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About Us

At Empower You

Who Are We?

Empower You is a dedicated nonprofit organization serving Los Angeles County, committed to supporting college-bound students by providing comprehensive assistance with college entrance processes and empowering them with essential tools for personal and professional growth.

Our mission is to help students transition from secondary to post-secondary education successfully.

Empower You obtained 501(c)(3) status in 2024

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Board Members

Our passionate team of educators and professionals is dedicated to guiding students toward success. With expertise in education, mentorship, and career development, we provide the personalized support and resources students need to achieve their academic and professional goals.

Ricardo Navarro

Board President

Ingrid Navarro

Chief Executive Officer

Myanne Morton

Community outreach manager

Dylan Nash

Program coordinator /High school

Mona Valdez

Director of community outreach

Eleisha Brown

Advisory board

Keith Jackson

Advisory board

Linda Henry

Advisory board

Ricardo Navarro

Board President

Ricardo Navarro is a dedicated professional with a strong commitment to advancing post secondary education. With substantial experience at Kaplan College and Ed2Go – CENGAGE Group, Ricardo has made a significant impact in supporting students throughout their academic journeys.

At Kaplan College, Ricardo played a key role as a Senior Admissions Representative, providing critical information about medical training programs, conducting interviews, and guiding prospective students through the enrollment process. His efforts were instrumental in helping students make informed decisions about their educational paths and achieving successful outcomes.

In his current position at Ed2Go – CENGAGE Group, Ricardo serves as an Enrollment Representative, where he is responsible for recruiting students for a wide range of colleges and universities across the country. He excels in creating tailored education plans, assisting students with career-building skills, and supporting those funded by Workforce/WIOA programs. Ricardo’s dedication to working independently and his ability to help students navigate their educational and career goals highlight his unwavering commitment to promoting secondary education and enhancing student success

Ingrid Navarro

CEO

Ingrid is a seasoned professional with a decade of experience in talent acquisition, specializing in resume preparation and interview coaching. Her extensive background has instilled in her a deep understanding of the importance of a career-focused mindset. Ingrid is dedicated to empowering young adults by equipping them with the essential skills and guidance needed to succeed in the real world.

Her commitment extends beyond career coaching to include educational support and life skills development, ensuring that students are prepared to thrive in diverse environments. Ingrid’s passion for community service is evident through her involvement with various nonprofit organizations. With the launch of Empower You, Ingrid is eager to share her expertise and dedication to helping young adults advance and achieve their full potential.

Myanne Morton

Community outreach manager

Myanne is a dedicated single mother and emerging entrepreneur with a profound passion for empowering young adults to achieve independence and engage actively in their communities. She is a firm believer in the importance of personal development and the value of uplifting those around us. Myanne’s commitment to community service has been evident from a young age, as she has volunteered in various roles to support and enhance her community.

Currently, Myanne is pursuing a degree in Communications at San Bernardino Community College, where she continues to cultivate her skills and knowledge to better serve others. Her focus on community involvement and her drive to inspire and assist others underscore her dedication to making a meaningful impact in the lives of those she encounters.

Dylan Nash

Program coordinator /High school

Dylan is a recent high school graduate who has embarked on his academic journey at California State University, Dominguez Hills, where he is pursuing a degree in Business Administration with aspirations of becoming a Project Manager. From an early age, Dylan has demonstrated a strong commitment to community service, dedicating his time to volunteering efforts such as providing meals to the homeless and coordinating the delivery of Christmas gifts to children facing serious health challenges.

Passionate about giving back and supporting others, Dylan is also dedicated to helping students discover their own educational and career goals. His experience in community service has shaped his belief in the importance of supporting and uplifting those around him. As he progresses in his studies, Dylan remains focused on using his skills and knowledge to make a positive impact in both his local community and the broader educational landscape.

Mona Valdez

Director of community outreach

Mona had a career in post secondary education for almost 20 years. She felt it was her calling to be an advocate for the students she built relationships with. Mona was intentional with building rapport with organizations that would also see the importance in being for the student. Those established relationships led to organizations offering a scholarship or an internship opportunity that benefited the students’ educational journey. More recently, Mona represents Whittier Area Community Church as the Local Engagement Director. Because of her heart for people, she’s able to commit to partnering with their local non-profit agencies that have the same mission, to help support those that are most vulnerable.

Eleisha Brown

Advisory board

Eleshia is a native of southern California who has worked over 20 plus years in the social services sector. She is a Management professional with experience in program/project development, management, delivery, and quality assurance. She has worked serving Individuals with diverse backgrounds such as those with disabilities/special needs, mental health concerns, substance abuse as well as those from underserved minority communities. She has provided services such as financial literacy, employment and career development and currently manages case managers and outreach teams for displaced individuals without permanent housing. Volunteer services are dear to her heart as her Mother served as a home and foreign missions missionary and heavily involved Eleshia throughout her childhood. Serving the community and those most vulnerable has become a permanent part of her life. She looks forward to the support and assistance she can provide to Empower You in order to empower and help change the lives of our community members who are most vulnerable.

Keith Jackson

Advisory board

Keith Jackson brings over four decades of leadership, engineering consultancy, and global experience to the board. After a successful 15-year career with a major multi-national oil company, Keith founded ETEC Consulting in 1995, originally focusing on helping petroleum and chemicals companies comply with OSHA regulations, specifically process safety management. His work aimed to minimize catastrophic events, ensuring the safety and well-being of employees. Since then, ETEC Consulting Group, LLC has expanded its scope, collaborating with international partners to support clients in industries ranging from energy to manufacturing, with operations spanning countries such as Belgium, Brazil, China, India, and Venezuela.

In addition to his professional expertise, Keith has been a dedicated member of Toastmasters International for over 20 years, honing leadership and communication skills vital to both personal and professional development. Most recently, he served as District Director in Southern California, overseeing more than 1600 members across 150 clubs, where his focus on mentorship and skill-building aligns closely with the educational goals of this board.

Keith’s commitment to education extends beyond his work with Toastmasters. He has consistently shared his expertise with future generations, providing annual communication workshops for rising freshmen and transfer students at CalPoly Pomona’s engineering program, empowering students with the communication skills necessary for academic and professional success.

Furthermore, Keith is a partner in an early-stage cancer detection startup, applying his innovative thinking to life-changing technology. His diverse experience across industries, coupled with a strong dedication to leadership development and education, will enable Keith to make significant contributions to accomplishing the organization’s.

Linda Henry

Advisory board

Linda Henry is a dedicated community advocate and accomplished professional with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. With extensive experience as a District Manager at a Fortune 500 company, Linda has honed her leadership and strategic skills in high-stakes environments.

Passionate about giving back, Linda founded Shoes That Matter, a nonprofit organization that has generously provided over 1,800 pairs of brand-new shoes to children in underserved communities throughout the Inland Empire of California. Her commitment to community service extends to her role as an Operations Manager for a nonprofit that delivered 625 free, nutritious after-school meals daily to children in the Chino Valley and San Bernardino school districts.

As an honorable member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Linda’s life and career are marked by a deep dedication to empowering those around her and making a lasting, positive impact in her community.