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Meet The Team


Nicole Gates,  Volunteer Executive Director

nicolem.gates@gmail.com
901-229-4190 cell

 

Catalyst, Trendsetter, Trailblazer, Humanitarian and Philanthropist, who resides in Memphis TN.  Nicole is the proud unapologetically single mother of four beautiful daughters Yolanda (26), Savanna (15), and twins Brooklyn & Bheanna (10).  Nicole is a community advocate and works alongside her daughters in various community projects to make Memphis a better place to work, eat and play!

 

Nicole is the Author of Success Over Statistics…I CHOOSE!  The Founder of the Infant Mortality Force of Memphis a grassroots education and awareness organization and Executive Director of Successful Single Moms Memphis an advocacy and empowerment organization for single moms.  Nicole has served as the Shelby County Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative Coordinator and currently serves in an appointed position by Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell as Public Affairs Specialist.

 

Nicole is described by her colleagues as a supermom… Driven, enthusiastic, humble and an inspiration to everyone she has contact with.  Nicole describes herself as a Woman of Possibilities, Purpose and Power.  Recognized on many levels for her stellar community grassroots efforts including; 2008 & 2009 March of Dimes Lay Health Advisor of the Year, 2010 Frayser High School Inspiration in Action recipient, 2010 Dress for Success Memphis & Worldwide Community Action Project 1st Place Honoree, Volunteer Mid-South’s Adult Volunteer of the Year Nominee, MPACT Memphis’ Community Involvement Soul of the City Honoree, Ordinary People Magazine’s Servant Award Honoree, 2010 BET Black Girl Rocks Memphis Honoree, 2010 Agent of Change Nominee, 2010 Congregation Health Promoter Champion, 2012 Tri-State Defender Best in Black-Event Planner, 2012 Tri-State Defender Best in Black-Women’s Organization, 2012 Stone Awards Honoree-Advocacy & Community Outreach.

 

Nicole is a champion for professional/personal development and leadership; adding to her repertoire: Graduate of Leadership Memphis’ Grassroots and Fastrack Programs,   Ms. Gates serves on the board of Memphis Area Prevention Coalition.

 

Nicole Gates lives by the motto: To whom much is given, much is required.  She feels honored to be able to serve her community and make an impact on the lives of Memphians!  Nicole’s mantra “Real Change is an Inside Job…CHANGE Has NO Season”

Derek Flake, Founder

Derekflake1@gmail.com
901-335-9863 cell

 

is the Founder of the Mid-South Hemophilia and Bleeding Disorders Foundation (MSHBDF).  Being a VWD patient himself and a father of a child diagnosed with VWD and having another child with Factor VII Deficiency has prompted Derek to take a strong stand against the lack of awareness in under resourced communities. 

 

As an ordained minister, community organizer, and child advocate he has seen countless numbers of children and adults who show signs of a bleeding disorder, but the symptoms are never brought to the attention of a medical doctor who specializes in blood disorders. More often than not this is due to lack of awareness and education regarding signs and symptoms of possible bleeding disorders.

 

Derek and Sherita, were successful in advocating for appropriate accommodations and modifications in their youngest daughter’s Section 504 Plan as well as for their oldest daughter with Factor VII deficiency .

 

Derek's academic rigor from Union University in Organizational Leadership and work experience has positioned him to be an advocate for the bleeding disorder community.

 

Derek serves on several disability boards locally, statewide, and nationally. Sherita is an Administrator in Education and a graduate of the University of Memphis (B.A.) She also earned a Masters in Education at Christian Brothers University.  She is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Memphis with a major in Leadership and Policy Studies

Taylor Flake, Board Member

 

Taylor Flake is a native Memphian that studies History with minors in Spanish, Global Studies and Political Science at Christian Brothers University.

 

Taylor is passionate about social justice and civil rights issues that affect the under-resourced communities. At CBU, Taylor founded Christian Brothers University’s Collegiate Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People where she presides over the only LaSallian Institution in the world to have its own chapter charter.

 

Taylor is on the Board of Directors of CBU’s Honors Program, the 2015 Gerard Vanderhaar Student Peace Award Recipient and a Senator in the Student Government Association. In addition to this, Taylor is a 2015 Leadership Fellow and a Member of the Mu Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

 

Outside of CBU, Taylor serves as a Supreme Court Justice on the Tennessee Intercollegiate Supreme Court where she is joined with four other justices from universities in Tennessee. In addition, she also serves on Novo Nordisk’s Rare Bleeding Disorders Council.

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