Board of Directors

Ronnique (Ro) Hawkins
Founder, Executive Director

Gilande (Gigi) Mentor
Board Chair and
Program Committee

 Thomas Matthews

Secretary / Treasurer

* LMH is thankful for Amazing Board Members & Advisors!
* Founder and Executive Director Ronnique - Whether you call her Ronnique or “Ro,” Ms. Hawkins discovered her passion for art at an early age. Ms. Hawkins discovered her passion for art at an early age. She is a proud graduate from esteemed institutions such as Weist-Barron, The Sanford Meisner Intensive, the New York School for Film and Television, and New York Film Academy’s Producing Program. Ro’s experiences in television, modeling, and fashion helped shape her global perspective. She went on to produce an Emmy-nominated film and founded the multicultural youth empowerment organization Learn My History Foundation. A lifelong advocate, her work spans various causes including peace initiatives, supporting vulnerable communities, and awareness for both prostate and breast cancer. Affectionately known as “Ms. Ro” by her students, she is deeply inspired by how her journey especially art — alongside the talents of multi-faith leaders and community partners — continues to transform lives through LMH, an intensively benefitting unique and growing youth platform for change.

* Gigi, a loyal parent, wife and Director of Nursing at Plymouth Harbor. She's ready to help bring LMH to a higher level of success. For our community, she offers her extensive healthcare experience to increase quality and efficiency levels of patient care. Highly motivated and enthusiastic, she draws from her reputation in education and counseling as a team player, while encouraging LMH students to implement their desire to help others. Gilande is committed to delivering both the best-in-class care for her patients as and our students. Proven leadership focused on increasing and enhancing LMH's missions of empowerment.

* Thomas Matthews is a proud Reverend, who has been serving as Chaplain at Plymouth Harbor on the Sarasota Bay since December 2022. He has been a member of the Sarasota Ministerial Association since 2024. Thomas also serves on the Board of Directors of the Resurrection House, Inc. With a deep appreciation and care for the young people in our community, he helps to enable them to explore and develop their individual gifts through Learning My History. This organization lets the individuals know that they are seen, heard, and valued. Thomas is eager to help serve LMH students, by highlighting how they are given the tools to assist in their development as individuals, but most of all, they can learn that they are a valued part of our community. Thomas is honored to be part of Learn My History Foundation

Lori Trapp
Board member

* Loria is planning to lend some of her vast experience to help our mission. She has a Masters of Education in Counseling Psychology, Rutgers University, a Bachelors of Arts in Elementary/Special Education, Liberal Arts, and is a Certified Kripalu and more education to expose our students to. LMH students, no matter the wealth, need her expertise, especially as a Psychotherapist who provides individual and group counseling. Lori has been a Guidance Counselor with the NYC Dept. of Education, serving At-Risk and special needs and emotionally challenged youth for over 20 years. She provided 1:1 and group counseling services, identifying those at risk for suicide and providing services in alignment with DOE regulations, child abuse reporting and prevention, staff support and community involvement/integration.

Chanie Moskowitz
Financial Advisor

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* Chanie is a beautiful family oriented woman, who knows the value of helping others and good intending businesses. She enjoys projects geared toward small children and youth in general and always makes time to assist, especially those wishing to make a difference in diverse communities. She's helped many Jewish and non Jewish non profits maximize funding, counsels CEOs, their board, staff etc, on starting or operating successfully, governance and sustainability.

Anita Williams
Advisor

Elizabeth Pough
Community Engagement Advisor

Danielle Glaysher
Advisor

* Anita is a well-loved Florida native, who has already served on the LMH Board of Directors, and we're happy that she desires to stay on as an advisor. She holds a bachelor's degree in management, and a Master of Arts Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. As an independent contractor with 'Hopeful Opportunities Presented to Everyone', Anita provides job coaching support to persons with disabilities. She also enjoyed being a Clinical Intern with Volunteers of America in Florida and registered marriage a family therapist. She is also the Sr. Pastor of Bethel CME Church in Sarasota.

* Elizabeth is a proud veteran's wife and mother of two. She's got an extensive career in the interest in her community after earning her Bachelor's degree in Psychology, a masters in Public Administration, and working in various police departments in the Special Victim's Unit. Mrs. Pough champions children through legislative support, child welfare and abuse prevention. She loves interacting with her Haitian community, bridging gaps, church volunteering and being a servant-leader.

* Danielle is a proud product of the Department of Defense schools in Madrid, Spain, Danielle will oversee program development and help implement a curriculum with the organization. A graduated from Ringling College of Art and Design with a BFA, she attained her Master's degree in counseling. She also enjoyed being a para-social counselor, a teacher in art and Spanish with the Hispanic Latino community for over 20 years focusing on children and Family Wellness, and owner of
Inspired Art Solutions.

