Breaking Free to Be Inc
Building Connections to Bridge the Gaps and Strengthen our community.
Welcome to Breaking Free to Be Inc.!
Our Mission
Our Mission
Our Mission
Our mission is to eradicate sexual assault and domestic violence by providing easily accessible, electronic-based, virtual, or in-person prevention education aimed at equipping community partners with best practices in working with survivors of
sexual assault, domestic violence, and
related trauma.
Our Vision
Our Mission
Our Mission
Our vision is to create an educational experience that is comprehensive, inclusive, culturally competent, and easily accessible. We provide help to all who have been impacted directly or indirectly by sexual assault, domestic violence, or related trauma. No one should feel alone, and we envision a world where no one will.
Our President/CEO/Founder
Dr. Mecca S. Carter-Marshall
"Dr. Mecca" as she is affectionately called, has over 30 years of experience helping survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. As a result of her abuse, she founded Breaking Free to Be Inc., to provide education and training aimed at equipping our community with trauma-informed responses to the abused.
Executive Team & Administrators
Charisma Ramey: Membership Director
Autumn Truss: Assistant Community Coordinator
Marisa Felan: Advocate Mentorship Director
Marisa Felan: Advocate Mentorship Director
Autumn Truss: Assistant Community Coordinator
Marisa Felan: Advocate Mentorship Director
Autumn Truss: Assistant Community Coordinator
Autumn Truss: Assistant Community Coordinator
Autumn Truss: Assistant Community Coordinator
Our Community Coordinators & Pillars
Christin Worthington: Youth & Young Adult Pillar
Christin Worthington: Youth & Young Adult Pillar
Christin Worthington: Youth & Young Adult Pillar
We work with parents, schools, and community organizations to provide programming that promotes healthy relationships among teens and young adults to prevent teen dating violence.
Minyon Patton: Women Shelter Pillar
Christin Worthington: Youth & Young Adult Pillar
Christin Worthington: Youth & Young Adult Pillar
We equip shelter advocates, case managers, and workers with the best practices in trauma-informed care and responses to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Hope Owens, MSW, LSW: Faith-Based Pillar
Christin Worthington: Youth & Young Adult Pillar
VACANT: The Village Pillar: Support for Families
We work with Clergy to bring restoration and transformative justice together to strengthen the faith-based communities' response to sexual assault and domestic violence. This is done through the efforts of our Crisis Intervention Virtual Response Ministry.
VACANT: The Village Pillar: Support for Families
VACANT: The Village Pillar: Support for Families
VACANT: The Village Pillar: Support for Families
We work with parents, caregivers, or foster parents of children who have experienced abuse. We assist with trauma-informed responses, recognizing signs of abuse, and finding community resources.
Stephanie Cameron: Military & VA Pillar
VACANT: The Village Pillar: Support for Families
Stephanie Cameron: Military & VA Pillar
We will partner with the Military and Veteran Administration to provide prevention education and trauma-informed training to the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).
VACANT: Law Enforcement Pillar
VACANT: The Village Pillar: Support for Families
Stephanie Cameron: Military & VA Pillar
We will partner with the Police Department to make the community safer through prevention education and trauma-informed training. We provide a SAFE CIRCLE for officers who need to process or discuss domestic calls.
Our Board of Directors
Victoria Dawson-Scruse: Chair
Annette Hardin: Chief Financial Officer
Dr. Courtney J. Loyd: Vice-Chair
Born in Niles, Ohio and later moved to Youngstown, Ohio. Ms. Victoria has been a resident of Springfield, Ohio for 30 years, married to her college sweetheart for 29 years, and they have two adult children in graduate school, after graduating from HBCUs. She serves on the Executive Board of the Springfield Foundation Board and is an active member of the National Council of Negro Women.
When asked what motivates her, she replied "My personal motto, which is “to be the woman I want my daughter to be.”
Dr. Courtney J. Loyd: Vice-Chair
Annette Hardin: Chief Financial Officer
Dr. Courtney J. Loyd: Vice-Chair
Dr. Courtney J. Loyd is a wife and proud mother of two children. She is a Louisiana native with over 13 years of experience in mental health. She received a Ph.D. from Liberty University with her dissertation focused on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and academic performance in Black students attending HBCUs. Dr. Loyd is an ACEs subject matter expert, and currently serves high school and undergraduate students at Southern University and A & M College as a psychology professor.
She is the founder of Esteemed Brown Girl; an online mentorship designed to enrich the lives of teen girls and decrease the incidence of teen dating violence. She also serves as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
When asked, what is one thing she loves about herself? "The attribute of resilience! I’ve been able to heal, reframe, the narrative, and thrive on the other side of my pain because of resilience."
Annette Hardin: Chief Financial Officer
Annette Hardin: Chief Financial Officer
Annette Hardin: Chief Financial Officer
Ms. Annette holds a Bachelor of Science in Business, Human Resource Management. With 25 years in the administrative field, she currently works as an Inventory Management Specialist with the Defense Supply Center (DSCC). Ms. Annette has a strong sense of community and values family. She held the position of President and 2nd Vice President of the National Council of Negro Women and is currently seeking her Life Insurance license for the state of Ohio to continue serving the community.
One of her favorite quotes: “A life of significance is about serving those who need your gifts, your leadership, your purpose.” (Kevin Hall)
Dr. Shirelle Dionne Applin: Secretary
Dr. Shirelle Dionne Applin: Secretary
Annette Hardin: Chief Financial Officer
Dr. Shirelle Applin, MD is a family medicine specialist in Xenia, OH, and has over 25 years of experience in the medical field. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 1997. She is affiliated with Miami Valley Hospital. Dr. Applin is a proud member of several community organizations and has served on the Board of Violence Free Futures, formerly known as Family Violence Prevention Center. One of her favorite scriptures comes from Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Dr. T'Onya Green: Grants Director
Dr. Shirelle Dionne Applin: Secretary
Dr. T'Onya Green: Grants Director
Rev. Dr. Ti’Onya Green, graduated from Rowan University in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Desiring to be an effective change agent, she attended Seton Hall University Law School, and recently graduated with a law degree. She then continued her academic pursuits and received her master’s and doctorate in Public Administration and Organizational Leadership from Capella University.
To date, she serves on various boards within several states. One of her favorite scriptures comes from 3 John 1-2, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."