As the leader of the North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance (NCDSA) team, Christina brings her knowledge of Down syndrome, business management, fundraising and program development skills to the organization. She previously was the director of family programs for the Department of Defense. Her passion for working in the Down syndrome community shows in everything that she does.

Christina has previously served on other Boards for local civic groups, town councils, military family readiness, and school boards. Her most recent board experience was where she served as the Secretary of the Archer Lodge Community Center in Clayton, NC.

Christina and her husband Willie reside in Clayton, NC with their 3 children and 2 Great Danes. She loves to travel, camp, attend sporting events and go white water rafting. If she’s not working you can find her headed out of town on an adventure.

I am a former special education teacher (12 years) and I would be honored to also support families through the education and IEP processes. I believe that my personal story and passion as well as my professional experience will help me to serve many families through NCDSA.

I am originally from Alabama. My family recently returned to North Carolina from Maryland where we lived for 15 months. We quickly realized that North Carolina is home and we plan to be here for many years to come.

I believe my position is an important responsibility and investment within our community. I have both my bachelors and master’s degrees in special education form “the friendliest campus in the South”, Jacksonville State University. I also hold a certification in school psychometry which is administering and interpreting educational assessments. My family and I enjoy spending time outdoors any way that we can. We enjoy exploring new places together and creating adventures. I enjoy reading and cooking, and I almost never turn down the rare opportunity for a glorious nap!

Her ability to conceptualize, plan, and oversee execution of events provides a thorough and precise service as an event planner. Dawn has volunteered as the event coordinator for her local community center. She also gives back as the soccer director for a local soccer league. With creativity and commitment to excellence Dawn DeSoto designs and executes events that will be memorable for both the participants and the organization.

Dawn and her children live in Clayton, NC with their two dogs. She loves coaching youth sports and attending crossfit. Getting away to the mountains for a long hike is her favorite down time.

“There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return”- Nelson Mandela

Jennifer is currently completing her degree in elementary education while she works full time as Teachers Assistant in an exceptional children’s pre-k classroom for Johnston County Schools. She has a passionate drive for helping others and educating the joy in differences. Her energetic personality allows her to connect easily and build a family from those she’s recently met . Her son, JD, is non verbal and hard of hearing which has driven her to become fluent in American Sign Language as well. Her drive is advocating, educating and supporting families of those with different abilities.

Jennifer has 4 children and 2 grandchildren. She resides in Johnson County with her husband, 3 of her children and her 6 fur babies. If she’s not at an NCDSA event you can find her relaxing at home in the backyard with her family or running away to the beach for a quick trip with friends.

Donna grew up in an altruistic home where her parents led by the example of helping others. She has always involved herself in organizations that she or her family has participated in or belonged to, taking an active role advancing the agenda of these organizations while lending a hand in their operations. In addition to her volunteer work throughout the years with the former TDSN, she worked as the Volunteer Parent Advocate at the Duke Down Syndrome Clinic. Donna has built relationships across the greater Down syndrome community on the local, state, and national levels. She was the driving force behind the creation of Down syndrome specific webpages for the NC Dept. of Health and Human Services, working with legislators and bureaucrats. She prefers to work behind the scenes, collaborating to bring services to individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

Transitioning from volunteer to staff in 2019, the position of Advocacy and Outreach Director expands on the projects Donna had already initiated. Down Syndrome Advocacy Day and the North Carolina Down Syndrome Conference are two major events that will continue to grow along with further outreach to agencies that provide direct services to the Down syndrome community as well as bringing resources to parents, caregivers, and individuals with Down syndrome. Donna’s statewide network will allow for greater collaboration among the disability community.

Donna holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. She completed the certificate program North Carolina Partners in Policymaking in 2011. During the 2017-2018 academic year, she was a UNC Carolina Institute on Developmental Disabilities LEND Fellow. If she is not floating in a tidal pool on Cape Lookout, she can be found hiking or backpacking. She is proud to say she has hiked from the bottom of the Grand Canyon to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro…not at the same time, not even in the same decade.

When Graham was born we quickly realized the lack of support or connection with other families. I became devoted to establishing a monthly playgroup to connect families since there were no groups established in our area. This dream has quickly evolved into more then I dreamed possible. I am now Community Group Leader for NCDSA Eastern NC Families, the local chapter for NCDSA.  I am now devoted to connecting families, medical outreach and social and educational opportunities for our families. And I love it!

My favorite thing in the world is to lie on the floor and play with my kids. Intentional time with my family is the most rewarding time. I enjoy cooking but dislike cleaning. As a native Californian where the Pacific is cold all year I never knew how much I loved the beach. As a family we love trips to the beach, the aquarium, the zoo and we love to swim and go kayaking.

“There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return”- Nelson Mandela

Tara is a returning member to the board directors and looks forward to helping NCDSA advocate, serve, and support children and adults with Down syndrome and their families.

Jeff and his wife, Lizzy, are the proud parents of three beautiful children; Adelaide, Graydon, and Hanna.

Jeff and Lizzy were introduced to the world of Down syndrome when they received a prenatal diagnosis at 12 weeks with Hanna. Hanna was born in 2018 and after some early health challenges, including open heart surgery, Jeff has an appreciation and understanding of what many new parents go through in those early years. Jeff has always had a “servant’s heart” and since the birth of Hanna wants to help improve the quality of life of those with Down syndrome and their families. Jeff is a passionate supporter of full inclusion and equal rights for those with disabilities.

