BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Pure Professionalism
ANGELA U., MSW
Chief Executive Officer
Angela is of Nigerian descent, born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. The underserved community she grew up in is where she is now currently employed and looks to make a positive impact within. Angela has worked with diverse populations, which include foster children, elderly and mentally ill adults.
In 2009, Angela graduated from California State University, Northridge with a bachelors degree in Psychology while working for Los Angeles Unified School District Early Education division. Her passion for enriching young children allowed her to pursue an associates degree in Child Development, Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies at Los Angeles Southwest College in 2014. Upon her completion of the program, she received her credentials as a Site Supervisor.
Angela's desire for furthering her education didn't stop there. After she embarked her career with the County of Los Angeles serving families and children from low socioeconomic backgrounds, she decided to go back to school to obtain her Master's degree in social work with a concentration in mental health. After completing her education at University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work in 2017, Angela extended her plethora of knowledge to provide services to at-risk children and families in the community she was raised in. Angela understands how hard it is growing up and surviving in the inner cities and hopes to continue to make a constructive influence as far as she is involved.
Angela joined Raising the Bar Youth Foundation with the vision and drive to improve upon our Non-Profit Organization, and focused on developing the organization with experience and integrity.
NORCHELLE B., MSW
Program Director
Norchelle M. Brown, MSW
Norchelle Brown is a Watts Los Angeles native and first-generation college graduate. With a solution-based philosophy, Norchelle has been able to impact change at each level of government.
Brown completed a dual bachelor’s program in sociology and African American studies at the University of California, Riverside. In 2013, Norchelle worked as a research assistant for the National Urban League where she further developed her passion for advocating for underserved communities while working in the Education and Youth Development division in their New York office.
In 2016, Norchelle completed a Master’s degree in social work with a concentration in community organizing, planning, and administration from the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. As a graduate student, Norchelle assisted in the office of Board President Monica Garcia of the Los Angeles Board of Education where she wrote policy passed by the board to increase services and resources to address the commercial sexual exploitation of children in Los Angeles schools. The new policy gained support from Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Senator Holly Mitchell, the FBI, and local law enforcement.
Currently, as a Policy Assistant working for the U.S. House of Representatives, Norchelle focuses on issues directly impacting the communities of Compton, Watts, and Willowbrook.
Understanding the need for different perspectives in the decision making process, she serves on several panels and was recently appointed to the California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) Program’s executive steering committee. CalVIP recently funded violence intervention and prevention initiatives across the entire state of California in the amount of $37 million.
In her spare-time she focuses on community building strategies and civic engagement as the founder and executive director of CivicallyME, and mentors young women within her community.
DERRANAE S., MSW
Treasurer/ Director of Community Outreach
Derranae Stuart-Watts, MSW, comes from a Grenadian-American background, born and raised in Los
Angeles. Derranae is currently employed with the County of Los Angeles. In her position, she works with a variety of populations, from children and families to elderly, as well as the mental health population. Specializing in Community Based Interventions, her passion is bringing healing to those who have experienced various forms of trauma and life stressors.
Derranae received her Bachelor’s in Sociology and Master’s in Social Work, with an emphasis on Community Mental Health, from California State University Dominguez Hills. As an intern at Los Angeles Center for Drug and Alcohol Abuse (LACADA) inpatient treatment facility, Derranae assisted individuals who struggled with a history of substance abuse by developing individual treatment plan, conducting one on one therapy sessions to address their needs and to overcome past traumas, and to assist individuals with ways to develop healthy coping skills to ensure sobriety and sober living. With over 10 years of experience working with children and Families within the Los Angeles Unified School District, as well as employment with the County of Los Angeles assisting underserved communities, Derranae strives to empower individuals within the community and encourage independence, self-sufficiency, and financial stability.
In her spare time, Derranae enjoys engaging in art activities, and planning coordinated children’s event. In addition, Derranae focuses on empowering youth in low income communities, encouraging them to overcome barriers they face daily.
JOANNE T., MPH, CHES
Director of Wellness
Joanne Udeochu-Tillman, MPH, CHES is the National Health Education Program Manager for AIDS Healthcare Foundation. In the position she works with the HIV/AIDS positive population to education them on the importance on maintaining their health and preventing further disease and illness. She also is a part time faculty member of California State University Northridge, teaching in the undergraduate public health program.
Joanne received her Master’s in Public Health, with an emphasis in Health Education, from California State University, Northridge in 2012. She obtained her Certified Health Education Specialist certificate in 2013. She has had a very robust career in Health Education which includes working with inner-city youth to implementing health education to active duty military and veterans for the United State Air Force. Her experience consist of applying her Public Health training in hospitals, non-profits, communities, faith-based organizations, health centers, schools, and with an aged-varied population.
Joanne has dedicated many years of her experience and research in reproductive health, concentrating on safe sex education and women's reproductive health. She has a passion for empowering the underserved, tackling the social determinants of health, and contributing to the improvements of their overall health. Mrs. Tillman also loves to travel for personal pleasure and for purpose, including mission trips to various places such as her hometown in Nigeria. She plans to continue her purpose in this field and eventually start her own non-profit organization to support teens in low income communities thrive.