Leadership
Board of Directors
Dharini Dobbins
Board Memeber
Dharini was born on a little island in the Indian Ocean called Sri Lanka, She was an only child and attended an all girls private school for her entire school life. She ran track, played badminton, played the piano and did ballet. When she was a little child she had a heart for service and helping others, she frequently fed the homeless and took food to Mother Teresa’s Orphanage. Dharini came to the United States at the age of 23, and at the age of 26 she was diagnosed with Glaucoma and she was declared legally blind, she had an eight month old son at the time. At the age of 27, she had her second son and by the time she turned 30 she had complete vision loss, and at the age of 38 she had her third son. In 1996, she got involved with the California Council Of The Blind High Desert Chapter, she came into contact with other visually impaired people which led her to be proactive in the blind cause. She is now the president of the California Council Of The Blind High Desert Chapter and she is also the president of The Spring Valley Lake Lions Club. She is the Treasurer of the regional council on aging and also on the board of the Victor Valley Community Service Council. She is proud to be on the board of No Drugs America.
Frances Flowers
Board Memeber
Frances Flowers is retired from the San Bernardino County as a Site Supervisor for the Pre School-Services department of over 30 years. She has an AA Degree in Child Development and BS degree from La Verne university in Child Development. Children have always been her passion and working with them brings her joy. She has been an asset to No Drugs America as a Board of Directors Member for over 15 years. She believes in No Drugs America’s mission to stop drugs in our young people before they start. She spends her free time attending the senior citizen center and working with different community organizations in the High Desert.
Brittney Kennedy
Board Memeber
Brittney currently works as a Children’s Social Worker III for Los Angeles County, Department of Children and Family Services. She has an Associate’s Degree in Social Sciences from Chaffey College, Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from California State University of Fullerton, and Master’s Degree in Psychology from University of Phoenix.
She has worked with troubled youth within the Los Angeles County since 2014. She began her career as a Detention Services Officer at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar, CA. She was promoted to a Deputy Probation Officer I in 2015 at Challenger Juvenile Camp. She supervised youth in juvenile hall and camps and counseled them to improve their behaviors and, hopefully, change their ways once released. She changed careers in 2018 to become a children’s social worker. Her passion is to be able to assist families with gaining a safe and stable home environment, and to help keep children safe and encourage them to do well, which is what led her to DCFS.
She has been working with No Drugs America since 2000. She enjoys informing families of the risks and dangers of drug use to help prevent children from using drugs. Being informed and having ability to decline peer pressure, has kept her drug free.
Tiffany Kelly
Board Memeber
For the past seven years Tiffany has been a Deputy Probation Officer in the Los Angeles County district. She supervises the activities of minors who are detained in Camp McNair at Challenger Memorial Youth Center. Tiffany also serves as a member of a small team responsible for the order and security of a unit of juveniles, provide situational counseling as necessary, and transport minors to medical care facilities and other locations. Tiffany has experience in all aspects of customer service, face-to-face skills with interpersonal communication.
Education
National University, Master’s Degree in Human Behavior, graduated 2012
California State University of Fullerton, Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development, Minor in Human Services, graduated 2005
Victor Valley High School, graduated 2000
Awards Received
Who’s Who Among American High School Students, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000
Associated Student Body (Leadership) – 2000
Victor Valley High School ROP Information Processing – 2000
Betty Mack
Board Memeber
Betty Mack is a retired public school educator who worked over 30 years for the Los Angeles
Unified School District as a teacher and counselor. She has an earned BA and MA degree and
possesses a Standard Secondary Teaching Credential, a Pupil Personnel Service Credential
and an Adult Education credential.
Since retiring, she is actively working with youth through church ministry and the No Drugs
America Association, Inc. She believes that education is a powerful tool in shaping a better
future for youth and is eager to make a positive impact on young lives. Her favorite pastimes are
traveling and needlework.
Debra Harris
Board Memeber
Debra Harris is retired from the school system here in the High Desert after 16 years as a Special Needs Instructional Paraprofessional. She is currently a Medical Transcriptionist of 40-plus years and is blessed to perform this service from her own office. Debra is a Sunday School teacher, as well as student, at her church and works with adults and children. After many years of volunteering with No Drugs America Association, Inc., she was given the opportunity to chair one of the board positions. Debra is most grateful and excited to work with, and learn from, Mr. Kelly and NDA, while serving the community.
