MEET THE TEAM
Franklin Vance Warren Opportunity, Inc. is here to serve the residents of our region. Our team of professionals is dedicated to providing services that help improve the quality of life for the people we serve. We are your fellow residents and your neighbors, and we are committed to building a bright future for our community. We'd like to introduce ourselves to you...
Abdul Sm Rasheed was a founder and the former CEO of the North Carolina Community Development Initiative and Initiative Capital, a “US Treasury Certified Development Finance Institution.” For 20 years Abdul supported the development of public/private efforts supporting local community development corporations, leadership development, and capacity building, while working with local low-income leaders, government, foundations, private corporations, banks, and other financial institutions. Abdul attracted $100 million in capital, leveraging over $700 million in local development. These efforts produced housing, retail/commercial ventures, industrial projects, and projects that provide housing for seniors and families, jobs and services in low-income areas. Currently, Abdul serves as Senior Advisor to the board of Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunity and CEO. FVWOPP, Inc. is a $9 Million Community Action Agency serving 4 counties. In 2016-2017 Abdul served as CEO of WildAcres Leadership Initiative and its signature program, William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations. From 2014 through 2016, Abdul served as Interim CEO of the Center for Leadership Innovation, managing the signature Bank of America –Neighborhood Leadership Initiative, a national Grant and Leadership development program for nonprofits.
For over 20 years, Abdul hosted and conferred with delegations from 6 continents, studying the model and work of community development initiatives. Abdul has been a sought–after speaker and has served on local and national boards. Abdul has served as the Chair for the Richmond Federal Reserve Regional Advisory Board, Chair of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, Chair of the Center for Community Self Help (Self Help Credit Union), Chair of the NC Housing Trust Fund, and Chair of the Elizabeth City State University Board of Trustee. Abdul also served on the original State Farm National Bank Advisory Board.
Abdul currently serves on the board of the Institute for Emerging Issues, NC State University, the National Center of the Black Aged, Washington, DC, Performing Arts Center McGregor Hall in his hometown of Henderson and the Board of Vance Granville Community College. Abdul currently chairs the boards of the National Alumni Associations of Elizabeth City State University and the National Alumni Association Roundtable for the 10 HBCU’s in North Carolina.
In 2017, Governor Roy Cooper appointed Abdul to the NC Rural Infrastructure Authority, a funding and investment system to support economic development, building reuse, and other economic interests throughout the state. While fully committed, Abdul still finds time to coach a youth basketball team of 10 to 12-year olds in the local recreation basketball league.
Abdul has traveled extensively throughout the US, Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Mexico, and was the guest of the National Conference of Black Housing Developers in Manchester England to advise on housing development for low-income communities. Abdul holds a BS in Basic Business, MED in Counseling and Personnel Services, MS in Community Economic Development, and is a graduate of the Senior Executive Management Program of the John F. Kennedy School Harvard University.
Abdul lives in Henderson and is married to Marolyn, they are the proud parents of five with seven grandchildren.
FELICIA
COLEMAN
GREGORY
Chief Operating Officer
Felicia Coleman Gregory currently works for Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunity, Inc. as the Chief Operating Officer. She graduated from Saint Augustine’s College in 1994 with a degree in Administration. At Franklin-Vance-Warren, she handles the day to day operations and works to improve the lives of all that enter the doors. She believes that if she can help just one, she has done what she was charged to do.
Naima has had over 20 years of experience working in early childhood development and education and has worked at FVWOPP since 2005. Her experience as an Intake Specialist in the Urgent Repair Program, the Head Start Nutrition Program Manager and Deputy Director, and her work in licensed daycare center have given her a broad view of providing care and support through social service programs. Naima currently holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education Administration.
Naima thoroughly enjoys working with children and families; it brings her great joy to see children thrive. It is also rewarding to be a part of the huge impact Head Start has on the lives of the families the program serves.
NAIMA B.
MOSLEY
Head Start Director
DWENDOLYN R.
FLOYD
Education Program Manager
Dwendolyn R. Floyd is an Education Program Manager at Franklin Vance Warren Opportunity Head Start, where she supervises and coordinates the education program and training for staff. She also designs and supervises the implementation of Education requirements for the Performance Standards.
