Karen has been working in the non-profit sector for more than 30 years. She began the role of Executive Director for CARITAS in 2000. In 2007, Karen took on the dual role as Executive Director for The Healing Place, a 214-bed recovery program for homeless men and effective July 1, 2012, guided the efforts to combine the organization with CARITAS making CARITAS the largest homeless services organization in the metro Richmond area.  She is a 2007 graduate of Leadership Metro Richmond, a recipient of the Stettinius Award for Non-Profit Leadership, United Way’s “Champion for Change” of 2008, a 2010 YWCA Outstanding Woman Award winner and the 2010 Better Housing Coalition’s “Creative Collaborator.” She is in her third term as an appointed member of the Governor’s Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism. She serves on the boards of Homeward and Leadership Metro Richmond. In October of 2012, Karen was inducted in the Virginia First Lady’s FLITE Hall of Fame for Women in Business.

Clara was born and raised in Charlotte, NC and has lived in the Richmond area for the last 10 years.  In Charlotte, Clara worked in the nonprofit field for 10 years.  She served on several local boards, participated in Leadership Charlotte and was very active in her church and children’s schools.  A job relocation sent The Stokes family to Richmond VA.Clara returned to the nonprofit arena two years ago as the Chief Development Officer for CARITAS.  She is a recent graduate of Leadership Metro Richmond.

Al graduated from Western Kentucky University in 1973.  Al was a Production Supervisor for major companies during 1974 - 1986.  Al is in active recovery. He entered The Healing Place of Louisville, Kentucky on October 20, 1995 and completed the Program in April, 1996. He became a Peer Mentor until 1997, then the Transitional Coordinator, and then promoted to the Program Director.  During the fall of 2000, Al  helped  start The Healing Place in Raleigh, North Carolina.  In January, 2005, Al was asked to help open The Healing Place in Richmond, Virginia.  The doors opened March 4, 2005 and Al has been the Program Director ever since.