Taes Grace Inc.

Empowering Women, Youth, and Communities Through Service, Leadership, and Opportunity.

Welcome to Taes Grace Inc. Together, we walk alongside our neighbors, meeting essential needs and restoring dignity, hope, and opportunity.

Who We Are

Our Mission

The purpose of Taes Grace is to create a lasting impact in underserved and under-resourced communities by walking alongside single mothers, teen parents, runaway and homeless youth, and women navigating adversity. Grounded in service and equity, and beginning in the DMV area with plans to expand throughout the Caribbean, Taes Grace strives to be a trusted, consistent presence — walking alongside families and communities through partnerships with schools, shelters, and community organizations.

Our commitment to the Caribbean is a close, personal mission for our founder, Sheena Frye, rooted in her Jamaican heritage.

Two women in a warm, supportive one-on-one conversation.

Our Vision

We envision communities where every family — regardless of circumstance — has consistent access to the support, resources, and advocates needed to build a stable, thriving future for their children.

Our Work

Three pillars guide everything we do.

Family Engagement

Building consistent, trust-based relationships with families and connecting them to schools and community resources.

Community Partnership

Coordinating with schools, local government, and service providers to build a stronger, more connected safety net for families.

Direct Service

Delivering hands-on programming and support to women, children, and youth — not only advocating on their behalf.

Our Programs

Core programs, delivered under the Grace Forward Initiative.

All of our programming is led directly by our founder and a team of experienced program staff and partnering professionals — hands-on and relationship-centered, never delivered at arm's length.

A mother embraces her toddler during a Taes Grace Teen Parent Support Workshop, with other parents and children in the background.

Teen parents building confidence, connection, and community — one workshop at a time.

1

Teen Parent Support Workshops

Workshops on parenting and child development, healthy relationships, positive discipline, and managing the stress of parenting as a teen, plus monthly one-on-one check-ins.

2

Youth Leadership Workshops

Building decision-making, communication, goal-setting, and self-advocacy skills, co-facilitated by trained Peer Leaders for authentically peer-driven programming.

3

Life Skills & Independent Living Workshops

Financial literacy, employment readiness, and budgeting — the practical skills youth, parents, and women need to build independence, whether they are starting a career, returning to school, or rebuilding stability after a housing transition.

4

Wellness & Resilience Programming

Trauma-informed emotional support, healthy relationship education, and practical coping strategies for youth, parents, and women, whether they are managing the everyday stress of school, work, and family or working through deeper hardship, including focus sessions designed specifically for women.

5

Community Connection Events

Gatherings with resource fair booths, family bonding activities, a supervised kids' area, guest speakers, and seasonal celebrations.

6

Youth Voice Sessions

Structured opportunities for youth input and peer leadership, ensuring our programming reflects the real needs of the young people we serve.

Quarterly
7

Mentorship Program

Ongoing one-on-one and small-group mentoring relationships, led by our Program Directors, that walk alongside youth, parents, and caregivers through consistent, caring support.

Mentor Matching & Screening — Coming Soon
A Taes Grace program director mentors a small group of youth at an outdoor community resource event.

Mentors and youth, side by side — guidance that shows up in person, every time.

Coming Soon

Grace Forward Creative Voices

A creative-expression component we’re exploring for our Youth Leadership Workshops and Youth Voice Sessions — storytelling, spoken word, art, journaling, and healing-through-creativity activities, with possible Youth Voice Showcases where participants share their work at community events.

Testimonials

What Families and Partners Are Saying

Tonight’s session was great and necessary. Thank you for doing the work!

Parent — “Managing Stress as a Parent” Workshop, Sasha Bruce House

It was honestly a pleasure working with both of you [Sheena & Camille]. You guys brought so much warmth to the space and made the moms feel safe and heard.

Kelie — Family Engagement Specialist, Sasha Bruce House

Amontae Cunningham
Read Amontae’s Story

In Loving Memory of Amontae Cunningham

Amontae Cunningham is the cousin of our founder and the legacy and inspiration behind Taes Grace Inc.

We carry his name and his spirit forward, spreading grace, healing, resilience, and opportunity in his memory, wherever it is needed most.

Leadership

Board of Directors

Meet the team guiding our mission with care and purpose.

