Board of Directors

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LaDawna Alford Thomas is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker born and raised in St Louis Missouri.  She has had a passion for working with community and helping and advocating for others, since she herself was a teenager and young adult.  She began her career over 30 years ago pioneering the school-age after school care “latchkey” program with the Mid County YMCA.  Her extensive career in supporting and advocating for youth and young adults have included: Case Manager for St Louis Caring Communities, Deputy Juvenile Officer with St Louis County Family Court, and Director of the Independent Living Apartment Program with Marygrove of Florissant Missouri, an employment and life coach for under privileged youth in at-risk neighborhoods in the City of St. Louis, a Youth Case Management Specialist with Mers-Goodwill Industries of Missouri and Office Manager/Facilitator with EPICS Counseling Services. LaDawna is currently the owner of SonShine Child Development Center in the Jennings, MO.  She also provides mental health services and therapy to adults and children.  She specializes in CBT and Trauma-Informed Therapy to treat such illnesses as depression, anxiety disorders, anger management and behavior modification, as well as perinatal mental health. LaDawna is the happy wife to Shannon Thomas and proud mother of one son Donathan Walters.  She is also a loving daughter, sister, and aunt, and a mother figure/role model to numerous people in the community. She received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in social work from St. Louis University. She also holds a Master of Management Degree from Fontbonne University. She is a lifelong member of Mercy Seat M.B. Church where she has held the title of Youth Director and member of the choir and Board of Christian Education in the past.  Her other professional affiliations include Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., prior board member of West End Clinic, board member of EPICS JR Foundation, Academy for Competent Youth Work, National Safe Place Network for Homeless Youth, a certified group fitness instructor through Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA), a licensed Spinning instructor, a licensed Piloxing instructor and a Mental Health Services provider for SonderMind Online Therapy. Her volunteer and service are too numerous to count.  She loves to dance and exercise for self-care. She uses her love for dancing to spread her passion for health by leading others in Slide Fitness classes several times a week and throughout the community.  She never hesitates to participant in any races, community fairs, and fund raisers that promote social issues and improved healthy living. Her daily motto is Philippians 4:13 because she firmly believes that God gives her the strength daily to live a happy and purposeful life.

Barry Crawford Malloyd is the proud son of Brenda Hicks and the late Rev. Clifford Barry Malloyd, Sr.  A 1982 scholar athlete and Track & Field All-American from Lincoln Sr. High School Malloyd led the Tigers to two IHSA State Championships and those teams scored the most points ever in IHSA history.  Also in 1982 Malloyd won the AAU Junior Olympics National title in the 110m high hurdles making him the number #1 ranked hurdler in the nation. Barry Malloyd received a full track & field scholarship to Arkansas State University.  Later Malloyd transferred and graduated with honors receiving his BA degree in Speech Communication/Radio TV from Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA.  Malloyd was a NCAA Academic All-American and a 1988 Olympic Trials qualifier in the 110m high hurdles. In 1996 Malloyd returned home to work for several years as a sports commentator for STL-Channel 16 in St. Louis, MO and for East St. Louis Charter Network.  In 2000 Malloyd was hired as the Head Boys Track & Field Coach at ESTL Lincoln Middle School where his teams won 5 IESA State Championships and scored the most points ever in IESA history.  In 2012-13 Barry Malloyd was named ESTL Sr. High School Head Boys T&F Coach where his team finished 2nd at the IHSA State Meet.  In 2016 the ESTL Flyers were crowned the IHSA Class 3A Boys State T&F Champions. In 2019 the East St. Louis Flyers under Barry Malloyd’s leadership won their second IHSA State Championship scoring the most points ever in East St. Louis history by any high school track team. Barry Malloyd has received numerous awards including the Jackie Joyner Kersee Winning In Life Award, 2016 IHSA Coach Of the The Year Award, 2016 National H.S. Coach Of The Year Finalist, the NAACP Winner’s Circle Award and many more.  Along with his many achievements and accomplishments Malloyd is an educator with East St. Louis School District 189,  an author, a youth minister, track coach,  motivational speaker and a member of the greatest fraternity in the world;  Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

