EMPOWERMENT ACADEMY, INC.

“Serving the community is a family tradition starting with my grandmother Ruby O. Hardy, who impacted my views of the difference just one person can make.”

Sonia A. Roberts

Sonia Roberts, Executive Director

Lizette Wright Pearson, Director

Sylvia Floyd, Director

Dr. Adrian Johnson, Chair

Bridget Jennings, Vice Chair 

TiLena Robinson, Treasurer

Donald Maestre, Secretary 

Tawanda Stevenson, Board Member

​Beth Eimers, Board Member

Foundation Team

2009 - Founder, Sonia A. Roberts, began a program that assists people interested in becoming entrepreneurs through offering education assistance and referrals to community resources

2010-2013 - Partnered with Young Hearts Child Development Center, Empowerment Academy, Inc. offered SES Tutoring to students attending Title I schools

2011 - Received 501c3 designation from the IRS

2015 - Opened doors at new corporate office

2015 - Awarded FEMA/FDEM Residential Construction Mitigation Grant

2015 - Received designation as a Florida CCTC Entity  

2016 - Awarded FDOE 21st CCLC Grant

2016 - Received CHDO designation from City of Jacksonville’s Housing and Community Development Division

2017 - Established partnership with James H. Green Flying Club to provide employment training to at-risk students with IEPs/504 plans through Vocational Rehab.

Foundation Board

Founder and Executive Director

Sonia A. Roberts

​Candace Roberts

Administrative Support

Sonia A. Roberts is a social services professional with over 19 years of experience in the non-profit arena. She played an integral role in the implementation of a local social services pilot program that focused on serving the holistic needs of low-income families through the use of coordinating existing community resources. Her work on this project provided the foundation for the United Way of Northeast Florida’s Income Strategy Program. Sonia’s authored work can be seen in the program components of this very relevant United Way initiative. Prior to taking her current leadership role at EA, Sonia worked for a local community development corporation where she served as the Chief Operations Officer. Sonia is also a licensed counselor and she provides mental health services for Corporate EAPs and private patients. As a certified consumer credit counselor, Sonia has helped many local families achieve their dream of homeownership by providing them with the knowledge and skills to improve their credit, set and adhere to a budget, and understand the implications of financial decisions.

Foundation History