Golden (Fred) Monix
Program Advisor

Mark Hays
Advisor

Derrick Love
Member, LMH NY

  * Golden will lend his extensive experience in philanthropy to LMH. He served as Unit Director for The Boys & Girls Club in Sarasota County for about 20 years. Program development, management of personnel and youth projects, are his specialty. He handled the fulfillment of larger organizational goals, coordinated multiple projects and directly managed them. Detailing strategies, provided project delegation and implementation. Golden is also known for his delicious fine culinary skills catering in the health care industries and his community.

  * Mark is a proud father, grandfather and loving husband in Florida, and a known supporter of positive social causes. A former Brighthouse (Spectrum) account Executive and graduate from the University of Maryland, Mark earned degrees in the Kinesiology and the Nutrition field. Mark's education spans from biomechanical, physiological, and psychological principles, to mechanisms of body movement. His proudest moments are coaching young athletes in Florida, in football, basketball and baseball little leagues, especially those with special needs or learning disabilities.

  * Derrick is a world traveler with a background in marketing and security. He proudly served as a First Lieutenant in the Air Force. With over 20 years of experience working in the entertainment business, he's provided security for profound and famous individuals. Besides proudly educating youth in home ownership, he's provides children in Long Island NY with scholastic and physical education, and improved math and reading skills, particularly the underserved / disadvantaged. He's helped thousands of teens and pre-teens both domestically and internationally prepare for college.

Arely Backus ~ Advisor
Arely is a Harvard graduate with a degree in Ed M with a major in counseling and MFT (marriage and family therapy). She enjoys speaking and translating three languages being English, Spanish and Portuguese. To serve the community, Arely has taught classes in health and showed cooking classes on subjects like diabetes, hypertension. Among all of the volunteering she does, her favorite times are serving at-risk youth from alternative environments and seeing the improvement of their self-esteem. Her approach is known to help their interactions for all environments.

Carleton Ridenhour (AKA Chuck D) ~ Outreach
* Chuck is a globally known Rock and Roll and Grammy Hall of Fame Inducted artist, Sports Emmy winner and humanitarian. He transcends color lines and collaborated with John Mellencamp, U2, Metal Bands etc., and recorded, produced and composed film soundtracks. A highly requested speaker from Universities and many countries, The New York Times named his legendary group Public Enemy's work among the “25 Most Significant Albums of the Last Century”. Chuck was voted 44th Greatest Artists in Rock 'n' Roll history by Rolling Stone. He proudly mentors youth and advocates for environmental causes like MusicCares, National Urban League, HBO’s campaign for National Peace and Partnership for a Drug Free America.

Pierre-Yves Chicoineau
LMH Children's Network Mentor Engagement
*Pierre grew up in France and developed a passion for photography at the age of 11, winning a photography competition in the city of Évian.
He holds degrees in engineering from CNAM and management from IAE. He has built a career in industrial management, holding leadership positions in France, Africa, the United States, and Mexico.
Combining his passion for aviation as a pilot with his love of photography, Pierre now leads AEROSPECTIVE, a company specializing in drone services, photography, and videography, serving the Bradenton and Sarasota areas.

Learn My History Foundation is honored for the guidance of our Advisory Board:
Our Ambassador and the Honorable Judge of the 12th Circuit court Charles E. Williams, Mike and Tina Small, Ms. Odessa Butler, Mark Hays, Elizabeth Courson, Rev. Wheeler Parker Jr. and Anonymous advisors.

We thank our 2024 Jr. & Sr. LMH Youth Advisory Board graduates below, and welcome graduates of 2025 coming soon!
The purpose of the LMH YAB ~ All youth serve to share opinions on: programing, advertising, operations, production, marketing, sustaining LMH and event participation with our Board. We can then deliver optimal benefits. It's rare that both programs benefit 'at risk' to privileged youth within one organization.

Graduates of both programs wish to stay involved, to help strengthen and grow LMH, and advise our Board on production, marketing, how their different languages inspire cultural appreciation, perform or co-produce events with our production team (Program 3's upcoming LMH Youth Zone), and best of all, they'll graduate after serving for 1-year and are excited to place this experience on their résumés!

Learn My History Foundation honors the memory of past Board Members and Advisors - Veronica H. Allen, Mother Minnie and Rev. Jerome Dupree, Willie C. Preston, and Henry Blyden.

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Learn My History Foundation
Address: P.O. Box 3333
Sarasota, FL 34230
Phone: (212) 613-5787
Email: [email protected]
Open: Monday - Friday from 9 AM to 5PM

LEARN MY HISTORY FOUNDATION IS A 501(c)(3) TAX-EXEMPT PUBLIC CHARITY PURSUANT TO AN IRS LETTER OF TAX-EXEMPT DETERMINATION.
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A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES.
BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE OR 850-410-3800 FROM OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OR AT WWW.800HELPFLA.COM.
REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. REGISTRATION NO. CH61181.

Credits

Photos: Pexels.com and LMHF
Materials: Property of Learn My History Foundation and written permission is required to duplicate any material.