A’Jay served from 2011 - 2014 as an AmeriCorps VISTA member in Topeka, Kansas.  Through the Washburn University AmeriCorps VISTA program, A’Jay led high-impact initiatives advancing youth development, health equity, and community revitalization in underserved communities and communities of color.

A’Jay is a nonprofit strategist and consultant who founded VLF DreamMakerz Community Solutions to help nonprofits secure resources, build programs, and develop leaders to drive sustainable mission success. After witnessing how poverty devastates communities—and how under-resourced organizations struggle to deliver solutions—A’Jay made it her mission to act. Her years of service taught her how to build capacity, enabling her to bridge critical gaps and ensure vital support reaches those who need it most rather than being lost to politics or ineffective systems.

A’Jay brings people together through food. By teaching cooking classes across the country, she uses shared culinary experiences to build connection and trust—proving that when words fall short, food becomes the language of the heart.