Our Staff

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After a 30-year career in accounting, Cynthia came to Community Renewal in 2011. “I had been praying for a job where I could serve people instead of serving the ‘bottom line’ of the company. I finally found my dream job at Community Renewal.” Cynthia first fell in love with Community Renewal through a tour where she saw the work at a Friendship House first-hand. “I could see that the children were nurtured and loved at the Friendship House, and the Community Coordinators were totally involved in teaching and leading them to care more about themselves and their neighborhood.”

Cynthia is a graduate of Belhaven University with a B.S. in Accounting, and of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Religious Education. She worked for non-profits for ten years in Texas before coming to the Shreveport-Bossier area. Cynthia’s strengths are spreadsheets, databases and streamlining computer and accounting procedures. She is the pastor’s wife and organist at the First Baptist Church in Benton, and enjoys Bible teaching, stitching, writing and music.

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DeCedric Bowman saw the need for men to be mentors and knew he needed to get involved. That desire led him to the position of community coordinator overseeing youth programs at the Allendale Friendship House.

“Statistics say these kids are not going to be anything because of where they are from and how they were raised. And I want to help,” said DeCedric, a welder and mechanic who describes himself as a jack of all trades.

“I want to make sure they know they are not counted out. They can still make it. Regardless of what people may say, they are able.”

DeCedric and his wife, Mirekle, have four children. She looks forward to working with him in Allendale.

“We came here and felt like we were home,” she said. “There are a lot of kids who don’t have hope. There are a lot of kids who don’t have love in their family. We are here for them and we are here to show everyone love.”

DeCedric was raised by a single mother and his grandmother and they instilled values in him that he wants to pass on.

“I want to make sure all these kids know that if they don’t have a father figure in their life, I am here for them,” he said. “I am so determined. With God on our side, nothing is impossible. We are going to get it done.”

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Sherry joined the staff following her long time mentor Jewel Mariner in 2002 because she wanted “meaningful work helping people. It doesn’t even feel like a job.” Sherry worked with teenagers, their families, and neighbors in the Allendale neighborhood, a low-income area that has seen a remarkable resurgence thanks to partnerships with The Fuller Center for Housing, First United Methodist Church, AEP Swepco and others. In 2015, Sherry transitioned to work as the Volunteer and Service Project Coordinator.  A USAF Veteran, Sherry works with groups who want to partner to do one-time or ongoing projects.  She also places individual volunteers in our five target neighborhoods where Friendship Houses & Adult Renewal Academy Classes are located. Sherry received a basketball scholarship at Cleveland State Community College after high school and then served five and a half years in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft pneudraulic system specialist. She received the Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal-Desert Storm and the Longevity Service Award during her Air Force career. The proud mother of two sons, she wanted to be an example to them by serving others.

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Patrick Drew has journeyed full circle in one of Shreveport’s more challenging neighborhoods, the Martin Luther King Jr. area, site of the newest Community Renewal Friendship House.

“I used to tear down the neighborhood and now I am part of building back the neighborhood. I thank God for this opportunity,” he said. “I was born and raised in this neighborhood and I haven’t always done the right thing. I made a lot of bad choices. But coming back to serve this community and help young people make right choices is a big opportunity.”

Husband and wife Patrick and Caronda Drew serve together as community coordinators in North Shreveport’s MLK neighborhood Friendship House, built in 2023. Patrick, who recently graduated from our Adult Renewal Academy, is overseeing the Youth Club, with Caronda working with children, while they both work with families.

“In order to make change, you have to be hands-on,” Patrick said. “This is my calling from God. I wanted to do this because I wanted to be someone who makes positive change. To do that, you have to really be active and have boots on the ground and love people.”

Caronda, also a Shreveport native, said one of her goals is to build a caring self-confidence in the neighborhood’s children.

“I want them to know they can, whatever it is they want to be, I want them to know it is possible,” she said. “I want them to experience life and know that nothing is out of their reach. They need love. And when you show a person love, it goes a long way.”

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Before joining Community Renewal in 2003, Jimmy served in church leadership. Prior to that he spent time in the banking industry and then enjoyed a successful sales career in the medical equipment industry, where he was inducted into the President’s Club. Jimmy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Finance from Louisiana Tech University. “I have had several opportunities to leave Shreveport-Bossier over the years but have always felt compelled to stay in this community. I truly love this community, the people, the culture, the pace, the tennis, and the food, of course! I believe our community holds much promise and potential to be a light and a beacon of hope impacting this region and our country. I am grateful to be a part of this amazing team and the dynamic movement of Community Renewal both locally and nationally.”

