Our Team
Behind every mission is a group of people committed to stewarding it with integrity and care.
Our Board of Directors is more than a governing body—they are advocates for healing, voices for those we serve, and leaders dedicated to walking alongside survivors as they rebuild their lives. At Steps of H.O.P.E., we believe healing happens in community—and this is a vital part of that community.
Claudia Stephens, Founder, Executive Director
Claudia Stephens, a survivor of childhood trauma, embarks on a path of healing and self-discovery. From an early age, she developed coping mechanisms that served as a façade to protect her from pain. Throughout adolescence and into adulthood, she concealed her true emotions and battled feelings of inadequacy. A defining moment came when she realized she was prioritizing her husband’s emotions over her own while holding her newborn. This moment highlighted the unstable foundation her life was built upon.
Claudia’s journey was marked by her past, sleepless nights, binge eating, self-neglect, and situational depression. Without a solid support network, she grappled with the trauma and a dwindling sense of self-worth. The idea of love without pain was alien to her, leading her to question her own deservingness of such love.
A spiritual awakening altered her life’s course. The realization that “Jesus loves me” emerged at her lowest point, prompting her to turn the love she sought from others inward. This insight sparked a profound transformation.
Today, Claudia shares her story as a source of hope and motivation for others. She has let God heal her heart and persists in her healing journey. Her testimony is meant to instill hope and promote collective healing. Her goal is to empower others to overcome their struggles and find their strength.
With faith as her guide, Claudia encourages others to embark on their own healing journeys and to discover the power of self-love. Her story raises an essential question: “What or who are you fighting for?” In her own journey, she exemplifies.
Michale Taylor, Secretary
Michale is a resilience-driven leader who turned profound adversity into purpose, creating transformative frameworks that empower youth to regulate, rise, and rewrite their futures—overjoyed to have her on the team!
Michale’s story is one of extraordinary resilience and purpose. Born with drug exposure and raised in a high-risk environment on Columbus’s west side, she overcame immense challenges, including early loss, family responsibility, and becoming a young mother.
Despite setbacks, she earned her Master’s in Business Management with a focus on entrepreneurship. After the tragic loss of her brother, Waki M. Bryant, Michale found her calling: preventing youth from becoming statistics. She developed R.I.S.E. Unbroken, a trauma-informed framework that teaches self-regulation, emotional resilience, and intentional decision-making, while also offering personalized coaching to help individuals achieve lasting transformation.
JJ DunhamReed, Board Member
JJ DunhamReed is a passionate advocate and educator transforming personal challenges into powerful support for families impacted by FASD—excited to have her on the team!
JJ DunhamReed is a dedicated advocate for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), inspired by her journey as a mother of seven. After recognizing developmental differences in her child, she immersed herself in learning and became a certified Family Peer Support Specialist through NAMI Ohio.
JJ’s lovesis to connect and support caregivers navigating similar challenges. Passionate about education and awareness, she works to bridge gaps in resources, particularly in Southern Ohio. Overcoming a past marked by hardship, JJ has turned stigma into strength, building a community rooted in compassion, connection, and hope for families impacted by neurobehavioral disorders.
Victoria Bork, Board Member
Victoria Bork is a strategic HR leader who combines data-driven people strategy with a passion for mentorship and empowerment—excited to have her on the team!
Victoria Bork is an experienced Human Resources leader with over a decade in workforce strategy, organizational effectiveness, and employee engagement. She focuses on talent management, HR analytics, and benefits, aligning people strategies with business and community needs.
Passionate about mentorship, she leads professional development and financial wellness workshops, and promotes inclusive leadership through employee resource groups. Her work supports Steps of Hope’s trauma-informed, faith-centered mission, advocating for holistic support and helping individuals rediscover purpose and resilience.
Carla R. Daniels, Board Member
A dynamic coach, speaker, and creative, Carla R. Daniels blends insight, humor, and heart to help others live boldly and realize their true potential—thrilled to have her on the team!
Carla R. Daniels is a dynamic coach, speaker, and creative dedicated to helping others live boldly. She holds degrees from Washburn University and Southern Illinois University Carbondale, along with certifications in MBTI, CliftonStrengths, and Real Colors®. As founder of Coach Carla Renee, LLC, she has built a platform focused on personal growth and empowerment.
Carla is also a comedian, actor, radio host, and writer with over 20 years of creative experience. A published author and proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., she brings energy, insight, and humor to everything she does, inspiring others to discover and embrace their true potential.
Karen Brantley
Faith Mentor and Advisor, Guiding Souls and Nurturing Faith
Rev. Karen Brantley is a compassionate pastor and community leader dedicated to faith-driven care, healing, and outreach—honored to have her on the team!
Karen Brantley is an ordained deacon in the United Methodist Church, serving as lead pastor of Pleasant Chapel United Methodist Church and chaplain at Wesley Ridge Retirement Community. With a background as a recreation therapist in behavioral health and years in children’s and community ministry, she brings deep experience in care, discipleship, and outreach.
Karen has led community-focused initiatives, including ministries supporting Hispanic communities across Ohio. Her work is deeply personal, honoring the life of her daughter Kristen, and reflects her commitment to healing, faith, and supporting individuals impacted by addiction and life’s challenges.
Advisors:
- Sharon L. Ware
Community Outreach Advisor
Soups from a Stone - Tom Harvey
Business Advisor
Score Mentor
Counselors:
- Tru-Rob Counseling & Consulting