Today we’d like to introduce you to Jana Stokes.
Hi jana, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hi Jana, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Ryan’s Gifts of Advocacy, Inc: Giving a voice to the voiceless
As a mother, educator, and relentless advocate, Ryan’s Gifts of Advocacy was created when the founder, Jana Stokes, had a forum at the Buckhead Library. A mother of four asked for advocacy. The mother drove from Gwinnett to Buckhead to meet her and explained that in New York, she had a state advocate. This young mother said she did not understand the terminology and acronyms the school utilizes. On this day, Ryan’s Gifts of Advocacy was created. The founder, Jana Stokes, has dedicated her life to ensuring that every child, particularly those with special needs and homelessness, receives the education and support they deserve. Due to Jana not being able to find services for her daughter, who was a premature infant, she knew that these parents needed early services, not at age three, when the Department of Education starts, but at birth. Her journey from a concerned mother of a preemie to a fierce advocate for children’s educational rights is both inspiring and transformative. This is how “Ryan’s Gifts of Advocacy, Inc.” was born.
A Life-Changing Experience
Jana’s advocacy began in the most personal of ways. At just 26 weeks of gestation, she gave birth to a baby girl who weighed only 1lb 9oz. Despite the odds, her daughter survived but faced numerous challenges, including several intestinal surgeries that contributed to developmental delays. With every milestone, Jana’s determination grew. After lots of research, she learned that only 50% of students complete high school, foster children have a higher PTSD rate than people in the military, and homeless mothers have a higher for developmental delays. She found herself learning every aspect of childhood development, not just special education, but also homeless children’s rights. “To supply homeless college students with dormitory supplies and student services was so impactful.”
Being Born In Selma, Alabama
Civil rights is deeply rooted in her family. Coming from a lineage of educators and civil rights leaders, I understood the significance of standing up for what’s right. It wasn’t just about fighting for my daughter—it was about fighting for all children, especially those whose voices often go unheard.
“Growing up, I saw my family use education as a tool for change,” and “When you come from a background like that, you realize that the purpose of education isn’t just to teach facts—it’s to empower people and create a more equitable society.”
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Expanding the Advocacy
What began as a fight for my daughter’s education and the education of children in group homes soon blossomed into a broader advocacy effort. My work in special education expanded into business advocacy, where I worked to create both for-profit and non-profit organizations that focus on providing support to foster children and homeless children with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and 504 plans. Through her advocacy, I addressed key issues such as homelessness, special education rights, and the need for stronger school-parent partnerships.
“I’ve learned that just one person can make a difference in a child’s life,” Jana says. “Parents with children with special needs need to be informed (in-service/informative), children need to be educated or supported (therapy).”
Strategies for Parent Advocacy
My advocacy isn’t just about speaking at school board meetings or pushing for policy changes. She also believes in empowering parents to take charge of their children’s education, helping them become informed and active participants in their child’s educational journey.
“Parents are the best advocates for their children,” I always say. “The first step is identifying the family structure. That means familiarizing yourself with laws like IDEA and McKinney-Vento, building relationships with school staff, and even connecting with group homes and shelters, churches/mosques/temples/synagogues, politicians, or school administrators who can help drive change.”
Advocacy also emphasizes the importance of building networks with other businesses, colleges/universities, and parents, forming alliances that can support each other’s advocacy efforts. And just as importantly, Jana encourages parents to help their children become their own advocates. “Self-advocacy permits individuals to govern their lives, leading to greater independence, buoyancy, and triumph in personal and professional settings”.
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Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Ryan’s Gifts of Advocacy’s journey was created when my daughter almost died three times from a premature birth and Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) from a worried mother to a homeless advocate is a testament to the power of special education advocacy in education. This nonprofit is a testament that early intervention, along with having a voice, can increase the graduation rate can increase ensuring that children, especially those with mental health disorders and special needs, receive the best education possible. Through education, advocacy, and collaboration, Jana is making an indelible mark on the world of education, one child and family at a time.
As she continues to fight for systemic change, her message remains clear: Volunteers are the essential advocates in shaping a better future for our children.
Teaching in a homeless community was not easy. I learned that they had no voice and very few mental health and educational services. I need more grants to give more services at homeless shelters to homeless families, and funding for transitioning students from high school to post-secondary education. Students do not only need an IEP or 504 plan, but they also need McKinney-Vento Act Advocacy or homeless. Transitioning to a nonprofit executive director from an LLC was definitely a transition. I had to learn how to fundraise, recruit board members, and solicit funding.
This nonprofit is named after my daughter and is the only nonprofit in America with these bylaws. I give a voice to the voiceless. This nonprofit advocates from birth to early adulthood. College students often exit high school with no
I have taken many risk standing advocating for homeless and foster children with a sign beside the road or going viral at a board meeting. I have advocated in all over Georgia and surrounding states for college students. College advocacy was not my initial, but I learned with a student losing both parents that it was needed.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
The executive director suggests that when starting a one-of-a-kind nonprofit—one that fills a unique gap or introduces a fresh approach—it takes research, vision, and strategic planning. My two loves were the homeless and disabled, to create an impact.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ryansgifts.com/
- Instagram: ryans_gifts
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyansGiftofAdvocacy
- Youtube: @ryansGifts
- Other: www.tiktok.com/@ryansgifts