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Sabrina reaches out to the children and their families in the Queensborough neighborhood, which has a history of low-income, high-crime problems to overcome. Sabrina and her husband have four children of their own and Sabrina wants the best for the neighborhood children just as much as she does for her own. “I have a heart for these children in the inner-city. I hope to give them confidence. I want them to know they can achieve things and have success,” she says.

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Clyde and Cortland Jones, both ordained ministers and children of pastors, moved into a Highland neighborhood Friendship House in the fall of 2022 with giving hearts. But the gifts they have can’t be wrapped in colorful paper. 

“Kids today need so much support. It’s so important to ignite a sense of hope in them,” she said.

Cortland is our new community coordinator overseeing the Highland Kids Club. She and her husband, Clyde, have a teen-age son – and now dozens of boys and girls in their family.

“I am excited about getting to know these kids and helping them. We want to get involved in their schools and break the cycle of poverty,” she said.

“We want them to know they can rise above anything and we want to give them the tools to do that. We want them to be successful.”

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Pam joined the technical support group in 2002 and provides administrative assistance for staff personnel. “I’m giving in my work. I’m uncomfortable when I’m not caught up in my job,” she says. Pam previously worked with a professional law firm, the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the U.S. Postal Service and others. Pam completed 81 hours from Grambling State University as an education major with additional training in word processing and accounting from Bossier Parish Community College, Shreveport-Bossier Vocational Technical School and Louisiana School of Professions. Pam is a Haven House leader in her neighborhood and is active as a community volunteer and in her church.

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At one time, Dr. Mike Leonard’s only plan for the future was to one day move from practicing dentistry to practicing his golf swing. “I wanted to play the top 100 golf courses in the United States,” he said. But after volunteering with Community Renewal, and a growing friendship with CRI Founder Mack McCarter, the course of his life took a different path. In 2005, he left his dental practice of 24 years and joined the Community Renewal team as associate coordinator. “I was scared because it was an unknown chance. I had talked a lot about faith and now God was giving me an opportunity to practice some! Now, 20 years later, I can say beyond a shadow of doubt, that it was the best decision of my life.” Mike attended LSU, where he lettered three years as a defensive back on the Tigers football team, and was named to the SEC All-Academic Team. He graduated from the LSU School of Dentistry in 1981. He has been named SB Magazine Favorite Dentist and won The Times Unsung Hero Award for his community involvement. Mike has also been elected to the 2025 C.E. Byrd High School Hall of Fame.

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Going from volunteer to full-time employee in 2004, Dianne brought a variety of skills from her previous professional positions. Dianne assists in a variety of work areas, including issues involving the Center for Community Renewal, property concerns and grant applications. She taught Spanish to middle school children for 10 years at Saint Joseph School. Her expertise in teaching has allowed her to sharpen her communication skills, both verbal and written. Additionally, she is a Notary Public and has experience in title research and real estate gained from her work as a paralegal in a law office.

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”Nina Marie, our new community liaison, reaches out to current and potential partners – businesses, churches and other organizations – to build the network of caring in our area.

“My tagline is unity in the community. I have a passion for community development and this was such a good fit for me. I’ve done a lot of legwork getting to know people in the community, building on relationships that I had and forming new ones,” she said.

Nina is a native of Michigan who came south to attend Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, graduating with a degree in business management. She was introduced to Community Renewal by her parents, who both worked with the Adult Renewal Academy.

Nina would like to see an actively used community calendar, more community events and greater awareness when there is a need for volunteers.

“We want safer neighborhoods and stronger communities. I’m excited about this and looking forward to what God is doing. If you are interested in being involved, please reach out.”

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Liz first found out about Community Renewal through her mom, Dianne Loridans, who was an employee at the organization. Later, Liz started volunteering at Community Renewal and then became a full-time employee. Liz graduated from BPCC with a degree in 3-D Animation and uses her design skills to help everyone and everything look better! “I like doing graphic work more than anything else.” Liz believes that Community Renewal’s mission is an important “inter-social service” that sets the organization apart from other non-profits. Not only is she helping make a difference here, but the organization has made a difference in her. “It’s definitely improved my own social skill sets and that’s not something that comes naturally to me.”

