OUR BOARD MEMBERS

George D. DeGroat (President/ Founder) is a native of Portsmouth Virginia with a passion for working with at-risk youth. DeGroat started his career at the YMCA where he excelled as a Youth Counselor. He served the City of Newport News from 2011-2018 working as a Detention Specialist and Youth Gang and Violence Street Outreach Worker. DeGroat during his tenure became extremely adept and understanding working with youth who are in Gangs through the Youth Gang Prevention Initiative Program in Newport News, Virginia.

 DeGroat also worked as a (S.T.E.P) Summer Training Enrichment Program Coach, which was managed by the Youth Gang Initiative team, training at-risk youth how to work, manage money, and become productive citizens. DeGroat created the “Exposure Challenge” for the city where he took at-risk youth out of their environment on trips outside of the city promoting education and individual growth.  DeGroat while working in Juvenile Detention gained an understanding of working with children in a residential setting and the trauma that these youth had experienced.

DeGroat has a Mental Health background where he has worked as a (QMHP A-C) Qualified Mental Health Child-Adult Professional for Family Preservation Services. He has a bachelor's degree from St. Augustine University in Psychology and a master's degree in Organizational Leadership from Argosy University. DeGroat has his master's degree in Social Work from George Mason University and is currently a supervisee in social work.

OUR VICE PRESIDENT

Geravis A. Brown, Jr. (Vice President/Treasurer) is a proud native of Portsmouth, Virginia with a passion for youth development and growth.  He is an honor graduate of I. C. Norcom High School (2002), where he also served as an assistant varsity football coach for 14 years. Brown attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), receiving his bachelors of Psychology in December of 2005. Mr. Brown received his masters of Psychology from the University of Phoenix in May of 2016 and is currently working on his Masters of Counseling with Liberty University. Upon completion of the Counseling program, Mr. Brown intends to test to gain his LPC certification to further offer resources to the community as an outpatient therapist.  Mr. Brown worked as a residential counselor at the Pines Juvenile Treatment facility. Mr. Brown was employed by the Portsmouth Department of Social Services, where he was employed as a CPS Investigator for 2 years. Mr. Brown has worked with the at-risk juvenile population as an in-home clinician for 13 years.  Mr. Brown has been employed with Norfolk Naval Shipyard for 12 years. 

OUR PROGRAM DIRECTOR

D´Juan Thomas (Secretary/ Director of Programs) is a native of Portsmouth, growing up in the London Oaks neighborhood. . He has 5 years of experience as a high school and middle school counselor and 1 year of experience as a middle school guidance director. Thomas also has experience working in fields such as community colleges, K-12 schools, in-home counseling, social work, non-profit management, juvenile detention, recreation centers, city courthouses, etc.

Thomas earned his undergraduate degree in Sociology with a minor in Psychology at George Mason University. He went on to study School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling at George Washington University for his Master's degree. He served as the President of the Black Graduate Student Association for 1 year and won the Harry Grubb Detwiler Memorial Outstanding Graduate Student Award for the top-ranked graduate student.

Thomas has a passion for working with young people and helping them to realize their true potential. He has dedicated his professional life to working with this population. "Edward Brown Foundation” will serve as a positive force in the community that continues to grow", Thomas stated. Thomas hopes to inspire the youth.