MA., LPC, CADC Founder

Licensed Professional Counselor

Certified Anger Management Specialist II (CAMS-II)

Vanessa is the Founder & CEO of Extensive Prevention Intervention Counseling Services, LLC (EPICS), a professional counseling service, and Founder & Board President of EPICS J R Foundation. Her personal mission to live with integrity and to make a difference in the lives of others has been the driving force for her over 20 years of clinical and administrative experience working with diverse populations including low income families, persons with strained family systems, probation and parole, drunken drivers, couples, persons with persistent mental illness, dually diagnosed, multi era veterans and their families, person with chronic homelessness, adolescents, persons with HIV, single mothers/fathers and persons suffering from substance abuse/dependence. Her positions in the field includes: four years of management experience as a Treatment Program Director for a homeless shelter/residential substance abuse treatment program; Clinical Supervisor for an adolescent residential substance abuse treatment program; Clinical Coordinator for an inpatient detox program; Clinical Case Manager for a community based mental health provider. Mrs. Cox is committed to continued education and training and holds a Master of Arts degree in Professional Counseling from Lindenwood University, a Master of Arts in Human Resource Agency Management from Lindenwood University and a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling Psychology from Southern University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Missouri, and holds certifications with the Missouri Board of Professional Credentialing Board of Professional counselors as a Substance Abuse Counselor (CADC) and as a SATOP professional. She is a Certified Anger Management Specialist ll (CAMS-ll) through the National Anger Management Association, New York, NY. and a member of the American Counseling Association.She has been happily married to Fred Cox for 10 years and spends her free time volunteering and being members of several professional and service organizations including the Urban League Guild.  She loves traveling and spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren, and “parents” John and Rose Davis.  Her relationship and faith in God has been the key to her success and accomplishments. Mrs. Cox’s creed in life is to “begin with the end in mind”.

Roxane is owner of Reliable Accounting and Tax LLC since 1993. Bachelor degree in Accounting from University of Missouri (UMSL) in year 2000. Under the heading, my office covers the following for small companies, and individuals:

• Personal and Business Tax Returns
• Bookkeeping
• Payroll and Quarterly Taxes
• Notary New Business Start Ups
• Quick Claim and Beneficiary Deeds
• Financial and Medical POA’s
• Free Consultation 

Fred Cox is the second youngest child born to Mr. Earl and Rosie Lee Cox of Summer, MS.  He graduated from West Tallahatchie High School in Webb, MS in 1979 as the Senior Class Vice-President. He participated in basketball, football, and track while in high school.  He continued his love for sports by playing intramural basketball at Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, MS.  He was a member of the National Beta Club while at Tougaloo and graduated in 1984 with a BS Degree in Mathematics. Fred moved to St. Louis, MO in 1985. His love for the community drew him to become a member of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department in 1994.  Through his position to protect and serve, he participated in numerous community service projects to strengthen the neighborhood morale and the bond between the police and community including holiday parties and toy drives.  In 2018, Fred retired from the STLMPD after 24 years of dedicated service. Fred and Vanessa have been married for 10 years and he spends his free time assisting with the goals and the vision of EPICS Counseling Services, LLC and now the EPICS JR Foundation.  Fred is active member of the St. Louis Urban League Guild. He loves to spend time with their children and grandchildren and loves to travel.

Belinda is a Social Worer for Missouri Baptist Children’s Home (MBCH). She received a Masters of Arts in Counseling from Missouri Baptist University in 2011. She has worked with at risk children and their families for over 17 years. She’s currently working with Therapeutic Foster Care Parents (TFCP) that foster youth that suffers from traumatic events in their life. She trains and assist TFCP to use the Trust-Based Relational Intervention(TBRI). This therapeutic model trains caregivers to provide effective support and treatment for at-risk children. Her main objectives of being a Social Worker are developing professional relationships, empowering people, and create self-awareness in professional services.