WHO WE ARE
Haven's House Academy was founded by a group of individuals passionate about creating a safe and comprehensive space for students categorized as at risk, homeless, or foster youth. Too often these marginalized students fail classes, do not have the resources needed to reach academic achievement, or have outside forces that dominate their priorities.

Our
Story

Dr. Johnson and her beloved mother, our co-founder Taliba Carr

Dr. Johnson and her sister, Miracle at her high school graduation after completing Haven's House Services program.
The origin of haven'shouse
Dr. Abeni Carr Johnson was born in 1984 and adopted in 1986 by her mother Rosemary Taliba Carr. Throughout her life, Dr Carr-Johnson accounts all of her success and achievements to the love, support, and nurturing of her parents.
In December 2016, Dr. Abeni Carr Johnson was reunited with her biological mother and maternal sister, whose life trajectories were complicated by histories of homelessness and human trafficking. As a result of her experiences as a school principal, Dr. Carr-Johnson was drawn to engage in combating homelessness and implement support systems in her school that would help homeless students overcome the barriers they faced in education. She later wrote her dissertation, “Supporting Homeless Youth Reach Academic Achievement” based on her experience running Hvaen’s House. She was one of the first in California to call for community school initiatives that allow educational centers to provide wraparound services.
While Dr. Carr-Johnson was able to get her sister enrolled in high school, she didn't realize the mental health needs of her sister should have been prioritized. Although her sister graduated from high with the help of Haven’s House, our program shifted to provide mental health services, case management, and a clothing closet to alleviate traumatic stressors that make focusing on school possible.
Dr. Carr-Johnson has fully committed herself to the work of serving homeless students and creating ways to assist these students with gaining mental health care as well as access to transportation, food, and clothing. However, it soon became clear that the needs of this vulnerable population were greater than what her school could provide. In 2019, Ms. Carr launched her nonprofit, Haven's House Youth Services. The fundamental goal of Haven’s House is to change that. Haven’s House Youth Services is a multifunction organization aimed at meeting the educational, residential, and supplemental needs of students, specifically those experiencing housing instability and human trafficking.
To date, we have provided the following support:
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100% of all students applying to college get into four four-year colleges or university
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80 college and career access workshops
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Provided case management for more than 200 students
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Provided housing support for 40 clients
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OUR TEAM
Board of Directors
dr. Abeni Carr-johnson
executive director
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Abeni Carr began her journey as an activist for homeless youth in high schools throughout Los Angeles and Compton. As an educator, fundraiser, and college counselor, she has spent years working with unaccompanied youth and students experiencing homelessness in order to ensure that they applied and were admitted to college, received access to academic and financial aid, and began their post-secondary endeavors with the skills and supplies they needed for a successful college experience.
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In December 2016, Ms. Carr was reunited with her biological mother and maternal sister, whose life trajectories were complicated by histories of homelessness and human trafficking. As a result of her experiences, Ms. Carr was drawn to engage in the work of combating homelessness and to implement support systems in her own school that would help homeless students overcome the barriers they faced in education. Ms. Carr has fully committed herself to the work of serving homeless students and creating ways to assist these students with gaining mental health care as well as access to transportation, food, and clothing. However, it soon became clear that the needs of this vulnerable population were greater than what her school could provide.
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In 2019, Ms. Carr launched her nonprofit, Haven's House Youth Services. The fundamental goal of Haven’s House is to change that. Haven’s House Youth Services is a multifunction organization aimed at meeting the educational, residential, and supplemental needs of students, specifically those experiencing housing instability and human trafficking.
Doris Arango-Reyes
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Doris Arango-Reyes was born and raised in the heart of Downtown Los Ángeles, in Koreatown. Mrs. Arango-Reyes is a product of after school programs. Being a part of after school gave her the opportunity and the tools to experience many life changing moments that she wouldn’t have been able to experience otherwise. Therefore, after high school, she naturally began working with youth through after school. She has worked and volunteered with multiple non-profit youth programs in the Los Ángeles Area for 11 years.
During this time she has worked with students grades K to 12 providing vital after school services as a volunteer, frontline staff member and as a Site Coordinator. She attended California State University, Long Beach where she received her undergraduate degree in Political Science.
Mrs. Arango-Reyes understands that providing support to our community and youth is vital to their success. Growing up in Koreatown she experienced first hand the different struggles the community faced. Therefore she strives everyday to ensure that all students have a safe place to stay after school and that they are provided with the tools they need to be successful. She believes that collaborations and partnerships within the school and community are key factors to student success. Her ultimate goal in life is to be able live and give like no one else.
In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, collecting art from the different countries she visits, and running marathons. She believes in not only being physically healthy, but also being mentally healthy.
Kimberlee Bilbrew
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Kimberlee Bilbrew is a multifaceted addition to our board. She has worked in Child Welfare for over 23 years. She has worked in the capacity of a Children's Social Worker, Supervising Children's Social Worker and currently serves as a Children's Service Administrator with the Department of Children and Family Services. In these roles, she has worked with families and children who have been directly impacted by homelessness, racial disparities and educational disproportionality. In addition, she is a Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Beach Cities. Her goal is to assist individuals, families and businesses to understand wealth through Real Estate. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Inglewood Alumnae Chapter. She brings with her a vast experience serving nonprofits boards. Ms. Bilbrew attended Tuskegee University where she earned her Bachelor's Arts in Social Work Degree and then attended California State University, Long Beach to obtain her Master's in Social Work and Pupil Personnel Service Credential.
Sandra Davidson, J.D, MSW
