Mission & Vision

April Terrell is a native of Memphis, TN, graduating from Hamilton High School in 2003. April went on to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science in 2007 and Master of Public Administration in 2009, both from Tennessee State University. April has served as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the Urban Youth Initiative and Shelby County Schools, in which she facilitated various youth groups including the Frayser Youth Council and the Mayor’s Youth Social Media Team under Memphis Gun Down. During her terms of service, April grew the Frayser Youth Council to 30 active students representing the three area high schools in the Frayser community. These students have represented the City of Memphis as youth panelist at the Department of Justice Summit on Youth Violence Prevention as well as being featured in its national newsletter. Under April’s direction, the Frayser Youth Council and Social Media Team have created numerous community service opportunities for youth looking to better themselves and their communities. Upon completion of service with AmeriCorps, April joined The College Initiative as a Program Associate focusing on expanding programming to reach high school students across the City of Memphis. April comes to The Destiny House with over 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. In her spare time, April serves as the Student Affairs Chair and Recording Secretary for the TSUNAA Memphis/Shelby County Alumni Chapter and volunteers with UCAN of Memphis and the HBCU Awareness Foundation. April is a leader and innovator with a passion for young people, a commitment to excellence, and a desire to succeed.

eventuallyth e:TJ is passionate about Entrepreneurship, Storytelling, Collaborative Problem-solving, and Philanthropy. She loves when she is able to integrate all or most of them in a singular project. TJ intentionally surrounds herself with people who are open to working in a collaborative environment. TJ grew up without access or resources in any of these areas and her goal is for this to not be the narrative anymore for minority children in urban areas.

TJ is the owner of Tell Publishing, a publishing company, where she has written and published an e-book on Amazon called Stop Being Disrespectful by Low-balling Your Fees and publishes an annual magazine The #HERoineLegacy Magazine, where she honors and tells the stories of women in Memphis. TJ serves as the Board Development Chair with the YMCA-Whitehaven Branch and teaches entrepreneurship to adults through Progeny Place/Co.Starters’, which is a nine-week collaborative cohort style class to help entrepreneurs from idea to launch. She is the Site Coordinator of the after-school program at her alma mater, Hillcrest High, where she is able to bring tutoring and enrichment classes that aren’t offered during the school day. TJ has a communications degree from Tennessee State University.

She lives by this quote: “Accept the word ‘no’ like the snooze button on an alarm clock; don’t worry because someone’ll eventually wake up.”

Dr. Yukeshi Curry is a product of Shelby County Schools, graduating from Kirby High School. Dr. Curry has over 13 years in the IT Sector as a Technical Project Manager. An alum of Tennessee State University, Dr. Curry earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science in 2006; her MBA in 2010 and her Doctorate of Management with an emphasis on Organizational Leadership in 2019, both from the University of Phoenix. Besides being a mom to one awesome son, Jaylen Cooley, Dr. Curry loves mentoring and giving back to the community.

“The Destiny House provides a platform that allows me to reach back help bring our community forward.”

-Dr. Yukeshi Curry

Donald Ray Batiste Jr. is a native of Lake Charles, Louisiana. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Southern University and A&M College (Baton Rouge, LA) in 2009. Donald’s professional background includes disaster recovery finance, government financial analysis and auditing. Additionally, he is passionate about social and economic justice, addressing educational inequity. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Treasurer of the Memphis Southern University Alumni Association, Board Member of One Step Initiative (501c3 study aboard program for Memphis, TN students), CFO of Coleman Youth Development Academy (501c3 educational institution for students in Lake Charles, La) and Board Member at Bluff City Collegiate. Donald is currently a financial analyst at AutoZone and Lead Tax Preparer at Williams Batiste & Associates.