Jeff regularly attends Mass and volunteers at his church, serves as a leader in Adelaide’s Y Guides crew and has coached Graydons’ Tball teams. In his free time he enjoys gardening, wood carving, hunting and fishing as well as spending time with friends and extended family.

Tony is a member of many committees and organizations related to estate planning, elder law and special needs law including the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the North Carolina Bar Association (Sections on Estate Planning and Fiduciary Law, and Elder & Special Needs Law). Tony is a past president of Chapel Hill and Durham Elder Care Resources, and he is active on the Section Council of the Elder & Special Needs Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association. In addition, Tony is a member of the Durham Orange Estate Planning Council.

On the weekends, Tony enjoys cycling, boating and fishing, and supporting the local restaurant scene with his wife and son.

Diane brings a wealth of experience to the NCDSA board. She has served on several boards that included: Catholic Charities Department for Persons with Disabilities; Pocono Parents of Down Syndrome; and, Equi-Librium Therapeutic Horsemanship. She also served on and chaired committees dealing with advocacy issues for individuals with disabilities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She was President of the New Jersey Chapter of Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) , as well as faculty advisor to the university CEC student chapter. She co-chaired many Buddy Walks and was the faculty liaison for Special Olympics Pennsylvania. Diane has presented at many national, state and local conferences, sharing her expertise in working with individuals and families with Down syndrome, as well as other research initiatives that focused on inclusion and collaboration.

Since retiring to the beautiful coastal community of Hampstead, Diane remains a strong advocate for the disability community. She shares her passion by volunteering as a local coordinator and bocce coach with the North Carolina Special Olympics. She is also a member of the Retired Seniors Volunteer Corps, the founder and facilitator for the Kiwanis Aktion Club and a volunteer at Camp Victory Junction. Her personal interests include traveling with her husband, being an active member of her church, training for and racing in sprint triathlons, quilting, and working as a therapy dog handler with her black lab Murphy.

Logan is an experienced special education teacher in NC public schools and member of the National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET). She prides herself on her knowledge of parental rights, students’ rights, and IEP compliance. Logan is eager to support families and students through the education and IEP process. She has 15+ years of experience volunteering and working with individuals with disabilities. Additionally, she has ties with the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Charlotte (DSA-GC) and enjoyed her time working as a lead counselor at DSA-GC Camp Holiday.

As a member of the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance (NCDSA), Logan will bring a unique perspective, as an individual with disabilities, an educator, and advocate. She is honored to be a part of an organization dedicated to empowering, connecting and supporting the lifespan of individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community through outreach, advocacy, and education in North Carolina.

Logan received her B.A in Adapted Special Education from Greensboro College in 2014 and holds a North Carolina Teaching License in the areas of Exceptional Children: Adapted Curriculum (K-12) and Cross Categorical K-12. In her spare time, Logan loves to play video games with her husband, cuddle with her cats and dogs, and enjoys time with her family, especially her two beautiful nieces, Salem and Luna.

He is excited to be part of the NCDSA helping to bring information and support to new families and to those who have just learned of the diagnosis during pregnancy. With his experience he hopes to help answer questions and concerns from parents that may be overwhelmed with a new diagnosis. He also wants to be an advocate for this wonderful community and to be a voice for those who can’t be a voice for themselves. Stacy wants to bring awareness to the needs and help build programs for individuals with Down syndrome through events, fundraisers, seminars, etc. His strongest attributes are helping to build and create projects, supporting them as they grow, and his willingness to meet with individuals and companies that can help make an impact for our community.

Stacy was born and raised in Dunn NC where he grew up in a happy family. He played baseball, soccer, and basketball growing up. He attended and graduated from Triton High School in 1994 and went to Wake Technical Community College and studied engineering. Stacy has also served on the Deacon Board in his church as well as been a Baseball and Basketball coach for his local community in Johnston County.

After getting married in 2000 he began a career in the infrastructure construction field where he is currently a Sales Representative helping to provide supplies and materials to contractors who build water, sewer, and storm systems for Cities, Towns, and Neighborhoods.

Carla graduated Cum Laude from UCLA Anderson School of Management with an MBA in Marketing and Cum Laude with a BS in Chemical Engineering from NC State University. Adding to her list of accomplishments, she has also served as an adjunct marketing and business professor for the University of Phoenix and currently holds the same position at the University of Mount Olive. She is a fierce advocate for philanthropy, giving back, and serving her community as she currently sits as a Board Director for UCLA Anderson Black Alumni Association, Board Director for North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance, and on the Read and Feed Marketing Advisory Council. Carla currently resides in the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina area with her husband and two young daughters. When she’s not traveling around the world with her family, she loves eating a delicious meal or competing on the tennis courts, as a 2-time USTA State Champion.

He then worked at the University of Florida College of Medicine for six years prior to returning to Raleigh and joining WakeMed Physician Practices. As a pediatric cardiologist, he has followed a number of patients with Down syndrome.

Jason and his wife, Melissa, have five children, including his oldest who was born with Down syndrome.