​Design Your World with Your Village

Village U Academy is a mentoring program created to help high schoolers (participants) develop the confidence and tools needed to succeed in life. 
 
We offer a customizable curriculum that requires participants to attend a mental health therapy session(s) with a certified therapist to assist the teen, caregivers, and accountability partners in selecting the best mentors for their village.  

​In conjunction with the village, accountability partners work with participants to identify their talents and improvement areas to help them select and pursue a career path.  
 
Upon completing Village U Academy, participants receive a detailed plan that will guide their next steps after graduation. Our goal is to instill a sense of self-confidence and appreciation of  learning through mentorship. 

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THE TEAM
 
Rakeda L. Ervin 
Partner / Chief Executive Officer / Director of Education
 
Rakeda is a partner at Village U Academy. Her background includes film & TV, digital media, entrepreneurship, and education. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from Quinnipiac University and obtained a Professional Producing certificate in Film & Television from UCLA. While living in Los Angeles, Rakeda worked for well-known networks and studios like Warner Bros., Paramount, A&E, and NBC Universal before moving to Austin. In Austin, she became an educator to inspire the next generation of creative professionals. She developed a media program and taught Audio & Video Production before moving on to a continuing education company to develop education and marketing media initiatives. She co-founded and created Get the Big Picture (GTBP), a movie-enriched school-based curriculum provider with the mission of building character, one scene at a time. She now serves as the Director of Community Education with the Austin Film Society. Rakeda is passionate about lifelong learning and has a desire to cultivate the next generation of professionals. She describes her work in education as the culmination of her professional experiences, where passion and purpose meet.
 
Leslie Lyons
Partner / Chief Operating Officer
 
Leslie is a 50% partner at the Village U Academy. She earned a bachelor's and
master's degree from Texas State University in Public Administration. Leslie is Project
Management Essentials Certified and has a certificate in Lean Six Sigma White Belt. She is
a recently retired project manager, program creator, recruiter, and background
investigator. She created the 80-hour "Community Connect" project, an initiative to
improve and cultivate a relationship between the police department and historically
marginalized communities in the city of Austin. Throughout her years of public service,
Leslie has mentored children from the ages of 10 and up through young adulthood. Her
career has allowed her to travel and speak to high school and college-age people. During
her travels, she found that many young adults lack a planned pathway for success in life.
Leslie has chosen to step into the role of mentoring and linking successful people with the
desired path of young adults while continuing to counsel along the way.
 
Krista Ervin
Program Director
 
Krista is the Program Director at Village U Academy. Her undergraduate degree is in Sociology from Quinnipiac University, and she holds a Continuing Education Certificate in Business Analyst Series from Austin Community College. Her experience includes working at many after-school programs for elementary students and summer camps across the country. Through her work with the Department of Family and Protective Services, she has dedicated 14 years to defending the unprotected citizens of Texas. Krista has expertise in all aspects of managing projects and small businesses, including establishing and updating policies and procedures, as well as planning events that bring people from diverse backgrounds together to create an unforgettable experience. Krista is the mother of a recent high school graduate. Having raised a teen, she knows first-hand the importance of having a supportive cast. She strives to give youth opportunities to thrive in life by tapping into their potential.