Rachel Bullard - President & Treasurer
Rachel Bullard is a former special education teacher and Brooklyn-born author who travels extensively to experience the world through the eyes of those who are often invisible. As a social anthropologist, she has immersed herself in the international culture, customs, and cuisine of 30+ countries, including Kenya, where she lived among the Masai. She holds a Bachelor's degree in sociology from Alfred University, an MS in education from Brooklyn College. She is a published author and an aspiring film producer, with the feature film "We're Not Married?" in her catalog. Rachel spent her early years very active in fighting for social justice, and volunteering in communities around the world with Habitat for Humanity. She believes in the power of being a life-long learner and doing your own research. She currently resides in the United States.
Angel King - Vice President
Angel King grew up in Brooklyn, New York. As the first person to earn a college degree in her family, Angel dug deep into the hard skills needed to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Legal Assistant Studies from New York City Technical College and a Master of Science Degree in Legal Studies from Kaplan University. She also obtained an Advanced Christian Life Coaching Certification from Light University. She has worked in the field of mental health for over 20 years as a Developmental Specialist at Goodwill Industries working with individuals with intellectual disabilities, as a Therapeutic Staff Support person at Cornell Abraxas, T.W. Ponessa & Associates, and PA Counseling Services, working with individuals on the autism spectrum, individuals with ADHD, and ODD. She continued at PCS as a Multi-Systemic Therapist working with families to decrease antisocial behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse, criminal behaviors, and truancy, in teens by collaborating with systems surrounding the youth, including the juvenile probation department, children & youth, schools, employment, family, friends, and the community, while supporting and providing tools to the caregivers on how to manage and change the negative behaviors. She also helped address symptoms of depression, schizophrenia, and many other DSM classifications.
With Angel’s most recent work as a psychoanalyst, she conducted cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxational therapy, reminiscent therapy, and other psychotherapies to assist the elderly and other individuals deal and cope with the abrupt change in their lives and to promote healing for them to be able to adjust to their new lifestyle. After years of serving as a mental health provider, Angel started her own businesses. She is the Sole Proprietor of a sparkling lip line, Anjewellips, and the owner of Angel’s Kuddly Canine Care (AKCC) under her Diane’s Daughter LLC brand.
For over 30 years, Angel has served her communities as a volunteer and is an active member of SOAL (Saving Our Ancestors Legacy), where she resets headstones, cleans gravestones, restores historic cemetery features, repairs gravestones, and completes other cemetery maintenance and activities. She is also the Steward of a Little Free Library that she manages, located outside of the Historic African American Cemetery that SOAL restores. In addition, Angel volunteers some of her time at Caitlin Smiles helping to bring smiles to children’s faces who are battling cancer.
Angel is a wife, mother of three, and grandmother of three. She was a battered woman, a young mother, and parentless teen, who became her own first client, a goal seeker, a prayer warrior, and a changed woman who consistently helps others that struggle with how to move forward and succeed. She is an advocate for change.
Victoria Ficklin - Director of Community Relations/Secretary
Victoria Capri (Vikki), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the only child of Gloria
Effie Bullard and Robert Harold Ficklin. She spent her early years living on the
Historic Hill District and during the late ‘50’s, she and her mother moved and lived in Chicago. After completing high school Vikki moved to New York City and began working in the hospitality industry, which came very naturally to her. Moving back to Pittsburgh in the 1970s, she worked and honed her skills in the hospitality industry, became part owner/manager of a Nightclub/Restaurant on the Island of St. Thomas and over a 25 year period, worked in many 4 and 5 star Fine Dining establishments in St. Thomas, Washington, DC, and Salt Lake City, Utah.
In 1999 Vikki decided to go back to school where she completed her degree in
Social Sciences and in 2001, along with her mother, relocated from Pittsburgh to
Las Vegas, where she expanded her experiences by working with many social
service agencies. At the Shade Tree Shelter for Women and Children, Vikki developed the Back-To-Work Program for women transitioning from homelessness. She developed class formats, taught interviewing skills, and provided women with the resources needed to become employed and self-sufficient. She also served as an Admissions Counselor for The Sierra Nevada Job Corps as well as 2 career colleges – Las Vegas College and Nevada Career Institute.
Vikki has always been very committed to passing on the heritage of community to younger generations, and she believes that, literally, our children are our future and to be successful in that future, they must know who they are.
Her most meaningful quote is: ‘You Can’t Know Where You’re Going Unless You Know where You’ve Been.’