James Carter is a commercial lender at Trustmark Bank in Fondren, where his primary focus is small business lending – which involves start-up businesses, investment properties, commercial properties, etc. James has roughly six years of banking experience and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Accounting and an Associates of Arts in Hotel and Hospitality Management from Tougaloo College. Currently, Mr. Carter resides in Brandon with his wife and three daughters and attends Word of Life Church.

Since 2011, Kellye Smith has worked with Ross & Yerger’s corporate benefit and property & casualty insurance clients to strengthen the skillsets and proactive risk management profiles of HR and Safety departments. Often praised for her ability to take complex topics and explain them in laymen’s terms, she has also been touted as having a unique ability to take very boring topics and make them entertaining and understandable. Kellye is a PHR, Certified Administrator of Integrative Leave Management, and leads Ross & Yerger’s team of Resource Consultants.

LaDarion Ammons is an accomplished professional with a deep commitment to public service and community betterment. He is the Founding Partner of Ten One Strategies, a leading force in Governmental Relations and Lobbying in Jackson, Mississippi. With a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Mississippi State University, he has returned to his roots of Jackson, MS to help manage his family’s businesses, playing a key role in ensuring their success. A graduate of Mississippi College Law School, LaDarion excels in his career in Governmental Relations and Lobbying, representing a diverse range of clients, including city governments, counties, and a wide array of non-profit trade associations across various industries. In 2014, during the Legislative Session, LaDarion served as a Policy Assistant for the Mississippi Speaker of the House, displaying a deep commitment to policy and governance.

In addition to his full time professional pursuits, LaDarion serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Government Department at Millsaps College, where he imparts his knowledge to the next generation of leaders. LaDarion has also served as a Commissioner for the City of Jackson Planning Board, a board member for Refill Jackson Initiative, and a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

In his personal life, LaDarion Ammons, together with his wife Courtney, treasures family time with their son, Landis Ammons. Beyond his professional endeavors, he enjoys golf, extensive travels, reading, and quality moments with loved ones. LaDarion’s journey is marked by a dedication to his community, a thirst for exploration, and a strong commitment to family bonds.

Zakiya Summers is a servant leader and civil rights advocate. She was re-elected in 2023 to her second term as State Representative for House District 68, which covers portions of West Jackson in Hinds County, and Flowood, Pearl and Richland in Rankin County. She is a member of the following committees: County Affairs, Drug Policy, Technology, Tourism, and Workforce Development. Her proudest achievement thus far is casting her vote to start the process of removing the old Mississippi Confederate Flag and replacing it with an inclusive one. She prioritizes access, equity, and justice in her policymaking work. Since being in office, Rep. Summers has also helped to garner more than $291 million in funds to local projects in the city of Jackson, Hinds and Rankin Counties, for Jackson State University and Hinds Community College, combined.

She was appointed in 2015 then elected Election Commissioner for Hinds County District 3 in 2016. There, she created the Student Poll Worker Program, led the effort with the Jackson Public Schools PTSA to hold mock elections at every high school, and increased accessibility to voters with disabilities through engagement and poll worker training. As the former Director of Communications and Advocacy for the ACLU of Mississippi, Rep. Summers led campaigns to address systemic barriers in the community at the intersections of voting rights, criminal justice, educational equity, healthcare access, and racial justice.

An entrepreneur, Zakiya owns and operates Lady Godiva Productions, specializing in event planning and public relations consulting. In addition, she is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., where she serves as her chapter's social action chair; Secretary of the Jayne Avenue Neighborhood Association; a board member of Refill Jackson Initiative; a W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network Fellow, E Pluribus Unum fellow, Fair Fight fellow, and Women’s Democracy Lab fellow; a member of the 2022 class of Leadership Greater Jackson; and a graduate of Council of State Governments prestigious Center for Advancement of Leadership Skills program for legislators from the South. She received her BA in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and is pursuing a master’s in public policy and administration from Jackson State University. Her most important title is wife to Andra and mother to her three sons. She and her family live in West Jackson. They are members of Greater Mt. Bethel Church of Christ Holiness USA, under the leadership of Bishop Glake Hill. Rep. Summers’ favorite scripture is: And we know all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord, and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Caitlin Brooking is a huge fan of Jackson, and of Jacksonians. As the Executive Director of the Refill Jackson Initiative, she is responsible for day to day operations, fundraising, and supporting a talented staff of 9 in carrying out workforce development training and wrap-around social services for disconnected 18-24 year olds in the metro Jackson area.  Before becoming the Executive Director of Refill Jackson Initiative, she served on the Board of Directors for 3 years. She was most recently the Deputy Director of Volunteer Mississippi, the state agency on volunteerism. She worked closely with the team of staff there to lead the AmeriCorps Mississippi program portfolio, the Mississippi Hub Network for nonprofits and volunteers, and the state’s volunteer and donations efforts in the wake of natural disasters. Her experience in this role has refined her skills in developing community solutions through service and building partnerships across nonprofit, private and public organizations. Her work focused on program development, developing and meeting program outcomes, and programmatic and fiscal compliance with federal regulations.

