Staff

Sara brings over nine years of experience in administration and operations to her role as Special Assistant to the CEO at Springboard to Opportunities. She serves as a strategic partner to leadership, supporting organizational operations, board governance, and initiatives connected to the Guaranteed Income Community of Practice. Known for her attention to detail and relationship-centered approach, Sara helps translate vision into thoughtful, people-centered execution.

Born and raised in rural Mississippi, Sara’s work is shaped by lived experience and a deep commitment to dignity and equity. She is a wife and mother to two magical girls, who keep her grounded and curious.

Areial Watts serves as the Manager of Fellowships & Advocacy at Springboard to Opportunities, where she leads fellowship programming and advocacy initiatives that elevate resident voices and lived experiences. She equips fellows with the knowledge, tools, and opportunities to navigate complex systems, strengthen their leadership, influence policy, and shape decisions affecting their families and communities. A skilled facilitator and relationship-builder, Areial is passionate about creating pathways for residents to build power and advance solutions rooted in community knowledge and experience.

Areial earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Policy and Administration from The University of Southern Mississippi and a Master of Public Health from Jackson State University. Her graduate studies deepened her understanding of intersectionality and how identities, access, place, and systems shape people’s experiences and opportunities

Throughout her career, she has applied this lens while working alongside individuals and communities impacted by substance use disorders, HIV/AIDS, housing insecurity, and other social and structural inequities. These experiences continue to inform her equity-centered leadership and her commitment to dignity, access, and self-determination.

Outside of work, Areial enjoys spending time with her family and senior dogs, tending to her plants, taking Pilates classes, and experimenting with new dishes in the kitchen.

DeKayliyah Whitsett is a social work professional from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, hailing from the Pine Belt. She earned her Bachelor’s in Social Work from Jackson State University and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Social Work at JSU. With a heart for people and a deep faith, DeKayliyah strives to love her neighbor with the love of God. This passion fuels her work in community social work, where she focuses on supporting, embracing, and advocating for individuals—especially within the Black community—so they can thrive and succeed in life. She is dedicated to creating opportunities, building meaningful connections, and helping others reach their fullest potential. When she’s not working in the community, DeKayliyah enjoys church, traveling, and shopping. She believes that lifting others as you rise is not just work—it’s a way of life.