Empowering people. Strengthening communities.

Founder & CEO / Executive Director

Zykina Stewart, MA

Coach Z, The Evolution Strategist™ — First Lady of Greater Life Church San Diego and CEO of Evolve Coaching Solutions, blending over 20 years of public service with a passion for coaching, education and personal growth. An Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist™, author, teacher, speaker and purpose pusher, she is a dynamic and compassionate leader who excels in both her professional and personal life and dedicates herself to empowering others to achieve their best. She has positively impacted countless lives by offering guidance, support and coaching across a variety of areas, and has served as a counselor, educator and mentor within the Christian community for over 16 years. While her professional achievements are notable, her dedication to family is equally important — her greatest pride is being a wife and mother: “It warms my heart that I'm responsible for shaping and molding someone to be released into the world.” She leads the Foundation's mission and programs, empowering people to evolve.

Board Chair / President

Bianca Vann, MSW

Founder and chief executive of BEEhive Publishing House in Atlanta, Georgia — a full-service firm providing manuscript development, ghostwriting, editorial services, interior design and production, and book marketing to authors nationally, with a catalog spanning memoir, devotional and inspirational works, guided journals, multi-author anthologies and children's literature. She serves as Children's Pastor at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, directing children's and youth ministry programming, volunteer leadership development and curriculum design; in recognition of that service she was conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Theology. Dr. Vann holds a Master of Social Work and has practiced in homeless services, foster care and adoption, advocating for unhoused families and for children navigating placement and permanency — a foundation that shapes her trauma-informed approach to both ministry and publishing. She is the author of BEECome Unstuck and speaks to churches, conferences and ministry leadership teams under the BEE Speaks platform on healing, identity, resilience and purposeful leadership. A San Diego native, she now lives and works in Atlanta.

Secretary

Latoya Glover, MS-HRM

Latoya Glover is a former federal civil service professional, community advocate, and dedicated military spouse whose life and career have been grounded in service, compassion, and empowering others through life's challenges. She holds degrees in Criminal Justice, Administration of Justice & Security, and Human Resources Management, providing her with a diverse educational foundation in advocacy, organizational leadership, human development, and service. Throughout her professional and community involvement, Latoya has served individuals and families during some of life's most challenging seasons. Her experience includes supporting military families through deployments and transitions, as well as working within rehabilitation services to assist individuals impacted by incarceration. These experiences strengthened her commitment to meeting people with compassion, dignity, encouragement, and hope. As a devoted wife and mother, Latoya's passion for advocacy has also been deeply influenced by her journey as the mother of a son with Autism. She uses her voice to promote awareness, inclusion, acceptance, and greater support for individuals with unique needs and the families who care for them.

Treasurer / CFO

Talia Gore Prince, MA, Psy

A certified Grief Recovery Specialist and Certified Life Coach with a Master's degree in Psychology, emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. With over a decade of experience as a therapist, motivational speaker and business and life coach, she has built a career centered on guiding individuals through healing, personal development and sustainable life transformation. She holds certifications in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Clinical Trauma Professional training, and is a Certified Addiction Counselor and Clinical Mental Health professional, with membership in the National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists. After years of working within traditional systems, Talia made the intentional decision to step away from corporate and clinical structures to fully align with her purpose — empowering others through speaking, coaching and group healing work. Her approach integrates evidence-based therapeutic practices with practical life coaching strategies, helping clients break cycles of trauma, strengthen emotional resilience, and rebuild identity and purpose. Talia's work is deeply informed by her own lived experience as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, addiction and trauma. Through her personal journey of recovery and restoration, she has become a published author and sought-after speaker, committed to helping others move from pain to purpose. Today, she dedicates her work to creating safe, transformative spaces where individuals can heal, grow and step fully into their potential.

Board Member

Dr. Leonard J. Thompson III

A true renaissance man whose life embodies love of God, family and community. Labeled a special needs student in his early years, he went on to graduate as the first African American valedictorian of his high school, then studied at UC Berkeley as a Regent & Chancellor Scholar, earned a B.S. in Business Administration from San Diego State University and an M.S. in Education from Point Loma Nazarene University. An ordained Elder in the Church of God in Christ, he holds an Honorary Doctorate in Theology. Thirty years ago he launched M.A.N.D.A.T.E. Records Inc., San Diego's longest-standing record label, with over a hundred musical and video projects, multiple tours and concert productions to its credit. In 2014 he founded Mandate Project Impact, a nonprofit training inner-city youth and young adults in music production and recording, TV, film, radio and event production. In 2018 he launched GODRadio1.com, a two-time Stellar Award-winning station heard by over 100,000 subscribers in 71 countries. A retired educator of 39 years and active educational consultant, he has launched groundbreaking programs including Improving the Achievement of African American Males, Saturday School, Summer Camp, Black Film Festival Youth Movie Productions and Cultural Proficiency Trainings. His service has earned respect across the entertainment industry, with clients including Will Downing, Kirk Franklin, Chante Moore, Tommy Ford and The Clark Sisters, and board service with the San Diego Urban League, San Diego NAACP and Gospel Industry Network.

