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Our Team
Coming together from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences, our skilled team of professionals is the backbone of Life Decisions. Their ideas help shape the direction and mission of our organization as it continues to develop. Read on to learn more about some of our incredible team members.
Chief Visionary Officer
JAKE ROGERS
It began as a dream. For the past three years, I have been a Juvenile Justice Ministry (JJM) Director, working with youth inside, and out, of our local Juvenile Detention Center. I've become increasingly burdened by the number of youth, who were highly motivated to change, yet continued to return to lockup in just a few weeks or months of their release. The level of care they need to sustain lasting change simply is not available to them in our county.
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Recently, by God’s divine providence, I began to sense my call to launch Life Decisions, focusing on providing that higher level of care, while working alongside existing likeminded ministries. The vision has been refined and influenced by experts in the field of Juvenile Justice, my previous observations and experiences working as a County Detention Officer, Recovery Home Specialist, and the last three years with YFC as a JJM mentor, Director, and the development of the Next-Steps Aftercare Site. Most important of all has been the direct input from the young people I've had the privilege of getting to know, particularly Jadarius, who began co-launching Life Decisions with me in October of 2020.
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"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." (Ephesians 3:20)
Founding Mentee
JADARIUS HARDY
Hey, I’m Jadarius. I grew up not having the best of life. Eventually, something broke inside of me. I stopped caring; I stopped being kind & I respected no one. This led to violence. When I was just 15 years old I served eight hard months in the JDC (Juvenile Detention Center). This is where I met Jake.
My life has changed drastically. Today, I have hope & my faith is growing. I went from doing drugs to doing stuff I never thought of- like visiting Colorado to see a group helping kids, like I was, to meet their God-given potential.
I feel my life, my story, and everything I’ve been through is pushing me to help others. I want to help those who are in the same predicament as I was to give them the help & hope to change and better their lives.
Assistant Project Coordinator
AMAYA CASTANON
Hi, My name is Amaya and I am 22. I have served on the Youth Leadership Council. Prior to that, Ali was my mentor and introduced me to Life Decisions back when it was just an idea on paper and now I have had the wonderful opportunity to contribute to it and see it coming to fruition.
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My dream for this tribe of mentors is to build a better and stronger community. To empower youth minorities to help them find their voice and power now, So later they can lead Rockford.
Chief Development Officer
ALI ROGERS
After spending 10+ years serving in student ministry within the church, I remember having an honest conversation with God about feeling like a fish out of water. I was not a ‘church’ kid growing up and it wasn’t until I started serving at-risk teens in 2014, when I was overcome with the feeling, “This is home.”
My heart is burdened for the young person that has lost all hope because I have been there.
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I used to dream of being a world-changer; making a big difference in a mighty way, until I realized that the most profound way to change the world is one life at a time; free one prisoner from darkness, and their entire world is flooded with light. If I can help just one person know Jesus through a consistent lifelong friendship, I will have made a difference.
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My life has been forever changed by seeing firsthand the gospel lived out in mentoring relationships and one of my favorite things to witness, as a mom, is when the youth that I am working with, take my own two daughters under their wings and share Christ's love with them, also. My dream for this tribe of mentors is to see lives changed in our community; people who used to feel lost and alone, now seen, known, loved and purpose-filled.
Office Manager
XAN JARL
Hi, my name is Xandra. My friends and family call me Xan. I started volunteering with Life Decisions since we began and I love it!
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Watching the growth within our youth-learning new trades, seeing daily personal growth and development to becoming a healthy independent adult has been a wonderful experience. Working with youth as a mentor has brought a new purpose to my life. To see the pride that they find in themselves is so rewarding. It only made sense that I joined the team in a staff role as The Office Manager. Now I am spending even more time at the Day Home with youth and it has been true joy.
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My dream for this Tribe of Mentors is to see the Tribe impact the lives of others, to help restore Rockford into a safe and positive growth community.
Project Coordinator
AUDRA FREEZE
My name is Audra Freeze! Before coming to Life Decisions, I have worked in all levels of education both public and private institutions. I have volunteered with Ali for many years. I have a heart for helping youth find their God-given life purpose while encouraging them to reach healthy adulthood.
My dream is that this organization would facilitate mentoring relationships where both mentor and mentee find and fulfill their God-given life purposes all while serving the Rockford and surrounding communities.
Founding Mentee
RAHEEM SWIFT
Hello, I’m Raheem Swift like most youth in the community of Rockford. I had a lot of things in my life that were at risk. Dealing with most problems young people deal with all the time I eventually had a chance to transform myself. I joined Life Decisions in 2021 helping them with some of their early serving projects and from those times on I just kept coming around and helping them with the many things
they needed help with.
I also started to go to church with the tribe as well. It was a good experience to be in a church for the first time other than to go to funerals. I love the church and I am even a cameraman and camera director there and I'm proud of myself for it. I just finished a 3 month internship with Workforce Connections reverse referral from Life Decisions and now I’m on the job full time. I guess I am one of the youth with a great success story.
My dream for the tribe is that there will be youth with changed lives other than youth with no hope or desires to have a great life at all. I dream of a better future for
all youth everywhere.
Project Coordinator
GAIL VANRAVENSWAAY
Day Home Specialist
PETER GETTER