Carlin Trotter
Board Memeber
As a Program Management Analyst II for 13 years and a leader in management for over 10 years, Carlin Trotter managed an office of 4 workers which brought about a cohesiveness to Ducommun Technologies, Inc. Carlin Trotter joined the company in 1975 as a receptionist / clerk typist and with commitment and hard work advanced to Program Management Analyst II. Duties include liaison between customer and various company departments, manage programs to ensure compliance with technical, quality and delivery requirements, and prepare month-end reports.
Carlin Trotter received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She also received certificates from Ducommun Technologies for Management and Facilitator concepts.
She has also been involved for approximately 15 years with No Drugs America a non-profit organization which stems from the use and abuse of drugs by both adults and children.
Keep the wheels a turning, go sing karaoke.
Didra Brown
Board Memeber
Dr. Brown Taylor, Ph.D. has a BA and BS in Black Studies and Biology respectfully, from the University of the Pacific. She received graduate training in multicultural community-clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in Los Angeles and specializes in culturally appropr(tc research methodology for inclusion of African American and Latino participants. For more than 13 years, Dr. Brown Taylor has been a trailblazer in researching the relationships betweeu_ alcohol availability, advertising and consumption patterns and the negative consequences associated with malt liquor beer drinking. Her latest research focuses on
pruno/hooch producion and consumption by prison inmates, drug paraphernalia availability and sales in liquor outlets and African Americans involvment in Prop 36. She is currently a Visiting Research Psychologist at UCLA’s Integrated Substance Abuse programs. Dr. BrownTaylor is a National Institutes of Health- Health Disparities Research Scholar and has published many research articles and book chapters.
Our Staff
Frank Kelly
Founder/CEO
In 2000, Frank Kelly became the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of No Drugs America Association, Inc. He is Community Leader who has volunteered and worked in the field of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction with children ages 6 to 18, primarily focusing on youth of color. He also spends time educating adults of all ages.
Frank Kelly completed his studies at San Bernardino Valley College studying primary drug prevention strategies where he excelled. He has a Diploma from California Association of Addiction Recovery Resources, CAARR Institute for Social Model Studies for Alcohol and Drug Counseling. He is a Certified Drug Prevention Specialist from the Dug Free World Foundation.
He is the Creator of the “A Way Back Intervention Process, A Sensible Intervention Process Plan” for Harm Reduction, substance use and misuse for youth and adults with special focus people of color in the probation system. He is the Author of the prevention song “Say it Loud, I Need No Drugs affirmation rap song which encourages youth to stay in school!
Born in Mississippi, he has seen racial disparities and injustices up close and personal but continues to be optimistic that one day as Martin Luther King, Jr said hopefully we will be able to sit down at the table of brotherhood and join hands together and understand that we are in this life together as brothers and sisters. We are in this life help one another where we can!
Ramona Evey
Operations Manager
Born in Boston, Massachusetts and moved to Newbury Park, California in 1976. Graduate from California Lutheran University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and an MBA in Non Profit- Social Enterprise. Certified Grant Writer.
In May 2023, Ramona started working as the Evaluations Coordinator of No Drugs America. Before working at No Drugs America, she worked as a Program Manager at a pharmaceutical company for 20 years called Amgen, located in Thousand Oaks.
Ramona volunteers for the following organizations: Orenda Veterans Project, Susan G. Komen walk for breast cancer awareness, Girl Scouts of America, the Marfan Foundation, the Family Assistance Program, the Michael P. Nosco Foundation, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the American Diabetic Association and the Marine Corp League Detachment 1383.
Her hobbies include photography, scrapbooking, cooking, writing and reading. She also likes to participate in 5k, half marathons, triathlons, hiking, spending time with friends & family, traveling and going to the gym.
Curt Emick
Pharmacist
In 1956, Curt was born in San Gabriel, California, at age 7 he moved to Whittier, he graduated from Lowell High School in 1974 and shortly after he was accepted into the University of the Pacific.
In 1979, he graduated with his Doctorate of Pharmacy degree.
IN 1979, Curt went to work for Sav-on Drug Store until 1982, when he opened the Gemco Pharmacy in Victorville, as the pharmacy manager, and stayed until they closed in December 1986. The selling of Gemco (Lucky Stores) gave Curt the opportunity to purchase the pharmacy business from Gemco, and opened his first pharmacy named Park Centre Pharmacy. Curt than preceded to open his second pharmacy; Curt’s Mesa Pharmacy and then he opened his third pharmacy; Curt’s Good Neighbor Pharmacy. After 20 years of running his businesses, he sold them and went to work for Walgreen while serving on Mission trips to Russia. In July of 2007 he opened the Super Target in Apple Valley as the Executive Team Lead (pharmacy manager) where he worked until June 2013.
