About Us

Mission

Our mission is to empower and support parents living with debilitating chronic conditions and their children through education, referrals, nutrition, and special days.

Vision

We know it takes a village to raise a child. We envision an inclusive community free of disparities where both parents in need and their children can receive the support to thrive with dignity.

Values

Dignity

We value and respect everyone that we encounter.

Empowerment

We believe all people regardless of their abilities should have autonomy and increase their agency.

Unity

We believe that it is very important to unite families that include parents with debilitating chronic conditions.

Equity

We believe that all families deserve access to opportunities and resources to thrive with dignity.

Community

We believe in the African proverbs that “ it takes a village to raise a happy, and healthy child.”

Well-being

We are here to empower and advocate for the well-being of disabled families so they can continue to participate in their own improvements in different areas of their lives.

Our Story

Growing up in South Central Los Angeles, Jacqueline bore witness to countless injustices and disparaging circumstances within her neighborhood. Among countless issues, one that stuck with Jackie was the growing epidemic of chronic debilitating conditions in people of color, affecting not only adults within the community but also their children.

When she was 12, her father, and sole provider, fell ill. Shortly after, he had a stroke that left him partially disabled. Having her father in and out of the hospital took a massive toll on her young, impressionable mind and immensely impacted her life. Concerned about her father's well-being and being his support system, she did not get a chance to fully enjoy being a kid. As an adult, she realized that this was a common theme within her community, and she wanted to break the cycle.

That idea led to the start of Your Special Day, a non-profit organization with the purpose of reminding boys and girls growing up in underserved communities that their circumstances do not define them. The objective of “Your Special Day” is to free these bright, beautiful children from their typical stressors and give them an opportunity to take some time to live and laugh while supporting and empowering their parents with additional services for the whole family.

Meet The Team

Meet the Team

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Co-Founder and President

Jacqueline Evans

A mother of five and a proud member of her community, Jackie continues to be active in Watts. In her spare time, she loves to cook and discover new recipes to make for her family. She has also transformed her life by diving into wellness to combat the health issues that disproportionately affect Black women.

Over the last years, she is proud to have been able to turn her plans for the organization into action! Your Special Day has provided so many special days to service recipients as well as delivered fresh produce to various families in need!

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Shekalia Johnson

Shekalia Johnson is the co-founder of Your Special Day and Executive Director. She is responsible for overseeing program operations, establishing partnerships with key stakeholders, and ensuring that the needs and concerns of the families they serve are recognized, addressed, and corrected.

Prior to forming Voices of Impact, she worked in a variety of industries but what truly made her heart sing was working and volunteering extensively with local non-profits serving underrepresented groups.

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Director of Programs

Miyana Evans

Miyana Evans is the Director of Programs at Voices of Impact. She is responsible for overseeing the programs, spending most of her time implementing and setting goals according to the strategic objectives of the organization.

She is a UCLA graduate and spent most of her undergraduate year working with at risk high school students throughout LAUSD.

Her passion for inspiring and empowering youth to overcome obstacles and chase their dreams led her to Voices of Impact.