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David joined the staff in 1997 as Director of Technology and later assumed the additional role of Director of Administration. David is director of information management serving information systems, information technology, and information processing. He also assists with strategic planning and program development and he works alongside four other senior staffers as members of the internal advisory committee for program development, evaluation, oversight, curriculum development and nation-wide replication planning and technical assistance. David acquired a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas Christian University and participated in the TCU Summer Study Abroad Program at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He served on the board of the Shreveport-Bossier Service Connection for four years and served as vice-chairman for one.

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Mack McCarter is founder and coordinator of Community Renewal International. A native of Shreveport, La., Mack holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion from Texas Christian University and a Master of Divinity Degree from Brite Divinity School. He served as a pastor for 18 years in Texas before returning to Shreveport in 1991 to begin implementing his vision for community renewal. Raised in Shreveport before the civil rights movement, he witnessed “massive injustice” and continues to be motivated by those experiences. His vision for community renewal came in 1981 when he was pastoring a church in Hereford, Texas. Mack and his wife, Judy, have two children, David and Nancy.

For a collection of Mack’s writings, click here »

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Valentin is a native of Cameroon who came to Shreveport to further his education. He started as an intern and research analyst with Community Renewal and then moved into his current position as his passion for sharing Community Renewal with the world grew. Valentin earned a Doctorate in Political Science from the University of Yaounde in Cameroon and a Master of Science degree in Human Services Administration at LSU-Shreveport. In Cameroon, Valentin worked as a faculty member teaching constitutional and administrative law and a variety of social science classes while publishing various research. He is a former business owner and is the founder of the first Adult Learning Program in Cameroon. Through Valentin’s leadership, Community Renewal is now in development in Cameroon and other countries in Africa.  He currently works out of Washington, DC.

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Gloria serves as the Coordinator for the Adult Renewal Academy, which helps adults of all ages broaden their education and earn their GED/High School Equivalency diploma. Gloria has worked tirelessly to recruit teachers, students and partners to develop the academy into the life-changing program it is today. “I want to see people, young and old, set free from all the things that prevent them from being productive citizens,” she says. Gloria is a Certified Elementary and Middle School teacher with nine years of service and a Licensed Professional Counselor with 18 years of experience. She has state certification in school supervision and principalship. She received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Grambling State University and a Master of Arts in Counseling and Plus 30 degree from Louisiana Tech University. She is the author of Anger in the North (Companion Press) and is an active leader in her church. She was a 2001 finalist for the Blue Cross, Blue Shield Angel Award.

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Russell came to Community Renewal in 2001 to serve as Director of Haven House. His passions are to love God and to love people. Russell served our nation over 28 years in the Air Force. He led in 14 command-level, war-time, presidential support positions around the world. He held the highest NCO positions of trust: a First Sergeant, Chief Master Sergeant and Senior Enlisted Advisor. Some of his military decorations include: the National Defense Meritorious Service Medal, six Air Force Meritorious Service Medals, 10 Top Leadership Awards of the Year, and five Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards. Russell graduated from the NCO Leadership School, the Advanced Supervisory School with top honors, the NCO Academy with honors, and the First Sergeants’ Academy, and the Senior NCO Academy with distinction. He is a minister at Mt. Canaan Baptist Church where he serves as Chairman of Evangelism, Worship Leader and Sunday School teacher. He has an Associate Degree in Management from the Community College of the Air Force, a Bachelor’s of Business Administration and Organizational Management from Wiley College, and a Master’s Degree in Theology and Ph.D. in Biblical Studies and Philosophy from Louisiana Baptist University.

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Kim officially joined the CRI team as founding director of the Center for Community Renewal (CCR) in February 2014. Association with CRI since 2002 has grown in him a deep understanding of the CRI model potential to make the world a better place. During that time his unique skills have contributed to research and development strategies and methodologies for replicating the CRI model nationally. Among innovations to date are Think Tank Charrettes and Agile Planning. Kim holds several degrees in architecture as well as extended sociological education. A distinguished 37 year adventure as architect, planner, civic leader and community advocate has prepared Kim for the exciting opportunity to launch and grow the CCR. He is a member of the core development team for “Strategic Doing;” a discipline for guiding loosely joined open networks currently incubating at Purdue University. Sustainable design, a skillset Kim has cultivated throughout his architectural career and LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environment Design) Accreditation, is founding chairman of the Louisiana Architecture Foundation, past president of AIA Louisiana, past president of the Louisiana Architects Licensing Board, architectural licensing test writing committee for the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, and adjunct architectural professor are among his many services to the architectural profession.  He has also testified before a congressional subcommittee concerning small business size standards and is a tireless advocate for design thinking, meaningful community engagement, historic preservation and local economies.