Sandra Davidson is a proud native of South Los Angeles and the product of the public-school system. It was during her time at Locke High School that she became interested in alleviating social problems in underserved communities. Ms. Davidson currently serves as a Senior Fundraising and Development Associate, where she is
dedicated to building and sustaining community-based programs that address the needs of vulnerable communities. She has obtained both a Master of Social Work (MSW) and Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D). Ms. Davidson has spent the past several years combining both her expertise and knowledge of social work and the law to prevent and intervene in youth violence, youth recidivism, and mental health intervention in school and community settings. Ms.Davidson is a proud alumna of Bennett College for Women and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., where she volunteers in community engagement projects in underserved communities.
Dominique Porter Wallace
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Dominique Porter Wallace is an experienced producer, events director, designer and founder of the loungewear brand The Glad Hours. A native Angelino, Dominique has used her creative skillset to support and fundraise for various local and national non profit organizations and political campaigns. She received a BFA in Photography from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and went on to receive her Masters in Modern and Contemporary Art from the University of Edinburgh. Dominique is passionate about mental health awareness, social justice and reframing narratives in education.
SEAN ray james
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Sean James was a special admit through the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at Cal State University Northridge (CSUN) where he started his educational journey as a student Mentor. EOP was designed to administer support programs that deliver access and retention services to highly motivated, first generation students from historically underrepresented low-income communities. His work EOP instilled in him the desire to give back, be open minded to life, culture, education, and most of all, understand the importance of helping disadvantaged communities.
Sean received his B.A. in African American Studies/Social Science in 2006, and his M.A. in Higher Education Administration in the spring of 2011 from CSUN. Currently, he is finishing his Doctorate at the University of Southern California, in the Urban Education Program, scheduled to be completed spring 2021. Sean has focused his research on the experiences of students from marginalized communities throughout his academic career. His dissertation focuses on the experience of men of color in higher education, emphasizing the challenges and support needed to successfully address the inequities they face in education, and thus how to successfully transition and graduate from four-year universities. He has branched out into the community creating partnerships with community organizations, high schools, community colleges, and youth groups. Sean has served as a guest speaker for incarcerated youth in the Los Angeles County probation department, mentors students at CSU, Dominguez Hills, and does personal outreach to young men in the inner city with hopes of changing their paths from negative to positive.
LA tasha r. shorts
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La Tasha R. Shorts is an at-large community leader with a focus on giving back to the less fortunate/underserve population of people. She is a humble servant who is most passionate about mentoring and developing youth that are most in need. La Tasha was born and raised in Stockton, California. She learned the importance of giving back to the community a very young age under the influence and guidance of her Father, the late Rev. Dr. Willie A. Douglas Sr., a respected at-large community human-civil rights and social justice advocate in her home town. Although her professional career is in the insurance industry, her dedication is to the youth.
hanami sutton
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Los Angeles native Hanami Sutton is a creative director, activist, producer, and founding partner of LA based design agency Made by Super. She uses visual communication to empower organizations, political campaigns, and clients alike. In 2016 she partnered with Compton Bridge Academy to create a sex education booklet geared toward all humans, especially at risk youth, entitled "How to Human: Sex and Relationships."
Her professional work specializes in brand identity, layout, user interface, and production design for a wide range of industries. Her background includes design firms in New York and Los Angeles with clients in entertainment, film, technology, consulting, fashion, beauty, non-profit, and the food & wine industry.
Advisory Board
Rosemary “Taliba” Carr
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While raising 3 wonderful children, I worked as an Educator for 40 years. I began as a Teacher’s Assistant, became a Teacher and Completed my glorious career in Education as a High School Counselor. I am a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for the County of Los Angeles. Assisting children in the Foster Care System.
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I have been married to a wonderful man, loving known as “Butch” for the past 35 years and look forward to many more years together. We enjoy traveling, eating, gardening, and spending time with our children. My whole being is dedicated to the Health and Welfare of young people. My Dream is that All children will have Love, Stability and Equal and Equitable Educational opportunities to become All they Can Be.
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Former Teacher and School Counselor with a total of 40 years in Education. Focused on supporting students in accomplishing personal and academic success. Experienced in counseling, student advocacy and preventive education to meet the goals and objectives of the counseling program. Delicate in handling issues involving cultural and socioeconomic differences. Driven to do the work that assures each Students Equal Access to an Equitable Education.
Angelique McGrue, M.ed., pps
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Angelique McGrue is a passionate educator and counselor from Pasadena, California, with a deep commitment to supporting students, particularly those with disabilities. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Education Sciences and Psychology and Social Behavior from UC Irvine, and a Master's in Counseling with a School Counseling focus and PPS credential from Cal State Long Beach.
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Angelique’s professional journey began at College Bridge Academy in Compton, where she gained valuable experience working with youth with disabilities, fostering her dedication to creating inclusive educational environments. She furthered her expertise by earning a second Master's in Education, specializing in Education for Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities.
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Currently, Angelique serves as the Special Education Coordinator at YouthBuild Charter Schools of California. In this role, she leads efforts to support at-risk youth, ensuring they receive the tailored educational services and resources needed to thrive academically and personally. With a solid foundation in both counseling and special education, Angelique is passionate about empowering students and helping them achieve their full potential in an inclusive, supportive setting.
Are you interested in joining our Board, Volunteering, or Are a Development Company that wants to support our work?
Contact us here!