About ORF

DONATE NOW

At Project ORF, prevention starts with education and connection. By blending culturally responsive education with open dialogue, we help teens recognize challenges early, build resilience, and take charge of their mental health.

01
Education: Workshops and programs to understand mental health, build coping skills, and thrive.

02
Advocacy: Creating space, shaping policy, breaking barriers, and amplifying voices.

03
Resources: Connecting youth to healthcare, career support, and community organizations.

GET INVOLVED

The Mission

Our mission is to provide preventative solutions to combat the mental health crisis in marginalized communities .

Two young women walking through a bright, modern indoor space with large exit doors, carrying yellow shopping bags, smiling and chatting, with other people in the background, including staff at a reception desk.

The Vision

Our focus is to build an ecosystem of support for the community to assist through the transitional stages of life and to bridge the gap between our community and needed resources.

A person wearing a beige T-shirt with a green tree graphic and the message "Breaking the cycle, One generation at a time." in an indoor event setting, with other attendees in the background near large windows.

Our values shape how we serve our communities, work with partners, and engage volunteers.

We lead with integrity, accountability, and consistency. Sticking to the “SCRIPT” means remaining aligned with our mission and showing up with professionalism and care in every space we enter.

Service | Collaboration | Relationships | Influence | Purpose | Transformation

Educational Topics

Project ORF’s educational programming focuses on building resilience and emotional well-being. Topics include adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), emotional literacy, life transitions, stress management, coping skills, healing, and recovery. These focus areas help participants better understand their experiences, build practical tools, navigate challenges, and support long-term well-being.

A woman standing and speaking to a group of people sitting at a large table in a conference room. The group appears engaged, with various items such as water bottles, snacks, and notebooks on the table. Large windows are visible in the background, and the room has simple decor with green wall art.
People walking through a spacious indoor area, some wearing matching t-shirts that say "Living Through Mental Health," with a staircase on the left and a table with volunteer staff.

PROJECT ORF USES THE RENEWAL CARE MODEL

TO PRIORITIZE COMPREHENSIVE CARE AND ENSURING THAT UNIQUE NEEDS ARE MET, THIS APPROACH INCORPORATES EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES, PROMOTES COLLABORATION AMONG HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND INTEGRATES PEER SUPPORT FOR A HOLISTIC AND IMPACTFUL APPROACH.

EDUCATION
Education through language and culture to break barriers and nurture awareness to promote self evaluation and self development.

APPLICATION
Applying education to promote a transformational healing process targeting mind, body, and spirit through pattern recognition, emotional intelligence and emotional regulation.

SUPPORT
Providing individuals with like-minded communities and other resources to foster a continuous support system and maintain relationships.

Our Story

Founded in Norfolk, Virginia, Project ORF is the culmination of the founder’s personal and professional journey. As the first child of a teenage single mother, Shawnice Hernandez grew up in Norfolk, experiencing both love and significant hardship. Despite these challenges, she stayed engaged through city programs, summer camps, and sports, which fueled a passion for community support.

Hernandez earned a degree in Human Services from Old Dominion University and a master’s in Clinical Social Work from Norfolk State University. After graduation, she and her mother and aunt started a for-profit mental health agency, serving the very community she was raised in. Yet, it was in that work that she recognized critical gaps in the mental health care system—especially a lack of focus on prevention, rather than just crisis response.

After stepping back to address her own unresolved childhood trauma, she first launched Heal Before You Hustle, a for-profit business, but this path ultimately led her back start a non-profit. In July 2023, she partnered with Kala Doss, a college friend, to found Project ORF. Today, Project ORF is a forward-thinking nonprofit dedicated to prevention-focused, community-based mental health care, ensuring every young person has a pathway to wellness before crisis strikes.

Two women standing together, smiling and making peace signs. The woman on the left wears a black and white patterned jumpsuit, and the woman on the right wears a gray blazer with cargo jeans. They are at an indoor event with black, white, pink, and red balloons in the background.

(left to right) Kala Doss, Shawnice Hernandez

  • A woman is speaking into a microphone during a presentation in a well-lit room with attendees seated at tables, some with water bottles, notebooks, and laptops, and a decorative green moss wall in the background.
  • Three people holding large yellow check in front of yellow background with black text. The woman on left is smiling, wearing a white top and gold bracelet. The woman in middle is smiling, wearing earrings and a yellow outfit. The man on right is smiling, in a suit with a white shirt and orange tie.
  • Group of people standing outdoors in front of a blue fence, some wearing red hoodies with Greek organizations names, holding trash pickers, with a building and parked cars in the background.
  • A group of five young people standing in front of a banner that reads 'Back to School Drive'. They are in a gymnasium with a basketball hoop in the background. Some are wearing purple shirts with Greek letters, and others are dressed casually.
  • Six women standing outside in front of a building, holding pink gift bags and celebrating graduation. They are smiling and dressed casually, with some wearing glasses and necklaces.
  • People gathered in a modern indoor space, some standing and talking, others sitting and eating, with a large air hockey table in the foreground and a bookshelf on the upper level in the background.
  • A young woman with curly hair and a gray headband, smiling and sitting at a table with a pink laptop, in a room with arcade machines and a beige wall.
  • Group of five people standing in front of a backdrop with "WNSB Hot 91" logo, smiling at the camera, in an indoor setting with beige walls and a clock on the wall.
  • A promotional banner for Project ORF with a group of diverse smiling people, likely at an informational booth or event, in a room with other people and tables.
  • Two women taking a selfie in a grocery store, holding volunteer badges. Shelf with snacks in the background, and a restroom sign in the upper right.
  • A person wearing a multicolored crocheted hat and denim jacket receives food from another person in a kitchen setting, with trays of various dishes, including beans, rice, and vegetables, on a table in the foreground.
  • A woman with dark hair in a bun, glasses, and tattoos on her arm, sitting at a wooden table, looking at and flipping through a magazine in an office or conference room. The table has multiple black pamphlets, a phone, a notebook, a pen, and a bottle of coconut water on it. There are laptops and chairs around the room, and large windows with natural light.

