Staff

As a skilled policy strategist and nonprofit leader, Paheadra is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities through legislative advocacy, financial education, and leadership development. Currently serving as Senior Policy Consultant for the Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative, Paheadra drives policy agendas on healthcare access and voter protection. She also works with the Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable and Springboard to Opportunities to develop leadership programs for youth and women. As Executive Director of the Mississippi Community Financial Access Coalition, Paheadra oversees financial education initiatives in the Mississippi Delta, fostering economic growth. She also consults with Acclivity Strategies and teaches with the North Central Planning and Development District.

Sarah Stripp is the Director of Socioeconomic Well-Being at Springboard to Opportunities, where she leads the organization’s cash-based initiatives and socioeconomic policy priorities. With more than a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, she provides strategic direction and leadership, supporting families in reaching their goals. Since joining Springboard in 2016, Sarah has played a key role in launching initiatives such as The Magnolia Mother’s Trust and Springboard’s Emergency Cash Disbursements programs, while advancing the organization’s policy advocacy and narrative change efforts. A graduate of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Fellowship and the Aspen Institute’s Workforce Leadership Academy, Sarah is dedicated to centering community voices and building diverse coalitions to drive meaningful change.

Parthenia Fields is the Manager of Community Programs & Navigation at Springboard to Opportunities. With over ten years of experience serving low-income families and 20 years in education, she specializes in building community relationships and partnerships essential to Springboard’s mission. Since joining in 2014, she has provided on-the-ground services, cultivated partnerships, and developed impactful programs. Now, as a member of the executive leadership team, she leads Community Specialists in empowering families to drive change. Parthenia holds a B.A. and Master of Arts in Teaching from Jackson State University and is the proud mother of one dynamic son.

Ineshia Coleman is the Senior Community Specialist for Springboard To Opportunities and a native of Fayette, Mississippi. She earned a Sociology degree from Tougaloo College, where she developed a passion for mentorship and conducted biological research at institutions like Brown University and Alcorn State. Ineshia also holds a Master’s in Public Health from Jackson State University, where she interned at the Mississippi Department of Health. Focused on community development, she seeks to build strategic partnerships and improve resident outcomes. A self-described introvert, she prioritizes mental health, enjoys family time and bargain shopping, and believes in being “selfish to be selfless.”

With over a decade of experience in community engagement, Tolanda Jones has made significant strides in strengthening and advancing the well-being of diverse and underserved communities. She holds a degree in Systematic Theology and is currently pursuing a second degree in Psychology at Mississippi State University. Tolanda also holds a micro-credential in trauma-informed pedagogy as she is deeply committed to understanding the complexities of the human experience. Tolanda has co-created community-centered programs designed to address the evolving needs of families, emphasizing whole-person well-being and long-term stability. Her work focuses on elevating the voices and lived experiences of the communities she works in solidarity with, ensuring that solutions are shaped by those most impacted. As the program associate at Springboard to Opportunities, Tolanda stewards and helps lead Springboard’s cash-based initiatives, including The Magnolia Mother’s Trust, a guaranteed income program providing low-income Black mothers in Jackson, Mississippi with $1,000 per month for 12 months, no strings attached. Tolanda is a member of Omega Nu Lambda, the Golden Key International Honor Society, and is part of the social and civic organizations that reflect her drive for honoring the dignity of all and collective progress. In her personal life, Tolanda finds joy in music, art, and travel, new culinary experiences, and sharing meaningful moments with her children, family, and friends.

Takyra Moore is a passionate advocate for social justice. Hailing from the Mississippi Delta, she earned a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in African American Studies from Georgetown University. Takyra’s education catalyzed her activism, focusing on equitable opportunities and amplifying underrepresented communities. Her journey, shaped by personal experiences and systemic inequities, fuels her commitment to uplifting marginalized voices and challenging injustice. With a blend of academic rigor and lived experience, Takyra is dedicated to promoting empowerment, driving positive social change, and striving to build a more just and equitable society.