Sheena Frye

Sheena Frye

CEO & Founder (Chairperson)

An accomplished Project Management Specialist and community advocate; provides strategic vision and leadership as Founder & CEO.

Read full bio

Sheena Frye is an accomplished Project Management Specialist, community advocate, and Founder & CEO of Taes Grace, with more than four years of experience as a Family Engagement Specialist and Professional Development Coordinator, and over ten years as a mentor. She currently serves as Program Support Staff at Priscilla’s House, supporting women with behavioral needs, and holds certifications from the National Head Start Association, including the 2022 Parent and Family Engagement Conference and the 2023 NHSA National Head Start Conference. The vision for Taes Grace was born in 2024 while Sheena was in Barbados during a period of fasting and reflection, when she felt called to create an organization honoring her cousin, Amontae Cunningham. Driven by a vision of service without borders, she aspires to expand the reach of Taes Grace nationally and throughout the Caribbean.

Nnenna Animashaun

Nnenna Animashaun

Vice President (Vice Chair)

Brings 18+ years of federal public service to her role as Vice President, with deep experience in program oversight and governance.

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Nnenna Animashaun brings more than 18 years of federal public service to her role as Vice President. As a federal program officer with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children & Families, she oversaw Head Start and Early Head Start programs and managed a grant portfolio exceeding $56 million. As Vice President, Nnenna partners closely with the CEO, steps into leadership in their absence, and helps guide the board’s committees and strategic priorities. A triple-certified integrative health and wellness coach, her work with Taes Grace is rooted in a personal calling to honor Amontae’s legacy.

Brittany Lanier

Brittany Lanier

Program Director, Youth Development

A founding board member deeply committed to serving communities through compassion, advocacy, and meaningful action.

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Brittany Lanier is a founding board member of Taes Grace. Professionally, she serves as a Senior Training Coordinator at All Rise, supporting national training and technical assistance initiatives that strengthen communities and improve outcomes for individuals and families. She earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Afro-American Studies from Howard University, and is an active member and officer within the Order of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliation, in the District of Columbia. Brittany believes that lasting change begins with compassion, connection, and a willingness to serve.

Evangeline Stewart

Evangeline Stewart

Treasurer

Brings more than a decade of experience supporting mission-driven organizations through leadership in operations and administration.

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Evangeline Stewart serves as Treasurer for Taes Grace, bringing more than a decade of experience supporting mission-driven organizations through leadership in operations, administration, and organizational management. She currently serves as Senior Manager, People & Operations at the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and is also a Program Administrator with the Greater Anacostia Educational Opportunity Center. She is committed to supporting organizations that make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families.

Akelah Stroud

Akelah Stroud

Governance Committee (HR Officer)

An HR Professional with 14+ years of experience, currently serving as an HR Business Partner for NASA.

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Akelah Stroud is a Human Resources Professional with over 14 years of experience, holding a Certified Professional certification from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-CP). She currently serves as an HR Business Partner for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Her commitment to community engagement includes volunteer experience with organizations such as Easter Seals and the Salvation Army, and she brings strategic HR expertise, a heart for service, and a deep understanding of creating pathways to opportunity for those who need it most.

Camille Morris

Camille Morris

Program Director, Teen Parent Support & Wellness

Over 10 years of experience in crisis intervention, de-escalation, and building resilient support systems for high-stress communities.

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Camille currently serves as a Resident Supervisor at the Montgomery County Prerelease Center, bridging correctional supervision and psychological care. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Peirce College in Philadelphia, and certifications in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training and Mental Health First Aid.

Our Reach

Where We Serve

Today

Starting in the DMV

Our work is taking root in the DMV area (Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia), where we meet essential needs alongside schools, shelters, and community organizations.

→
On the Horizon

Expanding to the Caribbean & Beyond

As Taes Grace continues to grow, we are committed to extending our impact through strategic partnerships, community outreach initiatives, and service programs that support women, youth, and families throughout the DMV region and across Caribbean nations — building meaningful connections and expanding opportunities across the regions we serve.

Contact

We’d love to hear from you.

Sheena Frye, CEO & Founder

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Use the Volunteer or Partner With Us forms in the Get Involved section above — every submission comes straight to our inbox so we can follow up personally.