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!