Empowerment Academy, Inc.
900 Cesery Blvd, Suite 118
Jacksonville, FL 32211
Office 904-900-8391 Fax 904-309-9935
© 2013 All Rights Reserved
2025
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
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 - Incorporated nonprofit and 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 JHG to provide employment training to at-risk students with IEPs/504 plans through Vocational Rehab.
2024 - Contracted with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to provide career exploration and pre-employment transition services to students with disabilities.
Foundation Board
Founder and Executive Director
Sonia A. Roberts
Sonia A. Roberts is a social services professional with over 26 years of experience in the non-profit arena. She played an integral role in implementing a local social services pilot program that focused on serving the holistic needs of low-income families by 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. In addition, Sonia is a licensed counselor who 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.