"Hoodie"
Doris Hood is a native New Yorker and most lovingly known as “Hoodie”, she is the mother of nine (9) children, children that she gave birth to that is, but she is the mother to many, many more.
Despite having a house full of children, her door was always open to all of the neighborhood children as well. This was evidenced one day when a community mother was looking for her child, a friend of one of her children, came to her home looking for her son. The mother was told that her child was not there. Little did Hoodie know that the child had in fact snuck into the house and was hiding in the basement not wanting to go home, mainly due to that child feeling safe, engaged, and nurtured in the past by Hoodie.
Hoodie's Story
In raising her children, she was tireless in ensuring that each one of them attended school daily. To ensure they were in school, she would conduct surprise visits so it was not unusual to look up and see her peeking into the classroom.
She attended every parent teacher conference of every child through high school. Her children would make something of themselves. And they have – college graduates, entrepreneurs, business owners, teachers, And business professionals.
Hoodie just loves children and believes that every child can achieve. In working for the NYC Department of Education for over 40 years, every child became her cause. She worked in high schools and had a meaningful relationship with many children, not just while they were in high school, but several of them still keep in
touch with her to this day. They write to her from points across the country, keeping her informed of their lives, sending pictures of their children, and call from time to time and when they are in New York, it is essential that they stop by to see her. She also hears from them while they are engaged in military service.
It is not unusual for someone to stop her in the mall and say, “Hi, I remember you from high school.”
Devin Rankin is a community advocate from Charlotte, North Carolina. He currently serves as the Executive Director for Hoodie’s House of Hope for Youth. Devin attended Winston-Salem State University, where he majored in Elementary Education. He is a Spring 2017 initiate into the Beta Iota Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, where he served as Chapter President. Devin is the founder of The See Change Collective. The See Change Collective was founded to support the local Charlotte community, in whatever capacity is necessary.
Cecil Burrowes is a 27-year financial industry veteran. In his current role he leads Diverse Customer Segment (DCS) Mass Market retention strategies for the Wells Fargo Diverse Segments group. He is responsible for driving retention focused strategies to increase penetration of diverse customer base specific to Asian, African American, Hispanic, LGBTQ, and Persons with disabilities. He and the DCS team work to understand the needs of Asian, Hispanic, and African American populations across the mass market segment.
Jeff Hood, a native of Queens, NY is a graduate of North Carolina Wesleyan College where he received a BA Degree. In September 2007, Jeff was inducted into the N.C. Wesleyan Sports Hall of Fame after having completed a stellar basketball career. In 2018, Jeff was recognized by the NBA's Charlotte Hornets as their Tissot Gift of Time Community Service Person of the Year. He was also Honored and Recognized as a "Made Man" of Charlotte, NC. In 2019 NOBLE recognized Jeff as their Civil Rights Justice by Action for Youth of the Year Award. Jeff, a long-standing member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, is married to Gloria Sledge Hood and together have a wonderful daughter named Maya.
Cheryl Hood Francis is a recent retiree of the NYC Department of Education. During her 38-year tenure she served in multiple critical organizational roles. As Director Strategic Planning she was responsible for the development, implementation, and management of their $4.3 billion capital construction program and as Director of Internal Audit she oversaw a team of forensic auditors ensuring the adherence to existing policies and protocols as well as identification of opportunities for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization’s operations.
Vanderbelt Fears is a retired manufacturing senior executive who spent 30+ years in leadership roles for various engineered products companies. He joined HHHfY because of its impact on kids in underserved communities who have the ability to achieve success if given the resources necessary to elevate their skill sets and get exposure to opportunities to utilize those skills.
Will Carrouthers is a Finance Executive at Oportun, where he is responsible for FP&A and Business Finance activities in support of enterprise-wide operations.
Leon Cox comes to Hoodie’s House of Hope with a wealth of experience and knowledge in the hospitality industry for the past 30 years. His hotel roles have been with brands such as Ritz Carlton, Westin, Marriot, and Intercontinental. Before moving to Raleigh, Leon was the general manager of the Marriott Executive Park in Charlotte. His latest general manager position was with the Sheraton Raleigh, where he got to do one of his favorite projects, helping to launch Jimmy V’s Osteria + Bar (V Foundation affiliate).