Valeria C. Williams, Founder and President
Valeria C. Williams, an Attorney licensed to practice law, is from a very small town called Cottonport, Louisiana. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Southern University where she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. She has a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Louisiana State University, a Juris Doctor Degree from Southern University Law Center, and a Master’s of Law Degree in Tax Law from the University of Houston Law Center.
A public servant at heart, Valeria has a sincere passion for serving the youth and has over 12 years of experience working in this capacity. These personal initiatives have been completed through community enrichment programs, volunteering as a Character Counts mentor for several years, and serving as a motivational speaker to many after school programs across the state of Louisiana. Her experiences of working with the youth, have led her to develop a passion for juvenile justice, and a commitment to helping the youth achieve success in life. As such, she has founded her own non-profit organization called Juve’ Hearts. Valeria plans to use all of her experiences to advance her interest in the juvenile justice system through her work with Juve’ Hearts.
Valeria is no stranger to the juvenile justice system. She has demonstrated experience through working as a judicial law clerk in Juvenile Court, she has obtained the required Child in Need of Care Certification (CINC) to be a children’s attorney, she has obtained her 40 hours of sexual assault training while practicing as a Sexual Assault Attorney, and she has experience serving on a human trafficking taskforce. In Juvenile Court, Valeria participated in several court hearings throughout the week for both juvenile civil and juvenile criminal cases.
In juvenile civil, Valeria worked with Termination of Parental Rights proceedings, 6-month Case Review hearings, and Permanency hearings, facilitating the removal of abused and neglected children from the custody of the offender, placing them in safe environments that were in their best interest. Valeria also worked with delinquency issues that involved crossover youth, juveniles who were placed in foster care but were court adjudicated youth due to defiance resulting from medical, behavioral, or psychological health issues. In juvenile criminal, Valeria ensured juvenile delinquents who were ordered to confinement after 72-hour Show Cause hearings, were secured in confidential and safe environments. She coordinated the intake process for juvenile delinquents who were ordered to the Office of Juvenile Justice, in-house drug treatment facilities, long-term care at psychiatric hospitals, juvenile detentions, and juvenile shelters. Valeria believes all of her experiences, certifications, and trainings will be paramount to the work she will do through Juve’ Hearts.
As an entrepreneur while living in Louisiana, Valeria started the WV Firm in February 2015, to serve as a business adviser to over 40 small businesses, nonprofits, and charity foundations for professional athletes.
Currently, Valeria resides in New York City and works for the National Football League (NFL) in the Football Operations Department performing policy compliance and rules administration. Valeria devotes a significant amount of her time to preparing for the girls she will encounter through her work with Juve’ Hearts, and sharing her life stories, in hopes of encouraging people, to help bring a source of light to their darkest moments.
Jessica Gauthier, Vice President and Treasurer
Jessica Gauthier is a native of Beaumont, Texas on a God given mission to mentor and motivate today’s youth. Currently residing in Hampton Roads Virginia, she is a Nuclear Engineer for the United States Department of Defense, an alumna of Southern University Agriculture and Mechanical College, and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. She has a love for arts, including performing arts with a special interest in the art of dance. Since 2012 she has served as the sponsor/coach for a local high school dance team and is former member of the SU Fabulous Dancing Dolls. Working with teenagers she recognized how inspiring them during tough times helped them to thrive and combat defeat. She is committed to elevating and empowering young girls and women to be confident and succeed in their endeavors.
Latisha Morman, 1st Secretary
Latisha S. Morman is a Special Education Teacher and Coordinator at Baton Rouge College Preparatory Charter School located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Latisha has served a diverse population of students and adults for greater than 5 years. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and serves as the acting first Secretary of Juve’ Hearts, Inc.
Before entering the field of Education, Latisha received her B.S. and M.A. at Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Her interest in society prompted her to earn both of her degrees in Sociology. As a critical thinker and child advocate, Latisha enjoys volunteering her talents to assist her peers, family, friends, and community. In her leisure, she reads the Bible, spends time with family and friends, writes poetry, exercises, and watches television. Latisha is passionate, creative, innovative, and multifaceted.
Ericka Daniels, 2nd Secretary
Passion is the reason that Ericka Daniels looks forward to the work she does with Juve’ Hearts because passion is what both drives us all and can often times get us all into trouble. The young ladies that are uplifted by the program are merely passionate as well, which gives life to the soul purpose Ericka works with such young women. She can relate. By way of St. Louis, Missouri, and from a small rural town named Bunkie, Louisiana, Ericka graduated from Bunkie High School and left for college. Years later she received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Master’s in Social Science. Working diligently in high school, college, and the early parts of her career with children and teenagers she has realized her love for helping others and strives to do that through this organization. Ericka Daniels is currently a History Professor for Louisiana State University in Alexandria Louisiana, an Administrative Specialist for Syber Technology Group, and works with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals as an Analyst. She serves as Second Secretary to Juve’ Hearts and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. Her mantra is to follow your passion and to let positivity guide your purpose. She is married with two wonderful sons. Residing now in New Orleans, Louisiana where Ericka spends her free time working on art, poetry, and blogging about her love for culture and family on her blog www.bearerofmen.com.
Juve' Hearts 