Meet the Board

  • A woman with dark curly hair wearing glasses, a red blazer, a white shirt, and blue jeans, standing outdoors with arms crossed and smiling.

    Jasmine Burgos, LPC

    BOARD PRESIDENT

    Licensed Professional Counselor, Project Inclusion alum (2025), and dedicated advocate for mental health and wellness. Passionate about building meaningful connections and fostering engagement through creative, strategic approaches that promote growth and healing.

  • A woman with dark, curly hair styled in dreadlocks, smiling and wearing a zebra print sleeveless top and gold jewelry, against a plain grey background.

    KALA DOSS

    INTERIM BOARD VICE PRESIDENT

    Kala Doss is a detail-oriented paralegal and co-founder of Project ORF, where she leads operations and supports inner-city youth. A J.D. candidate at Jacksonville University College of Law, she’s passionate about using her skills to create meaningful community impact.

  • A professional man with dark skin, black hair, a beard, and a mustache, wearing a burgundy plaid blazer, white shirt, and gold necklace, standing against a white background.

    Javonte Culbreath, CMA

    INTERIM BOARD TREASURER & DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
    Javonte Culbreath is a proud Norfolk native and dedicated financial professional with a strong background in accounting and financial management. As a Senior Management Accountant at Titan America, he brings expertise in manufacturing finance, focusing on efficiency and strategic operations. A graduate of George Mason University’s School of Business, Javonte combines technical knowledge with a commitment to excellence and community impact, making him a valuable asset to the board.

  • A smiling young woman with braided hair standing outdoors against a gray brick wall. She is wearing a dark t-shirt with a colorful logo and has her arms crossed.

    DIAHNIE JOHNSON, MSW

    BOARD SECRETARY

    Master of Social Work, with a strong focus on mental health and community support. Committed to advancing emotional wellness, fostering resilience, and promoting equitable access to care through advocacy, service, and community-based initiatives.

  • A smiling older man with long white hair and a beard, wearing a white shirt and dark blazer, against a white background.

    ROGER SCHAFER

    BOARD MEMBER

    Roger Schafer is a Penn State graduate and University of Pittsburgh law alum who has built a life in Virginia Beach with his wife, Marie. He’s deeply connected to the Tidewater community, family-oriented, and values helping others and building meaningful relationships.

Meet the ORF Team

  • A woman with short black hair and pearl earrings poses outdoors, wearing a white button-up shirt, in front of a stone structure.

    Shawnice Hernandez, MSW

    FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Shawnice brings nearly a decade of leadership experience in community-based mental health, driving programs that create impact. Her work is rooted in a deep passion for disrupting broken systems and building innovative pathways for change. Shawnice is committed to advancing equitable access to mental health resources, particularly in underserved communities. Through strategic leadership and advocacy, she strives to create sustainable solutions that empower individuals and strengthen communities.

  • A woman with braided hair wearing a black t-shirt that says 'PROTEST' in white and red letters, smiling against a plain background.

    Joaunte Knight

    DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

    With a background in customer service and a Master's in Marketing, Joaunte is dedicated to connecting people with the resources they need. She’s passionate about this mission because she knows how vital mental health support is, particularly in minority communities where stigma can stand in the way.

  • A young woman with long dark hair, wearing glasses, a white blouse, and a necklace with a cross pendant, smiling against a dark blue background.

    Celeste Kelly

    CREATIVE OPERATIONS LEAD

    A dedicated student leader at Old Dominion University pursuing a double major in Broadcast Journalism and Cinema & TV Production, with a passion for community engagement and professional development. She enjoys creating meaningful connections, supporting others, and contributing to initiatives that make a positive impact. Through her academic and leadership experiences, she continues to develop skills that will help her succeed in her future career.

  • A woman smiling with crossed arms, wearing large black glasses, a necklace, earrings, a white collared shirt under a black T-shirt, standing next to a gray brick wall and a white wall with diagonal shadows.

    Carmon Wallace

    COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & DONOR RELATIONS LEAD

    Carmon Wallace graduated from Hampton University with a BA in Psychology. She values being the bridge between people and resources while meeting them where they are.

  • Tiffani Avery M.S.

    HUMAN RESOURCES COORDINATOR

    Tiffani brings a well-rounded background in behavioral health, leadership, and community support. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s degree in Psychology, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Management.Passionate about helping others grow and succeed, Tiffani is dedicated to creating positive change through compassionate leadership, advocacy, and service. Known for her strong organizational skills and ability to encourage and empower others, she is committed to building supportive environments where individuals and communities can thrive.

Get Involved Today

ORF Initiatives