 

She arrived in Mississippi from Boston in 2007 and served as Director of Programs for Hands On Gulf Coast in Biloxi, overseeing programmatic strategy and implementation, including a sizable AmeriCorps State program and regular large-scale community service projects, to affect community volunteerism and disaster response in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Before relocating to Mississippi, Caitlin served as the Special Assistant to the CEO & President at City Year, Inc. in Boston, MA, and Assistant to the Dean of Students at Boston University. She has earned a BA in Psychology from Boston University, and an MA in Sociology from the University of Mississippi. She is originally from Methuen, MA, and she wasn’t born in Jackson but she got here as soon as she could. 

 

Chanika Ceaser has spent her working life in service to others—at restaurants, hospitals, and hotels across the Jackson metro area. This experience made her well-suited to be a member of the original Refill Cafe front-of-house team. Her position with Refill has evolved as the organization responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and members’ needs. Now Chanika serves two roles. As the transport coordinator, she ensures that one of our members’ most pressing needs is addressed, and as an on-the-job trainer, she accompanies members to their external work experience sites, providing supervision and real-time feedback.

A native of Jackson, Chanika attended Lanier High School. She enjoys cooking and above all else, spending time with her two daughters and fiance.

After graduating from Millsaps College with a degree in Sociology and Anthropology in 2016, Devin Winsett taught english as a second language in Mexico City. He later returned to the United States by way of New Orleans where he served as a City Year Corps member at a middle school in the Ninth Ward community.

It was through teaching middle school math that Devin recognized his passion for working with young people and realized that his greatest joy stemmed from empowering young people to overcome barriers that they were facing. To pursue these passions, Devin accepted a position as a case worker for a youth residential group home in Brooklyn, New York. Wishing to advance his education in social work and to return to the south, Devin earned his Masters of Social work from Jackson State University in 2021.

After returning to Jackson, Devin served as a residential care specialist at a youth residential treatment facility while completing his graduate education. Devin completed his field placement with the Refill Jackson Initiative and fell in love with the work of supporting young adults in the context of workforce development. He joined the team full-time as a Social Worker and Instructor in May of 2021, and became the Director of Social Services in July 2024.

In his free time, Devin enjoys traveling, cooking, attending local arts and music events in Jackson.

An AmeriCorps alumna from the City of Jackson program, Jarkisha Spann serves as the Program Manager for Refill Jackson Green Corps. She oversees member recruitment, selection, training, and development, along with program administration and project selection. Before she came to Refill, she was appointed as Senior Planner to lead initiatives for the City of Jackson Office of Housing and Community Development Division, where she spearheaded Sustainable Affordable Housing Strategies. She also previously served as a Customer Service Representative for Horne, LLP, and as a Program Administrator at Green and Healthy Homes Initiative, providing program administration and community education on home health and safety to reduce hazard related issues in homes.

Stephanie Burks currently serves as the On the Job Trainer and Transportation Coordinator for RJI, and works hard to ensure that our members have access to on the job experiences that provide the real-time feedback and coaching that sets Refill apart from other workforce development programs. Stephanie is a native Jacksonian, graduate of Callaway High School, and has work experience in home healthcare and food service. She is also an active community member in Jackson – she is a domestic violence activist, a member of the Women of Knowledge group, supports voter registration efforts and the Ladybug Club in her free time, and is always looking for ways to help folks in the community. She attends church regularly, and is a dedicated mother, sister, auntie, and friend. Stephanie always reminds the RJI team to “face forward, and just get on the van!”