Dwendolyn has worked at Franklin Vance Warren Head Start in a number of positions, including Assistant Teacher, Teacher, Center Director, Family Service Worker, and Social Service/Parent Involvement Coordinator among others. She is a certified CLASS observer as well as affiliate CLASS trainer. She demonstrates proficiency in observing and coding classroom interactions. Dwendolyn has a Master’s in Education and a BA in Early Childhood Administration.
SHIRLEY l..
PERSON
Data Program Manager
Shirley L. Person is the Data Program Manager at Franklin Vance Warren Opp., Inc Head Start. She has worked with the agency for 19 years starting with an internship and later obtaining a fulltime position. She has worked as a Weatherization Intake Specialist, Family Service Worker, and now Data Program Manager. Shirley manages the day to day input in the Child Plus data system for all Head Start applicants, in-kind volunteers, and also collecting analyzing and generating reports. Shirley also has been a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician for over 10+ years.
Doris Alston is the Health/Nutrition Manager for Franklin Vance Warren Opportunity Inc. Doris keeps track of all medical and nutritional needs for all enrolled Head Start children. Doris also supervises Head Start kitchen staff. Doris has held several positions throughout her Thirty two-year career with the agency. Doris is a former head start student who still enjoys singing the Head Start Song. Ms. Alston holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and an NC Health Child Care Health Advocate.certification.
DORIS
ALSTON
FCE & ERSEA MANAGER
BETH
DARNELL
Health / Mental Health and Facilities Manager
Beth is the Social Service/Parent Involvement Manager at Franklin Vance Warren Opportunity, Inc. Head Start. Beth started working at Head Start as a Family Service Worker doing home visits with families to learn more about the families, explore goals and opportunities, and try to help find resources to achieve goals for the family to become more self-sufficient. As the program manager, Beth oversees the work of 8 – 9 Family Service Workers to still continue to help our families become more self-sufficient. Beth also helps with the ERSEA (Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance) of the children in our program,
Beth received a Family Support Credentials from Duke University Division of Continuing Studies. During this program, Beth implemented an informational brochure with a client contact tear-off sheet that was implemented and still being used at the agency to help in recruitment.
HEDDIE ALSTON
SOMERVILLE
YouthBuild Program Director
Heddie Alston Somerville, the Program Director of Franklin Vance Warren Opportunity Inc’s newest endeavor YouthBuild, is a native of Henderson, an alumnus of the Agency’s Head Start Program and a direct product of Vance County Schools. Heddie received her first degree in Speech Education from North Carolina A&T University. She returned home and began teaching, falling in love with educating children which led her to pursue a degree in education. She obtained this degree from North Carolina Central University. To further her reach, she then obtained her Masters in Administration from NC State. Taking her knowledge and passion for education and for the youth of the community, she dove head first into the Vance County School system where she served the youth of the county as a teacher for 7 years, as an assistant principal for 2 years then as a principal for 10 years where she received many accolades and awards such as NCAACP Achievement Award, VCS Principal of the year, Wells Fargo District Principal of the year NCAE Principal of the year Finalist then Principal of the Year. With her guidance and leadership, the schools she led received several awards as well such as School of the Year and Reward Schools Award for Sustaining Highest Performance of Achievement for multiple years.
After retiring from VCS after nearly 30 years, and spending time with her 2 children, 3 grandchildren and the multitude of god-children that were “assigned to her”, she realized that she still had the passion and drive to support young people. She was substituting then went back as a full time First Grade teacher prior to learning of and subsequently joining FVWOPP as the Program Director of the new program YouthBuild. “I sincerely have a passion for uplifting and empowering at risk students. It brings my heart joy to see them push past their fears and life’s obstacles to finally see some light. I want to use my resources to turn challenges into opportunities. The foundations of this YouthBuild program speak directly to the passion that drives my spirit. I want to pour into these students in the hope they will then pour into someone else. ”
FRANKLIN VANCE WARREN OPPORTUNITY, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Franklin Vance Warren Opportunity is governed by a 15-member Board of Directors, who represent leadership from the communities we serve. The Directors provide guidance, financial management, governance and support for the organization, along with advocacy for sustainable operations and community priorities.