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Pam was promoted in January 2017 to serve as Community Coordinator for the Kids Club in the Allendale neighborhood, where she once lived in a small “shotgun house.” One of many CRI success stories, Pam also coordinates many other activities at the Friendship House and previously served as neighborhood ambassador. She has a wealth of knowledge about Allendale and its residents and a commitment to meet and greet new and existing residents. Pam has also volunteered with her church and other community programs, such as the YWCA, Volunteers of America and the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana.

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DeTrevon Moore loved the life he had as a “neighborhood kid” growing up in Shreveport – playing outside, meeting his friends, attending neighborhood schools. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in the Top 5 of his 2013 class, having served as president of the student body, captain of the football team and more.

Today he is serving in a different way – as a community coordinator overseeing youth programs at our Cedar Grove Friendship House.

“A lot of our youth are focused on the wrong thing and they have a lot of negative energy. My goal is to re-prime the minds of our youth to focus on bigger and better things that are beneficial to them and the community. We want them to have a positive outlook on life,” he said.

“We want the neighborhood to function as a family where everybody is involved. I believe in a community in motion. I’m very excited about the possibilities.”

DeTrevon and his wife, Jasmine, have three boys – two toddlers and a newborn.

All through her teenage years, Antoinette Needhom kept fighting the same battle over and over again – a struggle against the hopelessness that kept pulling her down. “I was in a dark place and I started searching for a way to cope,” the Shreveport native said.

After one unsuccessful attempt to earn her high-school diploma, Antoinette dealt with fears of living alone and failing her children. She knew something had to change before it was too late. A friend told her about Community Renewal’s Adult Renewal Academy. Now married and regaining some of the hope she had lost, Antoinette and her husband started classes at the ARA, graduating in 2021.

“They helped me learn how to dream again and have hope for a better community and a better life,” she said.

Moving forward with mentors and a new dedication, she then became Allendale neighborhood ambassador and knew that she was finding a new purpose in life with Community Renewal. She is now the community coordinator at the Barksdale Annex Friendship House, overseeing the Kids Club.

“I pray that they will never lose the desire to learn because education is the master key to many things in life,” she said. “I pray that my testimony will inspire them and encourage them to do the right thing. I pray they can reach whatever dream they have regardless of whatever odds might be stacked against them. I want them to be encouraged and be involved in the community because we are better together.”

Although Robert was born in Dallas, he’s spent most of his life in Shreveport. Before joining the CRI team, Robert worked in management for McDonald’s restaurant and served in the Army National Guard. Robert found CRI through a non-profit employment agency and worked as a full-time volunteer for two years before being hired on as a full-time employee. What he enjoys most about his work is the relationships with his co-workers, “I like the way people stick by you no matter what.” Robert has spent over 10 years at CRI and hopes to continue working here until he retires. He describes his career at CRI as a “pleasant experience” and firmly believes that “Community Renewal may be the path towards world peace.”

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Deidra Robertson grew up in the Martin Luther King area in Shreveport and saw neighbors fall in to drugs and delinquent behavior. “I’ve always had this ‘save the world’ mentality,” said Robertson. “I thought it was my mission to save kids from that kind of future.” After graduating from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Robertson interned with the Lafayette Police Department where she discovered that police work was not the job for her. After volunteering for with a church summer camp, God gave her a vision, much like the Operation H.O.P.E. program that Robertson is the director of and holds so dearly to heart.  “I don’t look at it as a job, it’s really a kingdom assignment.”

Rebecca Scott and her daughter, Jamie, lived in New Orleans until late August of 2005, when their home was destroyed by the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina. They evacuated to Shreveport and applied for one of the homes built by The Fuller Center for Housing for the Building on Higher Ground project. In New Orleans, Rebecca worked as a customer service agent for a phone company and as an administrative assistant for Sears Regional Credit Central. Rebecca – who is one of 21 children – also has a grown son, Michael, and she has one grandchild and two step-grandchildren. She was active at Metropolitan Baptist Church in New Orleans, where she worked in the youth department, and she served as vice president of the PTA at her daughter’s school. She is now just as active in her new Shreveport neighborhood, where she serves as a Community Renewal Haven House leader.

