calls, podcasts, and ministry events like the Radical Love Marriage Retreat.
Journey C. Fletcher
Admin
Journey C. Fletcher is a high school student in Woodbridge, VA and serves as an admin support person who works closely with the Directors of Ray's Place.
Mrs. El Yassmin Ferguson
Community Member
Ms. Ferguson is a Program Analyst with the Department of Defense. Her passion is to support and advocate for the youth and young adults who struggle with mental health, teen pregnancy or life challenges, to help guide them to resources and various programs that will help them manage life and survival skills.