Vision Leadership Institute and the Center for Social Entrepreneurship

As Director of Behavioral Assessment, Inc. I have worked as Mentor to VLI for the the past year and a half and see the work of VLI and their staff as being of the highest quality and integrity toward serving youth in Columbia and the surrounding areas. VLI is committed to youth leadership development and strives to engage youth who otherwise would have little or no opportunity for positive growth and career development. The VLI Director, Ms. Rhondra Willis has demonstrated tireless leadership in developing programs for youth, mentoring young Black leaders, and managing large federal and local contracts. The Director strives to bring leadership opportunities to youth and their families, and in my estimation has grown VLI into a viable and dedicated youth serving organization."

I am the advisor of Sisters In Action Organization and volunteer SISTA facilitator for Vision Leadership Institute. I was introduced to VLI by my mother in March of 1996 and has definitely been a pleasure.

Rhondra Willis, Demar Roberts and the entire VLI family have been an inspiration to me. Upon meeting them, it was evident that God had given them a vision and they had set goals to carry it out. Working with VLI has given me the drive that I need to carry out the vision that God has given me.

I am blessed to have had the pleasure of coming into contact with VLI .My greatest experience was given the opportunity to receive S.I.S.T.A. training.

S.I.S.T.A. has broaden my horizons and given me the opportunity through VLI to empower young black females with the education and prevention of HIV/AIDS.

It was very thrilling to be a facilitator for VLI at Victory Tabernacle and at SCSU during the spring and summer of 2006. I am now unstoppable. VLI has a wonderful friendly and caring staff and I could not have prayed for a better group of people to work with... VLI has given me an opportunity I would never had gotten and for that I can never repay but I do say “thanks” and will work hard to continue to provide prevention and spread the word. I had the great pleasure of meeting the Board Members and dining with them which was a great experience. I look forward to a long continuing partnership with VLI as I know no other can compare.

The State Office of Victim Assistance is delighted to have had the opportunity to work with the Vision Leadership Institute on dating violence issues in our communities and applauds the Institute's commitment to structuring positive solutions to these critical issues.

My experience with working with Vision Leadership Institute has been wonderful! We worked with VLI to test a new online evaluation tool, VPEC, to collect data for the SISTA Project (c). The staff was professional and effectively implemented VPEC without difficulty.