ROSALEANA'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER
Ms. Annie Barber is a multifaceted individual, celebrated not only as a devoted mother but also esteemed as an author and the visionary CEO/Founder of Rosaleana's Community Development Center, Inc. Her diverse talents and unwavering dedication have earned her the moniker of "jack of all trades," a title well-deserved after years spent tirelessly advocating for the welfare of families, veterans, and children within the community.
Fueled by an innate passion for empowering individuals to achieve their fullest potential, Ms. Barber has dedicated herself to creating nurturing environments that serve as catalysts for growth and development. Through her leadership, Rosaleana's Community Development Center has become a beacon of hope, offering transformative opportunities and support systems designed to uplift and inspire all who walk through its doors. Ms. Barber's commitment to fostering love, compassion, and resilience is evident in every facet of her work, making her a true luminary in the field of community empowerment.
Meet our FOUNDER
ABOUT ROSELEANA'S
Rosaleana ’s Community Development Center, Inc. It is a Human Service 501(c)3 organization focused on providing services through nurturing, leadership, and love for the community. Our organization focuses on youth transitioning out of foster care and men, women, and children who have been homeless or experiencing homelessness.
Our programs and services help them secure their financial, medical, educational, and overall basic needs. In addition to providing these basic needs such as housing or food, what makes the care bestowed at Rosaleana ’s unique is our acute attentiveness to all resident’s individual dreams and goals. We empower them to consider their own specific needs as we take the time to fully engage and inform them about the opportunities and resources afforded to them to help them achieve these goals. They are also enriched in mentoring sessions to help them not only to gain independent living skills, but also to adopt healthy coping, working, and lifestyle habits which will help them get to the places they desire to be in life and to excel there.
Yalanda Barber-Sweney is wife, mom of a son and 3 fur babies, best-selling children’s book author, social impact leader, and entrepreneur. After graduating from Albany State University, she became an educator, and later a school counselor. Ms. Sweney has been providing services to homeless foster youth and families and children with developmental and behavioral disabilities since 2005 to inform, educate, and empower the world about Foster and Adoptive Care. She wrote her first bestselling book in 2020 and the attention of this book has awarded her and the organization to be named 2022, 2023 Best of Atlanta non-profit organization among many other things.
Yalanda Barber-Sweney, CEO + Founder, Inspire Your Daughters and Sons Inc was inspired to build and support family connections and relationships. So many challenges have increased among families with children since Covid-19. ) Princess Yaya and King James Project provides individual and group wellness sessions supporting areas of academics, classroom management, confidence, and personal development. As the Developmental Disabilities Professional for RCDC, Mrs. Sweney is awarded the opportunity to give guidance, support, and resources to individuals with various behavioral and developmental disabilities. She has also created therapeutic and recreational toys, wellness kits, sensory cards and journals to support families and children (k-12)on there journey to thrive.
Our CEO
COOKING WITH S.T.E.A.M
We help schools and educational service providers disrupt the pattern of educational inequity by providing STEAM education early and consistently. By giving students of all backgrounds and abilities an equal chance to learn and love STEAM, we are nurturing the next generation of successful professionals, bold thinkers, and passionate leaders. The kitchen is a virtual laboratory for exploring all sorts of STEAM topics, such as measurement, patterns, chemistry, properties of matter, cause and effect, and much more. Preparing food is a daily part of life, which means that the learning occurs in a natural, meaningful context—with delicious results.
Rosa & Her Green Thumb
Our community garden is playing a vital role in shaping the horticultural and agricultural industry of metro Atlanta. Serving as an essential source of fresh, local produce in areas where access to such foods is limited, its impact extends far beyond mere cultivation.
Rosa and Her Green Thumb actively contribute to local ecology, providing a safe haven and communal gathering space for individuals spanning from children to seniors. Through our program, we employ garden-based horticultural and agricultural education to immerse students in the science, labor, and gratification of cultivating fresh produce.
In our curriculum, we integrate lessons in mathematics, science, and English language arts, coupled with sensory engagement activities, to introduce students to a diverse array of foods while advocating for healthy eating habits and increased physical activity.
Cafe Rosaleana’s
Food insecurity affects millions of people in every corner of the United States. Cafe Rosaleana's is a food pantry and meals program to assist families who lack food security. Our pantry provides the communities we serve with food relief for rural residents that struggle to have enough to eat. Through this program, we are able to increase their access to fresh foods and balanced nutrition.
At Rosaleana's, food preparation is a collaborative effort involving individuals aspiring to pursue careers in the hospitality and restaurant industry. Through our program, these participants are groomed to become proficient mini chefs, equipped with ServSafe skills and a comprehensive understanding of nutrition and health maintenance. While still in its nascent stages, this initiative is poised to evolve into a premier catering service, uniquely managed by individuals facing developmental challenges and their caregivers. From elegant baby showers to lively social gatherings, our team is prepared to handle a diverse array of events with finesse and professionalism.