Our History

Founded in 1989 as Families Under Urban and Social Attack (FUUSA), and most recently known as Change Happens!, Civic Heart Community Services has a thirty-three-year proven track record in working with vulnerable and disadvantaged populations to create life-altering impact.

Civic Heart has grown from one program to more than 25 programs and 70+ employees. Through our programs, we provide services to over 65,000 individuals annually, including:

  • prevention education skills training and alternative activities to over 7,000 youth ages 6 to 17
  • after school and summer enrichment program to over 150 youth annually
  • housing for 72 individuals experiencing homelessness
  • assistance to help enroll over 2,000 families in health insurance
  • education, training and connections to employment for 200 low-income adults

In addition, our work helps reduce recidivism and improve public outcomes for 90 justice-involved youth. We have enrolled over 100 justice involved girls in the VOICES program, 80% of whom have not reoffended since enrollment.

We take a holistic approach to providing programs and services, uniquely positioning Civic Heart to work with populations that experience the greatest disparities in social determinants of health.

Photo of kids in an event room

Mission, Vision & Values

Mission Vision Values graphic

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Civic Heart Community Services, diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to our work. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve, where everyone feels empowered. Together, we continue to build an inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices of our employees and the people we serve.

A group photo of diverse peoplePhoto of volunteers at an eventPhoto of a diverse group of women on a stage

Leadership Team

Kionta Carter
Chief Executive Officer

Portrait of Erica Davis

Erica Davis
Chief Operating Officer

Portrait of Angelica Castillo

Angelica Castillo
Chief Financial Officer

Portrait of Kelva Clay

Kelva Clay
Program Director

Portrait of Sujeeta Menon

Sujeeta Menon
Program Director

Photo of Jenes Sherrell

Jeness Sherrell
Program Director

Photo of Marcus Brewer

Marcus Brewer
Development Director

Photo of Kenyetta McGowens

Kenyetta McGowens
Program Administrator

Portrait of Candy Brown

Candy Brown
Rescue in Motion and STAIRS 2.0 Program Coordinator

Portrait of Samual Brown

Samuel Brown
HIV Prevention and Wellness Program Coordinator

Portrait of Trinell Davis

Trinell Davis
Volunteer Coordinator

Portrait of Demarcus Foster

Demarcus Foster
Northern Third Ward Program Manager

Portrait of Terrance Fraizer

Terrance Frazier
Rescue Youth Program Coordinator

Kira Promise
Self Sufficiency Program Coordinator

Portrait of Stacey Thompson

Stacey Thompson
ACA Navigator and Connecting Kids to Coverage Program Coordinator

Portrait of Valencia Weathersby Gray

Vanecia Weathersby Gray
Mentoring & Juvenile Justice Program Coordinator

Jasmine Pena

Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program Coordinator 

Board of Directors

Vanessa T. Reed
Community Member

Debbie Salazar
Board Secretary
Senior Vice President
Corporate Head Teller
IBC Bank

Marian Cabanillas
Health Plan CEO
United Healthcare
Community Plan of Texas

Janette Hammond
Community Member

​Jené Guess Cash
Real Estate Manager
City of Houston

Jennifer Kalvaitis
Managing Director
Oilfield Services
J.P. Morgan Securities

Carl Townsend Kidd
Principal
Townsend Lanier Consulting and Associates, Inc.

Deborah Boone
Outside Board Representative
The Junior League of Houston

​Tim Stuhlreyer
Managing Director
PwC

Reva Witherspoon
Community Member

Kionta Carter
Chief Executive Officer

Join Our Board

Are you interested in joining Civic Heart's Board of Directors? Click below to express interest.

