New director named at youth nonprofit

Southeast Texas’ IEA – Inspire, Encourage, Achieve nonprofit has named a new executive director in Alexis Sturrock. As the organization’s new leader, Sturrock will be tasked with advancing the IEA mission, in cooperation with the Minnie Rogers

Juvenile Justice Center (MRJJC), to provide educational programming and rehabilitative services to inspire and encourage at-risk Southeast Texas youth to achieve with compassion, understanding and love.

According to the announcement naming Sturrock, she graduated Lamar University in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in social work, and in 2023, received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Houston. Following graduation, Sturrock worked as a Site Coordinator for Communities in Schools and, in 2022, served as a Macro Practicum Student for Houston Pearls Foundation and Instructional Assistant for the University of Houston.

“Alexis, whose impressive background and passion for serving young people are inspiring, was unanimously selected for this position,” IEA founder Regina Rogers said. “Eager to assist IEA and the children and families we serve and to build upon existing community partnerships, she will be an outstanding leader, enhancing the therapeutic, academic and extracurricular program offerings available to our participants.”

Sturrock likewise shared her enthusiasm to begin the role.

“It is a great honor to join IEA and serve in this position while helping to develop programs and structures that lead to greater overall impact and strategic growth,” Sturrock said.

IEA annually provides rehabilitative services for hundreds of juvenile justice-involved Southeast Texas youth both in detention and on probation under guidance and provided by IEA board members including Rogers, Reverend John R. Adolph, Pat Avery, JoAnn Block, Mike Burrow, Imogene Chargois, Juvenile Probation Chief Edward Cockrell, former State Representative Joseph D. “Joe” Deshotel, Linda Domino, Brit Featherston, Carl R. Griffith Jr., Most Reverend Curtis J.

Guillory, Gilbert I. “Buddy” Low, Suzanne Maloney, James M. Martin Jr., Ben Mazzara, Eric Meadows, Vernice Monroe, Kim Phelan, Dr. J. Coffey Pieternelle, Deloris “Bobbie” Prince, Kevin J. Roy, Beaumont Police Chief James Singletary, The Honorable Jeffery “Randy” Shelton, The Honorable Larry E. Thorne, Robert Turner and Shelly Vitanza.

For more information or to learn more about the IEA program and volunteer opportunities, contact Donna Taylor at (409) 839-8778.