THE HOMEGIRL INDUSTRY TEAM
Our BOARD of DIRECTORS
and Seasonal Contributors
and Seasonal Contributors
A Clanton native, Sallie holds a BA in Fine Art from Auburn University, complemented by degrees in Real Estate and Early Childhood Development from the Los Angeles Community College District. Her professional trajectory reflects a unique intersection of service and strategy, spanning her tenure teaching Art Therapy for the Los Angeles School District to her experience developing real estate across three states. As the founder of Homegirl Industry, Sallie leverages her multifaceted expertise to champion community-centric development. Her work is guided by the conviction that prioritizing the needs of a community’s most vulnerable members through the intentional historic restoration of distressed landmarks creates a profound and lasting benefit for the entire region.
Sallie Juliet Higgins, CABRE
Founder/ED
Founder/ED
Born in Foley, Alabama, Ralph is a Sociology graduate from Birmingham Southern College and received criminal justice sentencing training at Yale Law School. For over fifty years he has served in case management in the state of Alabama, relating to mental health, addiction, criminal justice, and successful re-entry. He’s worked with the UAB Department of Psychiatry, the Alabama (TASC) Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities, and the Jefferson County Community Corrections Program for the 10th Judicial District. He has worked with the RAND corporation, the (DUF) Drug Use Forecasting Project National Institute of Justice, the Breaking the Cycle for the Office of National Drug Policy Institute, the Auricular Acupuncture Research project, the Department of Public Psychiatry and the (CDC) National Center for Disease Control. His ongoing work with the Alabama Board of Pardon and Paroles includes Identifying residential housing, jobs, and educational advancement.
Ralph Hendrix
Board President
Board President
Lifelong Alabama resident, Tina holds dual Bachelor degrees in Psychology and Sociology from Judson College and has dedicated her career to providing comprehensive mental health counseling across all age groups. Her extensive experience includes partnering with Alabama’s Department of Human Resources (DHR) to deliver in-home counseling and reunification services for families impacted by substance addiction and the justice system. Additionally, Tina has served at-risk youth through the SPAN program, supported early intervention efforts at the Dallas County Mental Health Center, and provided specialized counseling for domestic violence perpetrators.
Tina Blanchard
Board Director
Program Director for Homegirl Industry Recovery Residences
Board Director
Program Director for Homegirl Industry Recovery Residences
A life-long resident of Clanton, U.S. Navy Police veteran, Tamera Hinton, holds a certification in Business Consulting, a degree in Criminal Justice, a degree in Business, & a Life & Health Insurance producer license. She extends her professionalism & enthusiasm for excellence from her military service into her entrepreneurship. Tamera lives in Clanton, AL with her husband & three children & co-owns Peach City Benefits & Insurance Agency. She is also co-founder of Reset GED Prep, a non-profit GED Prep course offering FREE GED Prep classes. Tamera is passionate about helping others manifest their dreams into reality & her alliance with Homegirl includes providing GED educational services to Homegirl beneficiaries. Additionally, Tamera shares her military opportunities.
Tamera Hinton
Board Secretary
Education Director for Homegirl Industry Recovery Residences
Board Secretary
Education Director for Homegirl Industry Recovery Residences
A native of Hawaii, Debbrina is a specialist in the development and administration of recovery-centered housing, with a proven track record of fostering long-term stability for individuals re-entering society in Washington state. Her leadership includes serving as Housing Director for Sophia House and holding key management roles at God’s House of Second Chances and Schrader’s Safehouse. As the founder of Debbrina House, a men’s recovery program in Bonney Lake, WA, she has demonstrated a deep expertise in program compliance, accountability, and the seamless integration of outpatient treatment and mental health systems.