Sponsors

Amerigroup Logo
BB&T Logo
Drive 288 logo
CenterPoint Energy Logo
Comcast Logo
Comerica Bank Logo
Colliers International Logo
Frost Bank Logo
Guidry & Associates logo
HEB Logo
Houston Young Lawyers Association Logo
Marek Logo
Molina Healthcare Logo
Northern Trust Logo
Primary Services Logo
Reliant Energy Logo
Satterfield & Pontikes construction, Inc. Logo
Texas Children's Hospital logo
THINK Neurology for Kids Logo
United Healthcare Logo
University of Houston Logo
UPS Logo
  • AD Players Theater
  • Albert & Ethel Herzstein Foundation
  • Amerigroup
  • BB&T
  • BanCorp South
  • Barnes & Noble Booksellers
  • Baylor University
  • Bayway Lincoln
  • Be Glammed
  • Bennie Ferrell Catering
  • Buffalo Wild Wings
  • Capital One Bank
  • Carmelo’s Ristorante Italiano
  • CenterPoint Energy
  • CES- Community Education Services
  • City of Houston
  • Chuy’s
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Colliers International
  • Comcast
  • Comerica Bank
  • Community Coffee
  • CVS
  • Disneyland Resort
  • Empower with Purpose
  • Exxon Mobil Foundation
  • Frenchy’s Chicken
  • Frost Bank
  • Game Stop
  • Guess Group
  • Guidry News
  • Gringo’s Tex Mex
  • HEB
  • Houston Astros
  • Houston Children’s Museum
  • Houston Museum of Natural Science
  • Houston Style Magazine
  • Houston Young Lawyers Foundation
  • Jason’s Deli
  • Jones Lang LaSalle
  • Kelly Bill Montgomery
  • Kendra Scott
  • Laguitas Brewing Company
  • LAMJIK Beauty
  • Major League Baseball
  • Melodrama Boutique
  • Molina Healthcare
  • Nestle
  • Norris of Houston Salon
  • Northern Trust
  • Outerwall
  • PerryLee Home Health Care
  • Pink Calyx
  • Primary Services
  • Sambuca
  • Satterfield & Pontikes
  • Schlumberger
  • Signature Physiques Fitness
  • Sprinkles
  • Smith Graham
  • Strake Foundation
  • United Healthcare
  • University of Houston
  • Unleashed
  • UPS
  • Vickie Pink Photography
  • Vintage Villas
  • Walmart
  • Wells Fargo Foundation
  • Womack Development Investment Realtors
Leadership

Leadership Team

Kionta Carter
Chief Executive Officer

Portrait of Erica Davis

Erica Davis
Chief Operating Officer

Portrait of Angelica Castillo

Angelica Castillo
Chief Financial Officer

Portrait of Kelva Clay

Kelva Clay
Program Director

Portrait of Sujeeta Menon

Sujeeta Menon
Program Director

Photo of Jenes Sherrell

Jeness Sherrell
Program Director

Photo of Marcus Brewer

Marcus Brewer
Development Director

Photo of Kenyetta McGowens

Kenyetta McGowens
Program Administrator

Portrait of Candy Brown

Candy Brown
Rescue in Motion and STAIRS 2.0 Program Coordinator

Portrait of Samual Brown

Samuel Brown
HIV Prevention and Wellness Program Coordinator

Portrait of Trinell Davis

Trinell Davis
Volunteer Coordinator

Portrait of Demarcus Foster

Demarcus Foster
Northern Third Ward Program Manager

Portrait of Terrance Fraizer

Terrance Frazier
Rescue Youth Program Coordinator

Kira Promise
Self Sufficiency Program Coordinator

Portrait of Stacey Thompson

Stacey Thompson
ACA Navigator and Connecting Kids to Coverage Program Coordinator

Portrait of Valencia Weathersby Gray

Vanecia Weathersby Gray
Mentoring & Juvenile Justice Program Coordinator

Jasmine Pena

Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program Coordinator 

Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Vanessa T. Reed
Community Member

Debbie Salazar
Board Secretary
Senior Vice President
Corporate Head Teller
IBC Bank

Marian Cabanillas
Health Plan CEO
United Healthcare
Community Plan of Texas

Janette Hammond
Community Member

​Jené Guess Cash
Real Estate Manager
City of Houston

Jennifer Kalvaitis
Managing Director
Oilfield Services
J.P. Morgan Securities

Carl Townsend Kidd
Principal
Townsend Lanier Consulting and Associates, Inc.

