Help us help those who are suffering from mental health challenges in the Roanoke Valley
The Mission of Family Service of Roanoke Valley is to transform lives by healing trauma and restoring hope for families and individuals of all ages through mental health counseling, case management and life skills education. The organization began in 1901. As the pandemic continues, FSRV is still helping additional individuals right here in the Roanoke Valley learn to cope with the effects of trauma and stress, in addition to those that originally that were already seeking our services. FSRV does so much fundraising because many clients are either under-insured.
Family Service of Roanoke Valley is asking us to rally our friends, family, and networks to support their work. By making a donation to our duo, you will help support more Family Service Counseling, Youth Development, Guardianship, and Personal Affairs Management services for the Roanoke Valley. This funding will go towards restoring health and hope in our community.
Please consider supporting our Celebrity Champion Duo and giving to Family Service of Roanoke Valley!
(Please note that donations are non-refundable).
Ryan Bell - is a dedicated educator, community activist, and Black father advocate with a Master's degree in education leadership and extensive post-graduate experience in the area of family and community engagement. As a veteran speaker, strategist, and cultivator he has over 10 years' experience delivering impactful lectures, informative workshops and assisting organizations in their efforts to engage Black men and fathers in social justice.
Ryan has dedicated his career to the Black father; supporting individuals, communities, and organizations in their efforts to build collective leadership, establish community relevance and increase their organizing capacity amongst Black men and fathers to achieve greater social and societal outcomes.
His experience and intimate understanding of Black men and fathers, combined with his deep commitment to dismantle and disrupts systems of oppression has shaped his perspective on the direct connections between these systems and the Black mans' capacity to be a father.
Ryan is the founder of Black Father Family, an organization dedicated to equipping parents and caregivers with the tools necessary to improve the overall well-being of their children with an intentional focus on the Black father. Aligning activities, marshalling resources, advancing public policy, and measuring impact.
He is the son of Carlton (deceased), and Kathryn Bell, the oldest sibling to Jordan and Kiana Bell and most importantly, the father to Lyanah and Nasir Bell.
Ryan holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services from Virginia Union University and a Master's Degree in Education from Virginia State University. He is the Founder and Board President of the Black Father Family and President and CEO of The Bell Effect. He's also the former Manager, Family & Community Engagement-Early Childhood Education for Richmond Public Schools. Ryan has served on the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Roanoke Valley, the Task Force to Reduce Gun Violence, and the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative.
Jordan Bell - is a millennial, father, historian, mentor, camp director, and neighborhood activist. Bell is a member of Gainsborough Southwest Neighborhood Organization. On Juneteenth, Bell led a walking tour group of over 100 community members from all over Roanoke; spanning diverse backgrounds and multiple generations. The tour included homes, properties and businesses on Patton Avenue, North Jefferson Street, Gilmer Avenue, Henry Street and Wells Avenue.
During COVID-19, Jordan bought the vacant Barlow House on Gilmer Ave and has been resorting it with the help of family and friends. It just so happens to be across from the Oliver White Hill house, now home to Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program. His passion is recording the oral and written history of elders within the Gainsboro community. He has interviewed current Gainsboro residents who grew up with the influential Roanoke leaders like Dr. Isaac Burrell, founder of Burrell Hospital, Edward Dudley, the first Black US Ambassador, Oliver White Hill, Sr., Civil Rights Attorney, Lucy Addison-Teacher and Principal, Virginia Y. Lee, Gainsboro Branch Librarian and Dr. John C.. Clayton, who built an entire block of businesses in the Gainsboro Neighborhood.
Jordan shares all of this information through his Gainsboro Revisited tour, fieldtrips, and through service projects. Many people who attend the tours have no idea how destructive federal policies like urban renewal demolished 1,600 Roanoke homes, 200 businesses and 24 churches in the once economically and culturally thriving African-American neighborhood known as Gainsboro. Bell feels like it's his job to educate future generation on Black History just as his elders and ancestors educated him. Jordan spends most of his time influencing and educating youth in the City of Roanoke, because, "Our youth will change this city so we want to inspire them to do that in the process."
Jordan is a Special Education aid who specializes in assisting autistic children with Roanoke City Public Schools. He is summer camp director with Apple Ridge Farms where Jordan is also the Leader of Aspire Mindsets, a group to help ages 12-17 become more involved in the community by building them up mentally. Jordan takes pride in being involved in his community. He also is involved with many other organizations such as the Dumas Legacy Foundation, Inc. and 21st Century.
