BELLA FILLE          INC

Founder & President

A former at-risk youth and young teenage mother, Candra is on a purpose driven mission to inspire and change the lives of every teen and young adult that crosses her path. Working as an at-risk youth and teen mom mentor for over the past 19 years, Candra was motivated by the traumatic and risky experiences she endured. Her goal is to help the youth overcome obstacles, and give them hope. She has dedicated herself and her time pouring wisdom into messages of personal development, leadership, purpose, and the love of God for all genres of the youth and young adult culture. Her desires are to see them become who they were created to be.

Candra became sexually active at the young age of 12. She then became pregnant at 15 and gave birth to her son at 16. Despite the dark path of promiscuous behavior, date rape, pregnancies and physical, emotional, and mental abuse, she was a true fighter and a determined young mother and natural born entrepreneur. Her hustle in life came from having a goal to be self-sufficient and stay on top. She worked hard through tears and stress to create a good life for herself and her son. It was at a breaking point where she knew something had to change about her personal life, and the vicious cycle needed to be broken. That is when Candra decided to become celibate at the vibrant age of 22, until 37 when she got married.

Candra is now a published author, professional speaker, gift strategist, and the founder and executive director of Bella Fille. Entrepreneurship was definitely a gift Candra possessed, because prior to becoming a published author, speaker and gift strategist, Candra was the successful owner of Relax Your Mind Hair Studio in Philadelphia, before moving to Florida. After her move se became an educator at Florida Career College for almost three years.

Currently, Candra is a wife, mother of two boys who are 21 years apart, and a vision driven catalyst who helps aspiring entrepreneurs and authors discover and apply their gifts, and write their story. She is also ready to give back through her non-profit "Bella Fille", by helping young mothers, young adults and teens create greatness through personal development, leadership and purpose. 

Candra's latest project is a must see stage play that was inspired by her second book "Caught Up!" and will be debuted on November 7th 2015.

Before I leave this precious earth, I will have created enough to leave a legacy for my children and their children. My hopes are that everyone will reach their full potential and be who God created them to be.

                                                                           Candra

             www. bellafille.org   www.candraward.com    candraward1@gmail.com 

Vice President

Envision a picture of the typical inner city child raised in a drug infested community where teen pregnancy, high school dropouts, the sound of gun shots, and sirens are the norm. When the image of this child is completely drafted in your mind, the child you now see is that of Shaleta Bailey-Jenkins.

Born and raised in North Philadelphia Shaleta was as what many would have consider, a product of her surroundings. By the time she was 16, she was smoking marijuana on a regular bases, it was during this time the she continuously found herself engaging in unacceptable, even criminal behavior. Shaleta was arrested and expelled from the public school system and remanded to attend a Behavior Adjustment Center for Females. By the age of 17, she found herself pregnant with her first child and by the age of 20, expecting her second child. With two children and in an abusive relationship, her world and any hope of success were dwindling rapidly.

At the age of 20, Shaleta made a firm decision to make a change, if not for herself, for her children. She enrolled herself into Community College of Philadelphia and later transferred to the University of Phoenix where she studied Early Childhood Education.  She found employment at Prudential Financial where she remained for over 11 years. By the age of 28, Shaleta purchased her 1st home, a new car, and obtained her Associates Degree in Elementary Education, all while putting 2 children through private school. 

Today, Shaleta is married, and along with her husband owns three properties, and is working on a 4th.  She has recently returned back to school for her Bachelor’s Degree; and last but not least has raised two educated, hardworking, and productive children.
 

It is through the grace of God, his Blessings, hard work, and dedication that I feel the strong passion to touch others traveling down the road I once did and to redirect them to a path of success. Just as God has Blessed me, it is my desire to be a Blessing upon others.          

Administrator

Lonyona Hamilton was a child born in a broken home, not raised by either of her parents. Instead of being thrown to the state of New Jersey's Foster and Adoption services, her extended family took her in to raise her. She became victim of sexual abuse and neglect at the early age of 5 yrs old.  While being a victim of these circumstances, she did not allow these tragedies to shape her: these tragedies became her testimonies.

Lonyona became a single mother at a young age and was determined to provide opportunity for her son, William, so he would not fall victim to a life similar to her past. For years, she labored night and day to ensure a better life of herself and her family. Today, she is happily married to the love of her life James Hamilton, and is overall is experiencing to fruits of her labor. William is an educated college student, pursuing a Bachelors' degree in Construction Management at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Currently,Lonyona is also pursuing higher education. She is attending Camden County College, pursuing a Masters in Social Work and Child/Family Counseling. Her passion is to work with  and on behalf of families that suffer from a similar background as her own. Lonyona is working on her first book and plans to publish it soon.