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Tina started as a Community Coordinator for youth in the Barksdale Annex neighborhood of Bossier City in 2002. Tina retired after 21 years in the U.S. Air Force as a Senior Master Sergeant. She supervised Airmen and worked as Drill Instructor for the Caddo Commission in the Specialized Treatment and Rehabilitation (S.T.A.R.) Program, where she supervised children. Tina earned an Associate Degree in Logistic Management from the Community College of Air Force and an Associate of Applied Science from Henderson County Junior College. She received the Meritorious Service Medal, Commendation Medal and the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year Award. Tina enjoys the interaction with people at the Friendship House. “We pray with people, get to know them and their needs, strengths, fears, and what they would like to see in our neighborhood. I’ve seen changes for the good,” she says.

Le’Andrea Taylor’s passion for helping youth has taken her from basketball courts to a neighborhood corner – the corner that is home to a Queensborough Friendship House.

Raised in nearby Mooringsport, graduating from Northwood High School, earning a degree in psychology and serving in the U.S. National Guard for 10 years has prepared her for this new opportunity with Community Renewal.

“I asked God to put me in a place to make a difference, and now my prayers are coming to pass. I know that with God I will succeed,” she said. Le’Andrea is a mother of two teenage girls. Her husband, James, is a Shreveport car mechanic.

“Coming into the Friendship House, I am very excited because I want to make a difference when it comes to kids. My goal for the Queensborough neighborhood is to build their self-esteem and let them know they are wanted. I want them to go to the next level,” she said.

“One of the things about Community Renewal that really touched my heart was they were doing things that I was doing. When I was about 19, I started a nonprofit basketball team to keep kids off the street at nighttime. It was called Midnight Madness and while I was doing that, I was introduced to Community Renewal.

“I really believe knowing your neighbor is very important. By knowing and having a friendship with your neighbor, you can protect each other from things. If I know you are watching out for me, that makes me feel more safe when I am home alone with my girls.”

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Michelle joined the staff in 2002 and has moved from receptionist to Community Coordinator in the Cedar Grove neighborhood. “You start with the kids, the kids become adults, and the lessons they have learned at their Friendship House will make for a better, safer neighborhood,” she says. Michelle previously worked for The City of Shreveport in both Community Services and the Code Enforcement offices. She holds an Associate of Applied Science from Southern University. “I like the fact that I have the opportunity to make an impact on young children’s lives to make them better citizens,” she says. “I don’t want to be another program. I want to be somebody who truly cares. I want to know their dreams and goals and help them reach those goals. I want to be able to go to their high school graduation and see them succeed in life.”

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Sharpel Welch, an Army veteran and educator, was named Director of the Renewal Team in August 2021. She previously served as a youth community coordinator at the Friendship House in the Allendale and Highland neighborhoods. By building trust and relationships in the community, she has helped establish partnerships that have become a foundation for neighborhood growth. Welch has also served as a mentor and role model for many girls and young women in the community and has made an immediate impact on youth education levels. Welch was named a 2019 Civil Society Fellow at the Manhattan Institute and her work has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, the national broadcast Dr. Drew radio program and in Philanthropy Magazine, City Journal, the Shreveport Times, and on FoxNews.com. She received her BSBA and MBA in Human Resources Management from Colorado Technical University. She is in the process of completing her Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership from Grand Canyon University.

After a 22-year career writing for newspapers, David joined Community Renewal in 2004 to produce the quarterly newsletter, work with the news media, oversee the web site, produce videos and handle other communications. “What I really enjoy is telling the human interest stories about people whose lives are renewed and changed. It’s so rewarding when those stories then inspire others,” he says. In his journalism career, David wrote on many topics. He traveled to Russia soon after the fall of communism for a special report on a church outreach there. He was one of the first reporters on the scene after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. David has won numerous writing awards from the Associated Press, Gannett News Service, The (Shreveport) Times and other groups. David has done freelance writing for Guideposts, Kiwanis, USA Today, USA Weekend, The Dallas Morning News and others. He enjoys photography and traveling.

Georgia Flook
ARA Public Relations Coordinator | Social Media

Lonzo Sheffield
Barksdale Annex Neighborhood Ambassador

Rebecca Taylor
Administrative Receptionist

Wade Shemwell
Haven House Assistant