S2 Welcomes a Wave of New Talent to Support Growing Bodies of Work
Seeding Success has welcomed a total of 14 new team members since the spring as we rehired for existing roles and established entirely new roles in the areas of communications, social policy, and strategy to ultimately be of better service to the partnership. Get to know each of them through their bios below.
Communications
Arnika Carter - Graphic Designer
Arnika is originally from Jackson, TN. After graduating with a bachelor’s in Graphic Design from Austin Peay State University, she came to Memphis, TN where she started her career in education. She earned a master’s in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education and taught for four years. Arnika specialized in teaching English and Art to middle school and high school students. She has a passion for the arts and gained a passion for education during her teaching experience. Her favorite part about teaching was building relationships with students and helping students realize their own potential.
Arnika joins Seeding Success with the passion for art/design, education, and our youth. She’s excited to be a part of a team that is working on continuous change and improvement for our community.
Tara D. Fredenburg - Communications Specialist
Tara has lived in Memphis for almost fourteen years. As a student at White Station High School, they developed passions for writing, editing, layout, and social media. Additionally, their experiences in both the traditional and honors tracks at White Station inspired them to create a senior capstone project that would jumpstart their dedication to studying education equity and youth empowerment in college.
Tara holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Creative Writing from Rhodes College. Thanks to the Bonner Scholarship program at Rhodes, they had the opportunity to join Bridge Builders CHANGE as a college advisor for the Gender and Sexuality (GAS) cohort from the Fall 2018 through Spring 2021. There, Tara helped the youth fellows develop and implement the Brave, Safe, & Educated Campaign, which changed the policies of over 20 Memphis businesses and organizations to protect and uplift LGBTQ+ youth, staff, and clientele.
Prior to joining Seeding Success, they worked as the Communications & Marketing Specialist at Baneberry Meadows Events in Donegal, PA and provided freelance copyediting and proofreading for New Degree Press. Tara currently lives in Memphis, TN with their cat Misty and spends their free time geeking out over books and sci-fi television with friends.
Data & Performance Management
Daniel Lee - Early Childhood Education Data Analyst
Daniel is a lifelong learner who enjoys sociology/ psychology books and challenges himself to learn a new sport or skill each year. He graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a B.S. in Retail and Consumer Science. After six years as a retail manager, Daniel commenced a career change and found his passion for serving the community and a desire to make an impact in the lives of tomorrow’s leaders.
Upon returning to Memphis in 2021, Daniel worked as a Research and Development Coordinator at an elementary school with Memphis Shelby County Schools. Working at that elementary school, he truly saw the effects that data made on an individual school’s academic success which sparked a desire to help and multiply those effects to all schools in Memphis. After finding S2, Daniel immediately jumped at the opportunity to join the team and contribute to the amazing work that had already been taking place. Daniel is thrilled to join the S2 team and use his analytical skills to help impact and improve education for all.
Policy & Advocacy
Arielle Williams -
Special Policy Assistant
Born and raised in the “M-town”, Arielle developed a devout passion for social justice at an early age by being a very shy, yet very observant, student in and out of the classroom. She discovered an affinity for understanding diverse opinions through debate and socratic seminars, learning to grow out of her shell and developing a voice, not just for herself but also for her quieter peers. Though Arielle’s shyness eventually went away, her passion persevered through her high school career at White Station High School. She used her keen interest in subjects such as English and History to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies from Tennessee State University.In 2021, she graduated from the College of Public Service as valedictorian—and as a first generation student! After navigating her first year post-graduation through numerous roles in the service industry, she got her big break with Seeding Success in summer 2022 as the Special Policy Assistant.
When not joking around with her big brothers, Morris and Elijah, she enjoys going out to eat with her aunts, falling down Wikipedia rabbit holes, and using research to enrich her fiction writing projects.
Seeding Success manages the identification and coordination of Technical Assistance across the More For Memphis initiative.
Social Policy Consultants were brought onboard to support each of the six Anchor Collaboratives with research and policy development expertise within their focus area. Each SPC is a part of an Anchor Collaborative team.
Constance Clark -
Youth & Education Policy Analyst
Constance has gained in-depth knowledge and experience in research and policy through her work at various education organizations in Texas, North Carolina, New York, and Washington, D.C. As a doctoral candidate in politics and education at Teachers College, Columbia University, Constance contributed to furthering the academic knowledge base around race, access, and inclusion and elevated the needs of racially minoritized children through projects on topics including collective impact, school segregation, diverse schools, and public-private school partnerships. Her dissertation focuses on the politics of access to advanced coursework. She received her B.A. in public policy from The College of William and Mary and an M.A. in government from the University of Texas-Austin. Constance is looking forward to exploring Memphis with her dog, Bella, and is a passionate teacher and practitioner of hot yoga.
Erica Coleman -
Justice & Safety Policy Analyst
Erica is a passionate proponent of children’s lifelong success and advocates for the policies and systems that are necessary to ensure success for children, especially children of color. Erica has a versatile background which includes experience in the education and legal field.
With the knowledge driven by her experience and education, she wants to impact the lives of children, their families, and their communities by dismantling the systems working against them and reimagining a world where prosperity is possible for all.
Erica holds a B.A. and M.A. in Political Science from the University of Memphis and a J.D. from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. She is a West Tennessee native and enjoys spending time with her husband (Kendrick), four daughters (Kendall, Kameryn, Kealyn, and Karri), and their dog (Kaylee).