Curt is currently an independent contractor/ consultant and coordinates with the California State Board of Pharmacy to ensure that pharmacists and /or pharmacies that are on probation, are in compliance with California state guidelines. Curt also operates as a PIC, pharmacist-in-charge and provides vacation relief for independent pharmacies.
Curt is a strong advocate for the pharmacy profession and he has collaborated and consulted with Federal, State and Local officials with the difficulties that the pharmacies have to attack in today’s environment. Some of the associates he has worked side by side with are Senator Diane Feinstein, Congressman Jay Obernolte, past Assemblyman Thurston Smith, and many more. Curt has traveled throughout the state of California and Washington DC to educate the population on Drugs and Opiate issues. He has spoken to many organizations, including governing boards, City Councils, medical organizations, military organizations and many non-profits (too many to count). As part of his presentation, he introduces the threats and how drugs affect our communities and he continually examines new law changes to the drug/health sector and the consequences that follow.
In November of 2010, Curt was elected to the Town of Apple Valley Council for his first 4-year term and he continues serving his third term, having performed as Mayor twice,
Curt is a Commissioner to the Victor Valley Economic Development Authority (VVEDA)
Curt serves on the Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA) since December 2018 and has served as chair twice.
Curt is serving as a consultant for No Drugs America board and has been involved since 2019 to present- he works with juveniles up to 25 years and educates them on illegal drug use and the consequences.
Curt continues to collaborate with Law Enforcement organizations including Border Patrol Agents, Sheriffs and the DA’s office on the crisis of the drugs flowing across the border and into the US.
Curt formerly on the San Bernardino County Homeless Partnership Desert Regional Steering Committee Board
Curt continues to work and collaborate with AALM (American against legalizing Marijuana)
Curt was the organizer and help start the High Desert Intervention Action Coalition of Apple Valley
Curt is a graduate of Victorville Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership program.
He served on the Excelsior Education Center’s Executive Governing Board Member 2004-2007 and was president from 2006-2007.
Curt served on SBCTA (San Bernardino County Transportation Authority) Board of Directors
Curt served on SBCOG (San Bernardino Council of Governments) Board of Directors
Curt lives in Apple Valley with his wife Val and have 4 children and 11 grandchildren
IN 2022, Curt was recognized by the State Board of Pharmacy for over 40 years of service
Overdose Drug Prevention Coalition leader since March 1st 2024
Substances of Abuse Specialty Pharmacist Certificate
Earnestine Kelly
Administrative Coordinator
Earnestine Kelly is currently the Administrative Coordinator for “No Drugs America Organization.
She is professional and prides herself on being an ethical and fair-minded person. She is organized, efficient and hard-working, which makes her a fit for this position. She has thirty years of experience in the telecommunication Industries and a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
For the pass twenty years she has been on the board of directors for No Drugs America and has volunteered as the coordinator for community events. She believes in our motto “Drug Prevention is the Best Treatment”.
She continues to educate herself in the field of substance use prevention and has attended many classes on the subject with certificates. She is also certified as a “Drug Free World Educator Specialist”.
She enjoys traveling, exercising, and trying out new restaurants, spending time with family and attending church services.
Courtney Townsend
Youth Leader
Courtney is a 19-year-old college student majoring in Psychology while working on becoming a Licensed Cosmetologist.
Courtney started off as a board member in the Youth Advisory Board Meetings and was later Promoted to Youth Leader. In those meetings, she learned a lot about the different types of drugs and what they can do to your body besides just harming you.
Courtney enjoys doing nails, hanging out with family, and learning new things.
Matthew Sanchez
Contractor – IT Manager
Matt Sanchez, our IT technician has been contracted to work for No Drugs America. He has been instrumental in updating our new website, purchasing and upgrading all the computers and printers for the organization and for our staff. Matt is a creative thinker with over eight years experience in the IT field including Computer Management, Network Management, Web Design and Security Surveillance, with a strong work ethic. His hobbies include reading, crafting, tinkering with electronics and playing video games. Matt is a devoted father who loves spending time with his family and friends.