Mr. Hardy is the organization's founder and CEO. His unwavering commitment and dedication to the community surpass those of anyone else. His contributions have been acknowledged through the receipt of numerous prestigious awards.
Mr. Hardy, a native of Athens, Georgia, has made a groundbreaking achievement by being the first to establish a legal homeless encampment for the homeless population in Athens. His initiative has set a new standard for addressing homelessness in the community. The innovative approach he has taken has garnered attention from other cities and inspired similar programs to be implemented across the country. His dedication and hard work have truly made a positive impact on the lives of those experiencing homelessness.
Mr. Hardy can be reached at: 1ststep706@gmail.com
Dr. Debbie Green is the founder of R.I.S.E. (Reaching Inward for Spiritual Empowerment), a business training individuals on conflict resolution in the workplace to prevent workplace violence. She is also the CEO of Keys for Freedom. Inc., which is a community program focused on individuals and families affected by domestic family violence and emotional/mental illnesses. The vision is to provide services to populations affected by crisis, abuse, or any life-altering situation, restoring faith and love to a hurting world. Dr. Green has 15 years of experience in life coaching and mental health. Dr. Green is an affiliate of the Women on Fire Entrepreneurs Global movement out of Toronto, Canada. Dr . Green facilitates a podcast entitled Soulful Solutions with Dr. Debbie Green with The Female Solution that broadcasts on Facebook, YouTube, and Blog Talk radio. Dr. Green holds a B.A. in Psychology and a Masters in Community Counseling. She also holds a certification in Paracletos Counseling, a form of holistic therapy acknowledged by the State of Georgia. Dr. Green has also completed a Doctorate in Divinity with Aaron Beard International Biblical College and a minor in biblical studies and chaplaincy. Dr. Green is a certified Anger Management and Grief Specialist in Counseling. Dr. Green also specializes in Geriatric mental care. Dr. Green is also a Certified End of Life Specialist, which is an individual who specializes in end-of-life issues. Her vision is to empower others to seek their destiny and live a fulfilled life of peace.
Ms. Green can be reached at: 1ststepvp@gmail.com
Lanier College
2001 - 2003
Early Childhood Education
Gwinnett College
2010 - 2012
Nursing Core Classes
Phlebotomy Supervisor and Operations Manager
Remotely monitor activities of all phlebotomy staff, scheduling hours,
organize and order inventory supplies and equipment.
Onboarding and training of new staff.
Perform site inspections
Medical Ministry of Georgia
Homeless community advocate/ community whistleblower
2021-Present
Volunteering, Ministering, and Servicing the needs of the homeless
community in the Hall County area.
Feeding, offering supplies, and assisting with immediate needs.
Ms. Lopez can be reached at: 1ststep2911@gmail.com
1ststep6399@gmail.com
CLARKE COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE, Athens, GA
Deputy Sheriff, Lieutenant
1993-Current
Manage the day-to-day operations of the Jail division of the Sheriff’s Office. Duties and responsibilities include management/supervision, obtaining search warrants, interviewing subjects, testifying in court, extraditing and transporting inmates, coordinating arrests and shakedowns, investigations, training personnel, and ensuring the safety of inmates. Supervises and evaluates assigned staff, handling all employee concerns, directing work assignments, receiving and investigating complaints about subordinates, counseling and disciplining employees when necessary, and completing employee performance appraisals. Assists, directs, and monitors all ongoing activity, providing for the safety and security of all persons within the facility during shift, particularly in high-risk situations. Recommends and assists in the formulation of policies and procedures; plans assigns, and directs daily work performed by assigned personnel; supervises and organizes shakedowns. Conducts initial investigations into altercations, thefts, vandalism, and other inmate violations; observes inmate climate and identifies suspicious activity that might indicate unrest.
Reserve Deputy – Train new recruits within the jail and its daily operations. Post-certified general instructor, inmate medical and in-custody transports, courthouse security, jail security, and other duties as required.
OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, Athens, GA 1987-1993
Clerk
Worked for the Cooperative Extension Environmental Sciences Photographic and Art department. Responsible for performing daily office tasks such as filing, recording, maintaining records, copying, posting, and other similar duties using a computer terminal, typewriter, and other word processors. Followed organizational and departmental procedures to complete tasks such as preparing purchase orders, ordering supplies, and coordinating with the mailroom to ensure orders were received and shipped to departments within the University system promptly.
WESTCLOX, Athens, GA1984-1987
End station packer
Worked on an assembly line end station. Packaged various clocks and performed basic quality control checks, including measuring, weighing, strength testing, package counts, and evaluating product or package appearance. Folded and taped boxes labeled for shipping and stacked boxes on pallets according to directions. Worked under the immediate supervision of a line leader. The job required speed and accuracy due to incentives of earning extra money with overage called production.
CERTIFICATIONS
Georgia Basic Peace Officer # PBLE960384S
Georgia Police General Instructor #PS08020249S
Georgia Basic Jailer #PRJA990762S
Leadership in Police Organizations (International Association of Chiefs of Police)
Management Level I, II, III
Supervision Level I, II, III
Clarke County Sheriff Office March 2021 to 2022
Clarke County Police Department January 2020 to 2021
Clarke County Board of Elections October 1ststep@gmail.com
United States Postal Service 10/15 to 6/19
Latin Labor Staffing, Gainesville, GA 2/12 to 02/13 Account executive
Administrative Assistant
EDUCATION
National University of El Salvador 3 Semesters of Pre-Law
HS Francisco Morazán Vocational Clerical Administration
She can be contacted at:
Notary Public State of Georgia | GA, Athens Notary | 07/2023 - Present
Notary for the state of Georgia
Minister | GA, Athens
AST minister, Chestnut Grove Baptist Church | 04/2010 - Present Encouraging people to follow their heart and soul.
Clarke County School District | GA, Athens Transportation Driver | 08/2021 - 08/2023 Route driver
Atlanta Public Schools | GA, Atlanta Transportation Driver | 08/2001 - 08/2014 Route driver
Delta Air Lines | GA, College Park
Supervisor, Customer Service | 06/1995 - 08/2002 Cabin service supervisor
Ms.Norrington can be reached at: 1ststepministerkathy@gmail.com
Join our team of volunteers and make a difference in the lives of others. We have a variety of volunteer opportunities available. Sign up today!
Learn more about our programs and how we support the community. From education to health care, we strive to make a positive difference in people's lives.
There are many ways to get involved with 1st Step Inc. Attend one of our events, become a member, or join a committee. We'd love to have you on board!
Find out how we've made a difference in the community and the lives of those we serve. We are committed to improving the lives of others.
Have a question or want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you. Contact us today and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Sign up to hear from us about specials, sales, and events. homeless support
We love our community, so feel free to get involved.
Mon | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Tue | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Wed | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Thu | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Fri | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Sat | Closed | |
Sun | Closed |
We aim to enhance the quality of life for individuals experiencing homelessness through the implementation of uplifting and impactful initiatives that yield benefits both in the present and for the future.
1ST STEP believes all people should have acces housing for homeless families homeless support s to information and support in order to make informed career choices regarding their education, training and employment optio embraces the diversity of people, education, industry and the broader community by providing equitable programs and support.
INTEGRITY
1ST STEP works with the community to build and establish honest and empathetic relationships to achieve positive outcomes.
1st Step Alternative Housing Community
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.