Panel

Dr. Christina Robinson currently serves as the Executive Director of Work-Based Learning and Industry Partnerships for the Houston Community College System and DOL Ambassador.  Robinson oversees the Gulf Coast Region Apprenticeship Hub, an accelerator for industry-wide apprenticeships and talent pipeline development, HCC Talent Solutions, and Community Learning. Prior to her role, she oversaw one of the largest grant-funded adult education and integrated workforce programs in the state of Texas with over $5 million in grant funding. Dr. Robinson spearheaded the creation of the "Change Your Life for $20" program and Career4U Academy. Prior to HCC, Robinson served as Chief Strategist for Innovation & Research at Lone Star College and Territory Vice President of the Gulf Coast for University of Phoenix.

An accomplished leader and champion of higher learning, she has been recognized for her leadership both locally and nationally. Dr. Robinson has been honored as the top 30 Most Influential Women in Houston and Top Ten Most Influential Women by Houston Woman magazine. Robinson completed a State Fellowship with the Coalition of Adult Basic Education, and currently serves on the City of Houston Advisory Board for Adult Literacy. Having earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Texas A&M University and a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix, Robinson received her doctorate in Community College Leadership from The Roueche Graduate Center at National American University with a dissertation on, "What Can Higher Education Learn from Healthcare Innovation?"

Carrie Rai, MA, MSW, LMSW has over 15 years of experience working with individuals, groups, and communities. She is passionate about creating systems that improve conditions for organizations and communities, and the people who work and live within them. Carrie has worked in many different systems including addictions, mental health, child welfare, homelessness, and most recently public health. As the Performance and Innovation Specialist for Fort Bend County Health & Human Services, Carrie has led the department in their Community Health Assessment, Community Health Improvement Plan, and Strategic Plan. She has experience in development, implementation, and evaluation of continuous quality improvement within programs. She brings a wealth of experience in community collaboration and team building as well as research and training skills.

Carrie has earned Master’s degrees in Anthropology and Social Work and is a licensed social worker in the state of Texas. She is a native of Canada and has made Texas her home for the past eight years.

Pastor Sincere is a dedicated community leader, spiritual guide, and advocate for the economically disadvantaged. In 2017, he founded the Advocacy Now Institute (ANI), an organization committed to addressing systemic issues that impact disadvantaged communities. ANI's mission is to advocate, educate, mentor, and empower individuals, families, and communities.

In 2020, Pastor Sincere and First Lady Candice Sincere established the Fort Bend Transformation Church. The church's mission is to transform individuals, families, and communities spiritually, economically, and socially.

Pastor Sincere's commitment to community outreach and advocacy is evident in his work. He has initiated and overseen numerous programs addressing child and youth mentoring, housing and food insecurity, job insecurity, educational achievement gaps, criminal justice reform, and early childhood trauma.

His professional journey has been marked by significant roles in community service and spiritual leadership. From 2021 to 2022, he served as the Lead Community Outreach Supervisor for the Fort Bend County Expose Excellence Youth Program. Prior to that, he held the position of Director of Facilities at The Salvation Army Greater Houston Area Command for over two decades, managing property operations of 19 facilities.

Currently, Pastor Sincere is the Pastor of Fort Bend Transformation Church and the Founder and Director of ANI.

Pastor Sincere went to Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA - Rawlings School of Divinity and pursued a Bachelor of Science in Religion - Christian Counseling with a Minor in Psychology. He also holds a Mental Health First Aid Certification from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

He is a licensed Baptist minister and a member of several professional associations and committees, including The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the Baptist Ministers Association of Houston and Vicinity, and the American Association of Christian Counselors. He also serves on various advisory councils and committees in Fort Bend County.

Pastor Sincere's exceptional service has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Texas Board of Education 2018 Heroes for Children Award, the NAACP Missouri City & Vicinity Community Service Award, the Salvation Army Exceptional Service Award, the 2022 City of Houston District K Community Kudos Award, and the 2022 Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Community Spirit Award. He continues to be a beacon of hope and transformation in his community, striving to make a difference through his spiritual leadership and advocacy work.

Lydia Chavez-Garcia, Director of Collaborative Communities at Fort Bend ISD where she leads family engagement programs at Title I campuses, mentoring programs and community outreach. Her background is in higher education, with San Jacinto College as the Director of Health and Safety Education where she had extensive experience in workforce development, community engagement as well as state/federal grant administration including the Health Professions Opportunities grant and was recognized by the Secretary of Labor for best practices in grant oversight.   

Barb Clapp is CEO of Dwyer Workforce Development, an innovative non-profit whose purpose is to provide Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) training and entry level job positions to individuals who lack opportunity and who aspire to pursue a career in the healthcare industry. Dwyer Workforce Development provides job training, wraparound services and case management of students and handles job placements in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. Goals are set for a Dwyer Scholars work path and after reaching those goals, students will be awarded a scholarship to attend nursing school or to be trained for other healthcare careers. Barb was chosen to transition the new venture from concept to a full-scale national workforce development organization. She is leading non-profit program development, operations, strategic partnerships, marketing tactics and board development while leveraging past entrepreneurial and non-profit success to develop an immediate and sustainable market presence.

Before that, Barb was Founder and CEO of Clapp Communications, a full-service international marketing and public relations firm headquartered in Baltimore since 2001. She sold the agency December 2018. Barb is a C-Level Advisor for the Emerging Technology Centers and a sought after speaker on leadership, overcoming challenges and business strategy. She is also a Director of CFG Bank Board of Directors. A graduate of Loyola University, Barb has received awards and recognition for her CEO leadership over the years which include, most recently, Public Relations Society of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award, The Daily Record’s Most Influential Marylander, Most Admired CEO, Top 100 Women, and induction into both the Circle of Leadership and Circle of Excellence.

Barb also serves on the boards of the Baltimore Public Markets Corporation, Signal 13 Foundation and Maryland SPCA. A committed community advocate, she has served on The Humane Society of the United States Humane Policy Leaders, as Chair of the Maryland SPCA's March for the Animals, sponsored American Diabetes Association CEOs for Stopping Diabetes, served on the Leadership Committee for the American Heart Association and was a 2016 Alzheimer’s Association Memory Ball dancer.