Freedom House Team

The following is the Freedom House Outreach Director and Staff Leadership Team:

Pastor Steve Daniels, Local Community Church Collaboration Director (In Picture: Top row, 3rd from left)
Pastor Steve has been the Senior Pastor at Shiloh Missionary Baptist church for many years, has led many initiatives to assist the poor here and abroad, and has been especially noted for his service to people of color. Pastor Steve is African American, leads a church for African Americans, and has done much in leadership for the African American community. Pastor Steve has received numerous awards from the NAACP, and served on a US Senate Democratic steering committee of African American leaders from across the nation. They discussed key budget priorities of issues affecting the African American communities, including education, healthcare, affordable housing, re-authorization of social services and faith-based programs. Pastor Steve is well able to provide leadership to Freedom House in serving people of color well.

Vickie Crisler, LADC: Chemical Dependency On-Site Director (In Picture: Bottom row, last person on right end)
Vickie is a MN Licensed Alchohol and Drug counselor who has worked in various clinics to provide Chemical Dependency group and individual counseling as well as assessments. Vickie also has a degree in psychology and is continuing her graduate studies in counseling. Vickie provides leadership to all aspects of our On-Site programs in the area of Chemical Dependency.

Tim Blake, M.A., LP: Mental Health Co-Director (In Picture: Top row, 3rd from right)
Tim has practiced in the area of Mental Health for the last 20 years, is a licensed Psychologist, has many years of both psychiatric assessment experience and one-on-one therapy experience. Tim is available on-site to assist in psychiatric assessments, staff training, and referrals as necessary. Tim will co-direct Freedom House Outreach in all areas of Mental Health.

Nieeta Presley, BA: Surrounding Community Building Director (In Picture: Bottom row, 2nd from right)
Nieeta has been a respected community leader in the area directly inclusive and surrounding Freedom House properties for 10+ years. She is Exec. Director of the local Aurora St. Anthony Community Development Corporation, and has ties with virtually every local non-profit and many for profit agencies in the area. Nieeta is instrumental in developing direct partnerships in the community for Freedom House and our residents. The possibilities are endless, given the location of Freedom House properties nearby many of these agencies. Nieeta is also involved on-site with the Senior Citizen Chore Services Program of Freedom House Outreach. Calls come in from the community seniors and then are relayed to Freedom House staff, who in turn arranges for daily visits to senior citizen homes for various chore services, including lawn mowing, house cleaning, painting, raking leaves, trash removal, snow removal, et cetera. This is therapeutic to the residents who serve these seniors as they see value in themselves. We see this program contributing greatly to positive resident outcomes. Nieeta is African American, and she has led many initiatives to advocate and assist African Americans, and can well assist in leading Freedom House to serve people of color.

Diane Lightbody, CFSM: Food Service Director (In Picture: Bottom row, last person on left end)
Diane has been a Certified Food Service Manager (CFSM) for 10+ years, with direct experience in housing for MICD men, including Midwest Challenge, Metro Hope, and the Micah House in Minneapolis. Diane provides our Director team the insight needed to ensure great food service for our men.

Kaylord Saunders, MA, BS, Ed. D.: Social Services Co-Director (Not shown in picture)
Kaylord is African American and has been in Educational leadership positions over the past 10 years, having experience directly with MICD men in the Ronald Hubbs Center for Lifelong learning... directly across the street from the Freedom House properties. His education and work experience is impressive, and he is also certified in crisis prevention and intervention, CPR & 1st Aid, & Difficult Student certified. Kaylord not only serves by giving direction to our men's educational and social services needs, but also provide a direct on-site interface to the various services provided by the Ronald Hubbs Center for Lifelong learning, including GED classes, ESL classes, Basic Computer classes, Advanced Computer classes, Carpentry Preparation, Commercial Drivers License, Medical Records Clerk, Retail Customer Service, ServSafe Food Safety, and Boilers License classes, and Job Placement.

Steve Lawrence, LMFT: Social Services Co-Director (In Picture: Top row, 4th from right)
Steve is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has worked directly with the homeless MICD population in the last 5 years with the South Metro Human Services Access Team at the Dorthy Day Center and at Lutheran Social Services. Steve is well aware of all resources available in St. Paul and in greater Ramsey County. Steve has also been heavily involved in outcomes based research for the MICD homeless population, and is very familiar with Evidenced Based Outcomes approaches such as the Critical Time Intervention (CTI) model we use.

Colin Akehurst, GRH & Supportive Services Director (In Picture: Top row, last person on right end)
Colin comes to us from Metro Hope, an organization with 25+ years high rate Group Residential Housing & Supportive Services experience. Colin has been a Director at Metro Hope and will be instrumental in providing for GRH & Supportive Services excellence at Freedom House Outreach.

Ardette Fritche, RN: Medical Health Director (Not shown in picture, though she is shown in picture 4 of the picture collage on the home page)
Ardette has served much more medically complex clients than those in need of service at Freedom House, for the last 30 years. Ardette has served at the Maplewood Care Center as RN Nurse Supervisor for the last 12 years, and as an LPN for 18 years prior to that. Ardette is very knowledgeable and and able to direct our team in all areas of resident medical health. Ardette is on-site at least 4 hours a week doing resident medical intakes and follow-ups, as well as medication distribution oversight.

Charles Balfour, Resident Community Director (In Picture: Top row, 2nd from right)
Charles is African American and has led sessions with men at Freedom House for years, to discuss subjects from personal attitudes through life to job skills to inspire the inmates to re-enter society as contributing and productive men. Charles is very well equipped to direct the team on issues of resident community.

Pastor Robert Mosby, MHP: Mental Health Co-Director ( In Picture, Bottom row, 2nd from left)
Robert has served as a Mental Health practitioner for several years as well as Skills Development Specialist and Job Retention Specialist for various agencies, working with many who are MICD. Robert has an extensive background and experience with the Freedom House target population, and is well able to take mental health concepts and apply them to the Freedom House target population.

Doneetsa Anderson: Post Jail/Prison Outreach Director (In Picture, 2nd row, 3rd from left)
Doneetsa has led sessions for 14+ years in the Ramsey County jail system to discuss subjects from personal attitudes through life to job skills to inspire the inmates re-enter society as contributing and productive men. This has been her passion and focus. She has been connected to many prison and jail systems and is well able to provide direction to Freedom House Outreach in the areas of post jail/prison outreach.

Pastor Melvin Collins (In Picture, Top row, 2nd from left)
Pastor Melvin in our main day staff person on-site, having experience with our target population and a very strong pastors heart. Melvin is a very mature breath of fresh air each morning as he leads devotionals with the men on-site, and coordinates on-site activities during the day.

Pastor Vernon Ross (In Picture, Top row, last person on left end)
Pastor Vernon comes to us from Central Los Angeles,and actually lives on-site at Freedom Houses, providing night time leadership of the outreach. Pastor Vernon has not only led a church, but is looked to in leadership of other churches. Pastor Vernon provides a strong example of giving his life up for those he serves, chosing even to live with the homeless and recovering we serve.

Adwale Egbowon (In Picture, 2nd Row, last person on left)
Adwale is a leader in his church, and provides leadership of the men on the weeknights, including supervision and groups. He has background has a lawyer and a minister.

Rev. Joe Nelson ( In Picture, 2nd Row, 2nd from left)
Rev. Joe has a mini-MBA in non-profit management, is trained in CPR, and has a strong Pastors heart for the men he serves in the evenings and weekends at Freedom Houses. Rev. Joe leads group on Saturday morning, and supervises at many times throughout the week.