Meet The Founder
RANDY TAYLOR
It is with great passion, energy, and a deep desire to see the improvement, growth, intellectual and social development of today’s youth that drove Randy Taylor in the direction of establishing the mentoring organization, Hope Activated.
Randy is deeply family oriented and has been united with his wife, Mary Taylor for 15 years. This union has parented 5 children. His oldest daughter (20) serves in the United States Air Force (USAF) and his youngest son (18) serves in the United States Navy. His youngest daughter (14) is in the 9th grade, with aspirations of joining the USAF. Randy has studied Psychology at The University of Memphis. He is a staunch proponent for education, believing in the quote that “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belong to those who prepare for it today.”
Randy has served in ministry for 15 years and for the past 14 years has faithfully been a member of The Citadel od Deliverance COGIC (Bishop Linwood E. Dillard). He currently serves on the Board of Directors and Pastoral Team at The Citadel of Deliverance as one of the Associate Pastors and Chief of Security.
Randy has spent 15+ years building his career in law enforcement. His career started in corrections at Whiteville Correctional Facility and then the Brownsville Police Department where he promoted to the rank of sergeant and worked as an investigator / gang liaison. Randy is currently a Memphis TN Police Officer. While working in corrections, Randy identified his passion and purpose. While working in corrections Randy advanced to the rank of sergeant and worked in the position of Gang Investigator. This position gave him direct, one-on-one access to the gang members housed in the facility. While working in this capacity, Randy was regularly engaged in conversation and interviews with the inmates. Most of these gang members / inmates were 18-year-old, young black men, who often-times were transitioning from a juvenile detention center to prison. These young men had made execrable decisions that would have a negative impact on their lives for an exceptionally long time. Many of these young men were serving a life sentence in prison. It was discovered that these young men made these decisions because they had no hope in their future. They had no hope for a better and improved way of life.
The life stories that fell upon the ears and heart of Randy affected his life. These stories were very impactful because he had 2 teenage sons at home. Randy was moved with compassion and was overtaken with an inescapable feeling of responsibility to this young generation. Randy experienced the feeling and the burden that something must be done, and he must do something. Randy began to seek God for answers and after long meditation and prayer, he was convinced that if these young men had hope, that they could achieve more out of life, discover their purpose, connect with their power person, reach their fullest potential, and create for themselves a better life. Randy believed that if an organization were formed by compassionate and caring individuals who would dedicate an intense level of commitment to mentoring our young people, such an organization would change their lives. Hope Activated was founded for this purpose, to activate hope.
In 2014 Randy’s oldest son was sentenced to 20 years in prison for two counts of attempted first degree murder at the age of 18, due to his gang involvement. In January of 2019 Randy lost his middle son, age 19 to gang violence. These vicissitudes that life has brought to Randy has not destroyed his drive, desire, or passion to continually give back to this younger generation in the form of mentoring. He has hope because it has been said that “The value of our future is determined by the investment that we make in today’s youth.
Meet John Colbert
Director of Young Sons Division
Johns Colbert is an example that a person can overcome life adversities and challenges. He refused to allow those challenges he encountered during his youth to define his future. Now as a 52 year old community and youth advocate. John renounced his gang affiliation and decided to educate himself, thereby freeing his mind while his physical body was still bound. John attended two colleges and vocational technical schools while incarcerated. John earned his freedom from the system due to his new mindset and his positive actions. He is now a certified Journey Wireman Electrician and a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). John has been married to his beautiful wife for 36 years. He has six children and 10 grandchildren.
The transition from troubled youth to productive citizen in society was a challenge for John, due to all of the obstacles and rejections he faced, because of his conviction. John attributes his success to his resilient and indomitable spirit and to his faith in God, as a practicing Muslim. It is through his persistence and diligent work that he has created and maintained a promising life. John loves his city and is tired of the plagues that have crippled the growth and success of the youth in his community. It is this reason that John has joined Hope Activated, to ensure that the youth of his city know and understand that the "House of Failure" is not their final destination. One can always create a better life for themselves if there is HOPE!
Meet Lisa Mac
Director of Young Daughters Division
Lisa’s favorite slogan is “Mental Health is Physical Health”. However, it took a long time for that slogan to become a belief of hers. Raised in extreme poverty to drug abusing parents, she found herself being neglected. There were days she did not have food and did not have the basic life essentials. At an early age, Lisa, acquired a relationship with GOD as she asked him daily “why me, why this pain, why this burden”. That pain experienced became a challenge, as she begun to see the bright side of her situation which was “how low life can get”.
Lisa put her head into the books and graduated high school at age 16. She joined the Memphis Police department at age 18 and utilized their services to get several degrees. Lisa joined the crisis intervention team to be a liaison between the mental illness community and law enforcement. Her passion for helping young ladies with adolescent trauma through her personal experiences and professional experiences amplified. She knows first-hand how trauma and life of the streets can interfere and obstruct progress in young ladies. Lisa is currently an intern Doctor of Neuropsychology where she specializes in brain assessments, adolescent trauma, and other clinical areas. Lisa’s goal is to be resource to young ladies that find themselves asking, “why me, why this pain, why this burden”.
Meet Mary Taylor
Director of Young Daughters Division
Married to the founder of Hope Activated since 2006. We have a blended family of 5 children, whom I love dearly.
I earned my B.S. Degree in Health Science from the University of Memphis in 2022.
Growing up seeing my siblings and family members making choices that would ultimately lead them to incarceration affected me deeply. I believe that my life experiences can help young people in some capacity. Mentoring is not a hobby for me. It is a way for me to give back and to help positively mold and impact this young generation. I know that motivation shapes the heart, positive communication shapes the mind, and an encouraging relationship with a mentor can give the mentee the shaping they need to turn our alright! We have a right to be impactful human beings, The choice is yours.
"A mentor is someone who allows you to see HOPE inside yourself." -Oprah Winfrey
Meet Doreen Benitez
Mentor
My children like to refer to me as a “Corporate American Mogul”, my team calls me “La Patrona” In reality, I’m just that Boricua girl from the Bronx full of dreams and ambition, Doreen Benitez-Martinez all grown up. Starting off right out of John Jay College of Criminal Justice as a new wife and young mother, I hit the ground running, and dominated sales for MCI Worldcom. I juggled the demand of my career and my home life the best I could. I became the VP of training & quality control 10 years into my career, I was tasked with picking up my entire life and moving from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Memphis, Tennessee. Just a few short years later after the company went under, I was faced with a choice the Summer of 2002, sink or swim. I chose to swim. Doors were shut in my face time and time again as I attempted to take my talents elsewhere. I was met with rejection and told I was “over qualified” or “too Northern”. With four children to feed, I did what any good mom would do, I just got a job. I started working as a Director for sales and marketing starting a warehouse for Neotek. This minor set back did not deter me thankfully.
I was at Waffle House one day and overheard two Hispanic men talking about sharing a check of $350 after installing 3500 sq ft of flooring. I asked them to go quit I let them know that no one should be treated that way. I also explained that I would continue to pay them until we got up and going. They thought I was crazy but they immediately believed in me. I opened up my laptop and googled how to start a business and we started Floor Doctor. I saw a need for a woman’s presence in the construction world; and rose to the occasion.
When young people engage in conversation with me, I always urge them to do their self a favor and ask where you should start! I believed in myself when no one else did. I knew I could do what I have done for so long for others, for myself. Belief in self is one’s strongest tool for success. Don’t wait for someone to let you in their lane. Make your own lane. I continue to develop my business in this vastly growing, ever changing market. My work here, isn’t done yet. I seek to educate the youth, and upcoming entrepreneurs in Business.