Tiarra Abu-Bakr is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 15 years of experience in victim services and trauma-informed care. As Clinical Director at Building Bridges Foundation, she oversees the delivery of holistic, survivor-centered counseling services. Her background includes roles with DC SAFE, MPD’s Victim Services Branch, and Bright Beginnings Inc., where she supported returning citizens and families experiencing homelessness. Tiarra provides individual, group, and family therapy, always honoring the belief that every client is the expert in their own healing journey.

Lewis Smith is a longtime human services leader and Building Bridges Foundation Board Member, with expertise in therapy, juvenile justice, and behavioral health rooted in decades of service and scholarship.

Kayla Deal is a community leader and pharmacy student passionate about health equity and youth empowerment. With a background in biology and public service, she supports the Foundation’s mission of building healthier communities.

Delmus Nelson is a DC-based entrepreneur and Board Member at Building Bridges Foundation, known for his leadership in workforce development and second-chance advocacy through welding and technical training programs.

Cheryl Daniels is a billing and coding specialist and domestic violence advocate who brings lived experience, compassion, and trauma-informed advocacy to her work at Building Bridges Foundation.

Tavares Martin is a Board Member at Building Bridges Foundation, with expertise in fitness, psychology, and peer recovery. He is the founder of Strong Mind HQ and a passionate advocate for trauma-informed wellness and equity.