Felicia Hernandez -
Public Health & Well-being Policy Analyst
Felicia Hernandez has over ten years of public health experience with a specialty in HIV and Hepatitis C prevention, diabetes case management, and evidence-based counseling, such as harm-reduction and risk reduction methods. Felicia’s passion and skills lie in advocacy work for the LGBTQ+ and undocumented populations in community health. Felicia holds a Bachelors of Arts in health and society with a history minor from Beloit College in Wisconsin. In May of 2019, Felicia published a motivational book called Gordita’s Way to empower young women in self-acceptance and served as a facilitator and motivational speaker on this topic at conferences, including the Latina Expo Conference of Chicago.
Marshall Ogier -
Economic Development Policy Analyst
Marshall’s experience spans multiple careers in various fields, including Coordinator of Youth Programs at The University of California, Accounting Manager for a multinational investment firm, and teacher in both public and private schools in Memphis. Marshall also serves as a member of the Binghampton TIF Advisory Committee. He received his Bachelor of Arts in both Economics and Sociology from the University of California, Davis, and a Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University. Marshall is also an avid outdoorsman and bike commuter. He lives in Binghampton with his partner (Christa), son (Scott), two dogs (Jobe and Cassiopeia), and two cats (Katara and Sakka). As an Economic Data Analyst, Marshall hopes to put policies into place that will create an economy that works for all Memphians.
Amy Ruggaber -
Arts & Culture Policy Analyst
Amy has worked as a performer, teaching artist, nonprofit administrator, arts advocate, and consultant, assisting artists and others from all disciplines and backgrounds tell their stories effectively and efficiently. An Arts Integration and Community Engagement specialist, she has written and directed over 60 short plays with youth and disabled individuals and developed and designed the exhibit “Uplift the Vote” on the Tent City Civil Rights Movement for the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis. Previously, she was the Manager of the award-winning Fellows Program for ArtsMemphis and has worked locally with Tennesseans for the Arts, Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre Company, Hattiloo Theatre, and more. Deeply committed to shining a light on the vital role of the arts in communities, she is an experienced arts advocate and has led advocacy efforts and training across the state of Tennessee and nation-wide. Prior to her move to Memphis in 2013, she served as the Director of the award-winning Education and Community Outreach Programs at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. She is currently a graduate student at the University of Memphis pursuing a master’s degree in Public Administration.
Rachel Starks -
Community Development Policy Analyst
Rachel Starks is a native Memphian who has worked with local advocacy groups and Memphis nonprofits for over eight years. As the Community Development Social Policy Consultant for Seeding Success, she is passionate for environmental justice, healthy housing, and strong neighborhoods. In 2019, she received her MA in Applied Anthropology from the University of Memphis with research on energy burden and energy policy. She currently lives in Memphis, TN with her cat (Hobbes).
Strategy & Impact
Melody Freeman - Director of Collaborative Action
Melody, a Memphis native, always knew she would be supporting agencies on the front lines of social inequality and upward mobility among communities of color. She is a passionate, results-oriented servant with over 10 years of experience challenging social injustice, moving policy into action, and creating cross-sector collaborations that benefit the most vulnerable. She earned the Helen Hardin Honors Bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Memphis and went on to obtain her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Portland Concordia University. She began her impact journey as an AmeriCorps VISTA by serving a year in Frayser with the Achievement School District. Over the last seven years, she has managed multiple community-based initiatives with the City of Memphis and Shelby County Government. On any given day, you might find Melody writing, arranging, or singing a song she enjoys. She loves to travel with her husband and their three girls.
Taylor DeMagistris - Director of Continuous Improvement
Having worked in the nonprofit sector for over 10 years, Taylor joins Seeding Success with a background in public affairs, advocacy, program development, and project management. She has served on several nonprofit boards and has experience working in the education and philanthropic sectors. Taylor brings a passion for identifying systemic issues and building systems of equitable opportunity and access through community-wide collaboration.
Originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Taylor graduated from East Carolina University with a BS in Family and Community Services, specializing in Family Studies. She earned an Executive Master of Public Service from the Clinton School of Public Service, where she also served as an elected member of the Student Government Association. Taylor currently lives in Memphis with her dog, Bingo. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her nieces, working out, and cheering on the Tarheels.
DeVonté Payton - Deputy Director of Strategy & Impact
DeVonté Payton is a native Memphian and a proud ambassador of the city. He is a passionate community leader who is an advocate for engagement and development in the community involving schools, families, nonprofits, and the private sector.
Prior to joining the Seeding Success team, DeVonté served as the Community Schools Manager for Memphis-Shelby County Schools, where he led the District’s Community Schools expansion through a coordinated “whole child, whole community” approach. He also previously led the charter authorization, interim, and renewal evaluation processes for the District’s portfolio of charter schools.
DeVonté earned his B.B.A. from the University of Memphis, has over 10 years of experience working in education, and has served on several youth-involved boards and non-profits in the Memphis community. As an education advocate, he has worked closely with schools to develop and implement strategic plans for community engagement, recruitment & retention of talent and students, and high school/college placement.
Of all of his accomplishments, DeVonté is most proud to be the husband to his wife, Alyssa, who is also an educator, and dad to Dylan, Alyson, Alaina, and Dorian.
Carlotta Woods - Administrative Assistant
Carlotta was raised here in Memphis, TN and joins Seeding Success as an Administrative Assistant. Carlotta has always had a passion for working with children and families. For years she has done volunteer work with community organizations such as Court Appointed Special Advocates. When she’s not supporting her S2 family she enjoys making beaded jewelry.
Favorite Quote: “Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.” -Harvey Fierstein