Board Member

Laura Martin

Of Little Rock, Arkansas, Laura attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and graduated with honors from Philander Smith College with a Bachelor's degree in Management, followed by a Master's in Public Administration and Human Resource Management from Webster University. She has served in numerous leadership roles, including South Central Regional Educational Advancement Coordinator for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated — an appointment by International President Dorothy Buchanan Wilson — and two terms as Assistant Corresponding Secretary of the Beta Pi Omega Graduate Chapter, where she was initiated in 2006. Her additional leadership includes Chairman of the Ivy Ball, Certified Graduate Advisor, and service on the Executive, Public Relations, Arts, Project 2014-2016 and Undergraduate Mentoring committees. A proud member of the Trendsetting Chi Eta Omega Chapter, she serves on the Graduate Advisory Council and as Educational Advancement Chair. Active in her community, she has served on the Board of Directors of the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, as Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Coordinator for the Little Rock Police Department, a Volunteer in Public Schools with the Little Rock School District, and on the district's Anti-Bullying Advisory Committee. Formerly Director of Communications overseeing the Little Rock Police Department's 9-1-1 Center, she served as State President of Public-Safety Communications Officials, is a Homeland Security Specialist and evaluator of police agencies, and completed FEMA Emergency Management Institute training as an Integrated Emergency Management Specialist. A former Mrs. Arkansas America (1995), she is a pageant director, judge and coach, and a requested actress, commentator and speaker. She has been married to Pastor Kenneth Martin for 37 years; they are parents of Kenneth Matthew and William Seth and grandparents of Zoe, Simone and Seth Jr., speak at marriage conferences regionally and internationally, and travel for mission work in Nairobi, Kenya with Sowing Seeds of Joy Ministries.

Board Member

Pastor Nathaniel Stewart

A native of Macon, Georgia, Pastor Nate attended college on a football scholarship with dreams of playing in the NFL. Those plans were halted after a major knee injury during his freshman year, a turning point that led him to pray and seek God about his life and future. In 1997 he accepted his call to full-time ministry, beginning his journey at The Florida School of Preaching and continuing at Christian Bible College, where he received a Bachelor of Theology Degree and a Master of Ministry Degree in Christian Counseling. Pastor Nate served six and a half years as Pastor of Youth, Young Adults and Singles at St. Mark Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, and was privileged to serve as interim Teaching Pastor from 2011-2013. In 2013 he relocated to Cleveland, Ohio, to serve as Executive Director of Ministry at New Community Bible Fellowship under Pastor Kevin E. James, before returning to his home state to serve as Executive Pastor at The House of Hope Atlanta and The House of Hope Macon under the direction of his spiritual father and mentor, Dr. E. Dewey Smith, Jr. He later became Campus Pastor of their third location, The House of Hope Southpoint. In 2017, after an unexpected call from the Lord, Pastor Nate accepted the role as Senior Pastor of Greater Life Baptist Church, moving his family to San Diego, California to serve as the third pastor in the church's 45-year history. In just 11 months under his leadership, the church's weekly attendance, membership and giving grew so significantly that the church needed to expand; they have since broken ground on a Phase One Renovation & Expansion Project and celebrated a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for their newly renovated Life Center and Preschool. The church is quickly becoming a diverse, multicultural beacon of light in the San Diego community and surrounding areas. Pastor Nate has been blessed to travel throughout the country conducting revivals, workshops and seminars, and has shared the Gospel internationally in Haiti and Jamaica. His daily desire is to be a faithful husband and committed father to his sons, his first ministry.

Board Member

Pamela Gray Payton

Pamela Gray Payton has spent nearly three decades in service of communities deserving equitable opportunities — first as an administrator at the University of San Diego, and for the past six years as Vice President and Chief Impact & Partnerships Officer at San Diego Foundation (SDF). At SDF, Pamela leads the Community Impact Division, where she and her team have driven consecutive years of record-breaking grantmaking while reimagining what philanthropy can accomplish. Under her leadership, SDF has moved beyond traditional grantmaking into direct, systemic interventions — most notably the Access Granted Homebuyers Program, the first of its kind in California, which has helped 120 families build generational wealth through homeownership, representing more than $58 million in home equity. Her work reflects a consistent conviction: that lasting change requires not just funding good ideas, but building the cross-sector partnerships and structural shifts that let communities thrive on their own terms. That same conviction shaped her 24 years at USD, where she rose through leadership roles in public relations, communications, and community and government affairs — work she anchored by co-founding USD's Black Student Resource Center, ensuring Black students had a dedicated space of belonging and support on campus. A USD alumna, Pamela holds a master's degree from the Knauss School of Business and a bachelor's degree from UC San Diego. She chairs the board of the Monarch School Project, leads the national Community Foundation Opportunity Network, and serves on several local advisory councils, including the UC San Diego Chancellor's Community Advisory Council and the Lifeline Community Services CEO Advisory Council. Her contributions have been recognized nationally and locally: she is an Honorary Member of Beta Gamma Sigma through the USD Knauss School of Business, a four-time San Diego Business Journal Black Leaders of Influence honoree, a 2024 Girl Scouts San Diego Cool Woman Honoree, and the 2022 California Woman of the Year for the 79th Assembly District. The proud daughter of a retired higher education administrator, wife, and mother of three adult children, Pamela is an active member of the Epsilon Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated — carrying forward a lifelong commitment to community, mentorship, and service.