Meet the Board of Directors

My name is Mickia Neal, and I am the board President of Serving with A Purpose. I have the privilege to serve alongside Dr. Melissa Toney and our amazing board members. As a child I was very passionate about caring for people. I didn't know then that I had a serving heart. That spirit landed me in a career as a Health Insurance Executive which allows me to stay close to healthcare indirectly caring for people. I have a master's degree in business and looking to pursue a Doctorate degree in healthcare administration. Personally, I am wife, mother, and grandmother- all boys. I spend my down time baking, traveling, and reading. I'm excited about the work S.W.A.P is doing in each community and with the families we serve. 

Charity Mason is the board Secretary for Serving with a purpose. Charity mason a mentee of Dr. Melissa while was a student at The David W Carter Highschool. It was through her life challenges and faith in God that she grew a passion for helping others, making systematic changes in her community and in the lives of children like her. After the passing of her mother, that she decided to attend to follow her mom's desires and attend and graduate from Texas Christian University with a bachelor's in social work. She planned to start a career in Child Protective services, but plans changed when she became the caregiver to two of her siblings and was offered the chance to teach. Since starting her educational journey in 2020, she has seen in a different light the things that her scholars need every day and has even provided those things out her own funds and closet. Loving, seeing and developing young minds are at the center her heart. Charity is the mother to a Handsome 1 year old named Christian. She is involved in church at the Inspiring Body of Christ Church in Dallas, Tx. She loves taking naps and spending time with family, especially her siblings having games names and reminiscing on childhood memories. She lives by two quotes, Isaiah 54:17" no weapon formed against me shall prosper." and life isn't about waiting on the storm to pass it's about learning to dance in the rain."

Melanie S. Hodge is an upbeat and proactive Therapist who has over sixteen years of experience working with diverse populations in various settings. Melanie undertook her studies at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina, where she proudly graduated with a 3.99 GPA with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work with a minor in Gerontology in 2006. During that time, Melanie maintained her position in which she was the President of the Social Work Club and graduated at the top of her class, where she was the “voice” of the organization and was responsible for creating and implementing the “vision” of the club each year. In addition, Melanie provided counseling services at The Department of Juvenile Justice Center in Columbia, South Carolina, where she worked closely with at-risk youth who encountered allegations of criminal offenses as well as being a critical source of support to those families. Melanie furthered her education at the University of Missouri – St. Louis where she graduated at the top of her class and attained her Master of Social Work degree in 2008. During that time, Melanie completed a practicum that entailed providing counseling services to female youth and adolescents in addition to implementing a Group program curriculum that highlighted and met the needs of secondary caregivers to youth and adolescents.  

Melanie’s ardent desire to educate those who are under served and prone to traumatic encroachments on their basic human rights of self-advocacy, self-determination, accountability, restoration of power, and self-worth, is what drives her both personally and professionally. Currently, Melanie carries out her passion at a local county hospital as well as a private practice where she is a Therapist, and, in both settings, she takes tremendous pride in helping patients and clients work through the pain and /or issues that may be hindering them from wholeness and wellness. Melanie’s number one priority is to empower children, adolescents, women, families, and groups who encounter anxiety, depression, and other forms of trauma in order to reach their full potential and stabilize long-term emotional and behavioral well-being despite not being esteemed and lacking confidence.

Melanie’s extensive history of civil and social services as well as volunteering in various arenas has further led to her vision of becoming a vital and ongoing source of support to individuals, families, and groups who lack the knowledge, resources, and courage, and Melanie is using her gift to wholeheartedly fulfill her life's purpose in starting her very own private practice to address mental health disparities, particularly throughout both Black and Brown communities.

I realized early in life that I had a desire in which I wanted to be able to have a positive impact on others lives.
I began in High School working with children by participating in service projects and joining service organizations. I continued to volunteer in college at the local elementary schools and as a mentor to other college students while earning my Bachelor of Arts as a double Major in Business Management and Marketing.

I answered the call to enter the field of education. While in my 20th year of education I am humbled at the opportunity to continue to grow the lives of others as an Elementary School principal.  Having overcome  opposition and diversity in my life, it has become my driving force to ensure that all students needs are being met through equity and excellence.
I have been blessed to become a mother and raise two wonderful children. I have been grounded by my faith and believe that all things are possible. 

Dr. LaTonsha Pridgen, known affectionately to friends as LT, hails from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in the great state of Texas. She is an author, advocate, motivational speaker, and authorized Stewards of Children Facilitator. She holds a BS in Management Accountant, an MBA in Marketing Management, an MS in Philosophy, and a PhD in Human and Social Services. Professionally employed as a Director of Finance, Dr. Pridgen’s passion is children’s advocacy, public service, and political activism. Dr. Pridgen’s determination to advocate for children and serve the underserved is born from her own childhood experiences of abuse and extreme poverty. She has tapped those experiences to write a book (Treading Water: From Survivor to Warrior) and found a nonprofit (Stomp Out the Silence) to keep other children from experiencing the trauma of her childhood. Through her work with her nonprofit organization, Dr. Pridgen has educated hundreds of adults on child sexual abuse prevention. As an advocate, she has worked with state legislators to pass important legislation to help protect children and hold perpetrators accountable. Most recently, she worked with members of the Prince William County (PWC) Board of County Supervisors to establish the
PWC Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) to provide wraparound services for victims of child sexual abuse (CSA) and their families. As a leader in her community, LT is a certified Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for the state of Texas and a member of the Dallas Children’s Council for the Dallas Child
Advocacy Center (DCAC). A proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated since Fall 2017, LT is a member of
Upsilon Nu Zeta of Lancaster, TX where she serves as the Chair of the Social Action/Get Engaged Committee.