Debbrina Pahukoa
Board Vice-President
Housing Director for Homegirl Industry Recovery Residences
Board Vice-President
Housing Director for Homegirl Industry Recovery Residences
From blueprints to bedside, Vicki has spent her entire life building—first structures, and then lives. Born in Millbrook, Alabama, after graduating as one of the few women in the Building Science program at Auburn University, she spent three decades managing large-scale construction projects nationwide. Her extensive background in project management taught her the value of organization, precision, teamwork, and resilience. A profound experience as a family caregiver eventually led her to pivot careers entirely. Driven by empathy and a desire to give back, Vicki transitioned from the construction site, back into the classroom becoming a RN, and then to the clinical floor providing structured, high-quality care to those who needed it most. Working for fourteen years as a Registered Nurse at Jackson Hospital in Montgomery, she is now retired from nursing. Utilizing her unique dual background in building and healthcare she is a valuable asset to Homegirl Industry.
Vicki Bartlett, BSN, RN
Board Treasurer
Board Treasurer
Born in Northern California, Myriam is a registered drama therapist & board-certified trainer. Her alma maters include Lesley University, Cal State University LA, Princeton University & The Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre, NYC. She has developed drama & expressive therapy programs in acute inpatient units for children & adults for several years & facilitated help to the following, neuro-diverse populations, homeless women, adolescents in residential rehabilitation & children in educational settings. Serving as education chair for the NADTA (North American Drama Therapy Association) she devised the Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) Initiative to positively impact Black diaspora inclusion & education within drama/expressive therapy fields. She is creating a program plan with Alabama's 14 HBCU's & Homegirl Industry.
Dr. Myriam Savage, PH.D.,RDT/BCT
Seasonal Contributor
Drama and Visual Arts Therapy Coach
Seasonal Contributor
Drama and Visual Arts Therapy Coach
Born in southwest Louisiana, Carolyn’'s Afro Creole heritage includes coming from a long line of amazing chefs. Her mother Angelina, was a particularly dominant force influencing her lifelong love of both cooking & helping others. Traveling around the world also influenced Carolyn’s desire to bond with others through food. Learning of other cultures through their cuisine inspired her to spend her spare time helping children in her community while becoming a Creole cookbook author. Working with The Prostart Culinary Program, she combined learning cooking skills with motivating at-risk youth to set goals to improve their lives. Through her specialized type of mentoring, she has a remarkable gift for empowering youth with the fundamental tools for getting along in the workforce, as well as making better life choices. Carolyn is bringing her cooking & social mentoring skills to Homegirl.
Carolyn Shelton, Etiquette Instructor & Cookbook Author
Seasonal Contributor
Etiquette & Culinary Coach
Seasonal Contributor
Etiquette & Culinary Coach
Christina Karis is a phenomenally versatile actress, often unrecognizable from one role to the next. Known most recently for her work on the 2021 season of Law & Order: Organized Crime, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, & Queen of the South, her resume includes much more. Christina splits her time between Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles, with frequent visits to Clanton to see her family. Spending much of her childhood growing up in the care of her grandmother in Clanton, Christina is looking forward to contributing to the Homegirl Drama Therapy program & giving back to her Clanton community by supporting young women who, not unlike her, had an unstable beginning. Helping homegirls find themselves & their true passion through theatrical expression is her goal.
Christina Karis, Film and Television Actress
Seasonal Contributor
Drama Therapy Coach
Seasonal Contributor
Drama Therapy Coach
Born in New York City, Madalyn's life purpose has been to empower women. As a childbirth educator, she started a free Childbirth education program for low-income women at what used to be The Los Angeles Free Clinic which became The Saban Free Clinic in Los Angeles. She worked at Cedars Sinai Medical Center as a Childbirth Educator assisting thousands of couples. As a Doula, she continues to help women transition into motherhood. A lifelong Master Athlete, she does CrossFit & Olympic Weightlifting. As a personal trainer, she specializes in pre & postnatal fitness. A Certified Life Coach, Madalyn has helped many women realign with their values & gifts so they can discover what matters most to them. Her goal is to help our homegirls find their purpose so they may live their best lives.
Madalyn Morris, ICCE, CD (DONA), CLEC, CMT
ICEA Certified Childbirth Educator
Seasonal Contributor
Fitness & Life Coach
ICEA Certified Childbirth Educator
Seasonal Contributor
Fitness & Life Coach