Deborah Boone
Outside Board Representative
The Junior League of Houston

​Tim Stuhlreyer
Managing Director
PwC

Reva Witherspoon
Community Member

Kionta Carter
Chief Executive Officer

Join Our Board

Are you interested in joining Civic Heart's Board of Directors? Click below to express interest.
Sponsors

Sponsors

Amerigroup Logo
BB&T Logo
Drive 288 logo
CenterPoint Energy Logo
Comcast Logo
Comerica Bank Logo
Colliers International Logo
Frost Bank Logo
Guidry & Associates logo
HEB Logo
Houston Young Lawyers Association Logo
Marek Logo
Molina Healthcare Logo
Northern Trust Logo
Primary Services Logo
Reliant Energy Logo
Satterfield & Pontikes construction, Inc. Logo
Texas Children's Hospital logo
THINK Neurology for Kids Logo
United Healthcare Logo
University of Houston Logo
UPS Logo
  • AD Players Theater
  • Albert & Ethel Herzstein Foundation
  • Amerigroup
  • BB&T
  • BanCorp South
  • Barnes & Noble Booksellers
  • Baylor University
  • Bayway Lincoln
  • Be Glammed
  • Bennie Ferrell Catering
  • Buffalo Wild Wings
  • Capital One Bank
  • Carmelo’s Ristorante Italiano
  • CenterPoint Energy
  • CES- Community Education Services
  • City of Houston
  • Chuy’s
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Colliers International
  • Comcast
  • Comerica Bank
  • Community Coffee
  • CVS
  • Disneyland Resort
  • Empower with Purpose
  • Exxon Mobil Foundation
  • Frenchy’s Chicken
  • Frost Bank
  • Game Stop
  • Guess Group
  • Guidry News
  • Gringo’s Tex Mex
  • HEB
  • Houston Astros
  • Houston Children’s Museum
  • Houston Museum of Natural Science
  • Houston Style Magazine
  • Houston Young Lawyers Foundation
  • Jason’s Deli
  • Jones Lang LaSalle
  • Kelly Bill Montgomery
  • Kendra Scott
  • Laguitas Brewing Company
  • LAMJIK Beauty
  • Major League Baseball
  • Melodrama Boutique
  • Molina Healthcare
  • Nestle
  • Norris of Houston Salon
  • Northern Trust
  • Outerwall
  • PerryLee Home Health Care
  • Pink Calyx
  • Primary Services
  • Sambuca
  • Satterfield & Pontikes
  • Schlumberger
  • Signature Physiques Fitness
  • Sprinkles
  • Smith Graham
  • Strake Foundation
  • United Healthcare
  • University of Houston
  • Unleashed
  • UPS
  • Vickie Pink Photography
  • Vintage Villas
  • Walmart
  • Wells Fargo Foundation
  • Womack Development Investment Realtors

Financial Reports

See our annual financial reports below.  We welcome your questions and requests for additional information at accounting@civicheart.org.

Audited Financials

2022
2021
2020

Form 990

2022
2021
2020

Awards

Careers

Interested in a career with Civic Heart? Learn more here.

Internships

Internships

Interested in interning with Civic Heart Community Services?

Well, we’re interested in you! The ideal candidate will be energetic and enthusiastic, with a desire to learn more about the non-profit world. Our engaging internship programs give students real-world work experience by involving them in projects critical to the day-to-day work of our organization.

To apply for an internship, submit the following to our internship contact:

  • The most recent copy of your college transcript (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)
  • A resume & cover letter
  • Contact information for two references
  • A writing sample (3-5 pages)

Internship Contact:
Trinell Davis
713.374.1265

Social Work Internship Program for Students

Civic Heart has working partnerships with several local universities to provide learning opportunities specifically for Bachelor of Social Work and Masters of Social Work students. To learn more about these placements, please contact:

Dr. Sujeeta E. Menon, Ph.D., LMSW
346.212.5778

Photo of Social Work Interns