About Us

ABOUT US

Meet The Founder

Kavaca McElroy, CEO

Kavaca McElroy

I was born to teenage parents On Christmas Eve. Mom was 15 and Dad was 16. My mom passed away three years later at the tender age of 18 due to a horrific car accident. By that happening, it caused me to grow up with a lot of anger, resentment, and misconceptions. I literally fought my way all through grade school. All it took to trigger me was for a cruel kid to say anything demeaning about my mother and the fight ensued. I felt I was protecting my moms honor with every punch thrown! I was raised by my grandparents because my father was young and barely able to take care of himself. But I never was deprived of the necessary nurturing I needed, because both my grandmothers instilled the best they had in them, In Me!

I officially lived with my maternal grandmother who gained custody of me when my mother transitioned. Most of those years, she raised me as a single parent, which instilled in me the strength I have today.

Early Life

When I was 13 years old, my junior high school boyfriend was shot and killed. I bared the weight of that as if we were married. We were THAT CLOSE. I was awakened at 3 a.m. from a phone call informing me of what happened. I was transported to the hospital to see him hooked up to what seemed like every machine possible in the hospital. The sight was so traumatic, that its engrained in my mind forever. I spent the next few weeks after that in mourning, alongside his family. I even traveled to Shreveport Louisiana with them to bury him!  This would make another of life’s major adversities I’ve had to endure!
We moved around quite often. From the rough streets of Dixon Circle in South Dallas, to Pleasant Grove, and Southeast Dallas, and ended my teenage years back in Dixon Circle where it all started. Between those transitions I went to 8 different schools, 4 elementary’ s, 2 Junior highs (in which I ran track for both) and 2 High Schools (in which I ran track for 1). My last destination school in which I graduated was Lincoln Humanities and Communications Magnet, CLASS OF 1997 (where “BACK UP OFF US” was and still is our class mantra)!!!  

My daughter was born in 2004, a year later I became a single parent. That was yet another of adversities I had to muster through!

Fast forward to June 19,2019. The day that African American people were emancipated, I was given a cancer diagnosis, which felt like a life/death sentence! I decided against chemotherapy as well as radiation therapy, and any other cancer treatments or medications for that matter. I did decided to get a double mastectomy WITH reconstruction. 

I’m adamant about holistic healing to maintain my health. I believe if you don’t take your health matters into your own hands, you will ALWAYS depend on another person for your well being!  Which has lead me down the path to THIS moment in time, where I align myself with the purpose to MOTIVATE, ENCOURAGE and INSPIRE others on how to pick up the pieces of life and overcome the traumatic adversities that has been created by the awful, dreadful DIS-EASE we all know as cancer.
ABOUT US

Meet The Board

LaNinfa Franklin
Treasurer/ Board Member

LaNinfa Franklin brings over 15 years of administrative experience to the table with expertise in accounting, financial planning, and correspondence.

LaNinfa holds a bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration. Her expertise in business administration  makes her an invaluable asset to Pink Up the Pieces.

 LaNinfa will oversee the organization’s  financial administration, advising the board on financial strategy and fundraising.  

LaNinfa has 30+ years connection with the founder of PINK UP THE PIECES. When  Kavaca was diagnosed with cancer, LaNinfa knew it was imperative that she took this journey of healing and to inspire others of overcoming such trauma alongside Her!

Javaca Ross
Assistant/Board Member

Javaca Ross is a proud Board Member and Assistant to the Founder of PINK UP THE PIECES. She’s excited to serve and plan, as well as volunteer whenever she’s needed as part of this organization. She feels it’s an honor to serve the community alongside her mother!

Felicia Green
Board Member

A native Texan, Felicia fell in love with nonprofits when she was only a teenager growing up in the city of Dallas. Inspired at a summer camp called Upward Bound, Felicia quickly developed a deep passion for charitable work and educational growth. This resolve stuck with her through college, leading her to get her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at one of the oldest historically black colleges in the southern United States, Paul Quinn College in 2009. While completing her undergrad degree, she worked as a respite in the foster care system, residential assistant at her alma mater, and post-graduation became not only the housing coordinator for the college but the cheer and dance coach as well.  


Following employment at Paul Quinn College, she worked in the medical industry sparking her interest in Psychology before pursuing work in education where she now teaches prekindergarten going on 6 years. Later, she received her Master of Science degree in Psychology from Grand Canyon University and joined Zeta Phi beta Sorority, Inc. expanding on her love for community service while working as advocates for other organizations such as March of Dimes and Alzheimer’s Association. Felicia’s volunteer and nonprofit resume also includes other organizations dear to her heart, Incentives for Kids, Inc. and G.E.M.S. (Girls Entering Mature Stages), where both organizations believe children are our future and a solid foundation for youth is monumentally important.

Tracy D. Johnson Sr.
Board Member

Tracy D. Johnson Sr. is a graduate from Wilmer Hutchins High School, Class of 1991. In which he played football and competed in power lifting.  

Tracy was a two-time State Champion. One in football and another in power lifting. He also went on to win a National Championship in Power Lifting.

Tracy is a Deputy Sherriff for Dallas County. He has been serving the community and its citizens for 30years. He enjoys spending time with friends and loved ones!
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