Board of Directors

     Despite being born with Muscular Dystrophy I’ve lived a very independent life. I graduated from Eastern Wayne High School, obtained my Associate's degree in Human Services, Bachelor’s in Psychology, and a Master’s in Psychology. I’ve worked at Wayne Community College since 2010.

     I have over 10 years of education in psychology and human services.  I've been an Adjunct Professor for N.C. Wesleyan College since 2016. My wife and I have been married for seven years now. We had our first child November 05, 2016, a handsome boy. 

 Brian Grandy earned his associate in Human Service with a concentration from Wayne Community College in 2004. Brian became a Substance Abuse Worker at Dart Cherry in Goldsboro, North Carolina. He worked with individuals going through the criminal justice system. Brian left Dart Cherry to complete his Bachelor’s in Arts in Psychology from North Carolina Wesleyan College in 2008. After graduating with a Bachelor’s in Arts in Psychology, he relocated to Midland, Texas. He now works for the Health and Human Service Commission of Texas. Brian is a Texas Works Advisor going on 12 years serving individuals currently on government assistance. 

My name is Leah Nicole Starkie wife to Tyrone Starkie, Founder/CEO of Community Heroes. March 16, 2020, we will be celebrating seven years of marriage. We have one handsome three-year-old little boy who amazes us daily. Currently, I work as a Certified Medical Assistant with the W.A.T.C.H clinic. W.A.T.C.H stands for Wayne Action Teams for Community Health. 

     W.A.T.C.H works with all types of individuals in the Community. I believe this organization will change individuals' lives. I am happy to work with everyone on this board. I am excited to see the progression of this great organization. We’ve been working diligently on this vision and we cannot wait to see everything unfold and come together.  

EDUCATION

Southwestern Law School, Los Angeles, CA Juris Doctor, December 2018

Activities: Trial Advocacy Honors Program; Public Interest Law Committee; Delta Theta Phi Law

Fraternity; Latino Law Students Association; Black Law Students Association; Public Service Program

(125hrs)

Student Membership: Benjamin Aranda III Inn of Court; Los Angeles County Bar Association; American

Bar Association; Black Women Lawyers; Latina Lawyers Bar Association; Langston Bar Association

College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY Bachelor of Arts, Psychology/Spanish [Double Major];

Minor, Classics, May 2005

Activities: Psi Chi National Honor Society; Ramapo College Study Abroad (South Africa, Summer 2003)

Volunteer Coordinator: YMCA; Boys and Girls Club; Midnight Run; Peer Minister Program

EXPERIENCE

Law Offices of Julia A. Kemp, APC, La Habra, CA

Law Clerk, April 2018 - Present

Conduct legal research regarding family law issues; prepare and file family law forms, such as

petitions for dissolution, responses, financial disclosures, and requests for orders; prepare client

invoices; conduct interviews; propound and answer discovery requests.

Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, Los Angeles, CA

Law Clerk, Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall Court/CSFCJC, January 2018 – April 2018

Conducted legal research regarding evidentiary issues in pre-trial and penalty phases, performed

arraignment interviews, and drafted motions relating to Miranda violations, sealing juvenile

records and excluding evidence; assisted with the preparation of subpoena and investigation request

documents.

Law Clerk, Compton/Long Beach Felonies and Misdemeanors, January 2017 – May 2017

Provided trial support; conducted legal research and drafted motions and memoranda, such as Motions

to Suppress, Motions to Dismiss; conducted client intakes and interviews, factual investigation,

evidence gathering and discovery preparations for use at trial and misdemeanor court hearings.

Southwestern Law School - Immigration Legal Clinic, Los Angeles, CA

Law Clerk, August 2017 – December 2017

Provided direct services in conducting initial client intake, fact investigation, and evidentiary

assessments on a range of immigration petitions and addressing inadmissibility issues, evidentiary

support and requests for waivers; prepared and filed standardized judicial and government forms,

such as State Department forms, FBI background checks, and Freedom of Information Act requests.

District Attorney’s Office of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, CA

Law Clerk, Juvenile Division, June 2017 – August 2017

Provided trial and case management support to Deputy District Attorneys in conducting legal

research, drafting motions and memoranda related to the prosecution of juvenile offenders; observe and

assist Deputy Districts Attorneys in juvenile court hearings

Public Counsel, Los Angeles, CA

Law Clerk, Adoptions Project, May 2016 – December 2016

Performed English and Spanish intake of prospective adoptive parents; drafted memoranda with

actionable recommendations for legal and non-legal services; conducted research California

precedent and rulings on third-parent adoptions

Bet Tzedek Legal Services, Los Angeles, CA

Law Clerk, Conservatorship Clinic, February – August 2015

Assisted pro per litigants in preparing petitions for conservatorship over adults with intellectual

disabilities, dementia, brain injuries, or other circumstances affecting an individual’s legal

capacity and/or ability to provide self-care; provided case management and administrative support

to supervising attorneys representing elderly client populations in healthcare advocacy, public

benefits,

end-of-life services and related issues.

COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE

La Mirada Volunteer Center, La Mirada, CA Board Member, April 2021-present

OneJustice - Justice Bus Project, Bakersfield, CA Law Student Volunteer, April 2015

Charter Legal Clinic, Long Beach, CA Founding Member/Vice President/Judge Advocate, August 2012 – June 2015

Autism in Long Beach, Long Beach, CA Volunteer Coordinator January 2011 – November 2013

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Spanish – Conversational (reading/writing/speaking); Latin/Greek – Basic (reading/writing) 

     Raised in small-town Fremont NC, Demarcus graduated from NC Wesleyan in 2005 with a Major in Computer Information System and a minor in Business Administration before completing his MS in Information Systems from UMT in 2011. Demarcus has been an employee at Wayne Community College since August 2000 serving in several roles which included Software Technician, Information System Instructor and currently Enterprise Resources Planning Administrator (ERP).

     Demarcus has a passion for community-based programs that helps the less fortunate and persons with disabilities. Demarcus has served on the Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities, Goldsboro-Wayne Optimist Club, I've supported many local non-profits and I'm very active in Prince Hall Masonry.

     I am the Special Populations Program Supervisor for the City of Goldsboro, which I’ve been employed with for over 8 years. I have the pleasure of serving on many boards and committees. I’ve served for The Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities, Communities Supporting Schools, Special Olympics, and Consumer Rights Committee (NOVA, Inc.). Serving and providing mentorship to underserved groups is my goal and passion.