Our Mission, Vision & Leadership

Tiana Ray is a Prince George’s County, Maryland native who founded Heartfelt Heroes to reduce youth recidivism and expand opportunity pathways for youth across DC and PG County. She serves as the organization’s Executive Director and leads efforts to build structured prevention, mentorship, and workforce development initiatives designed to help youth develop positive pathways before deeper system involvement occurs.

With a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, concentration in Criminal Justice from Bowie State University and a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from The Catholic University of America, Tiana combines an understanding of social behavior, workforce strategy, and policy-informed leadership to design programs that prioritize measurable outcomes and long-term impact. She brings more than 14 years of federal service experience and is currently completing a Master’s degree in Paralegal Studies, further strengthening her work at the intersection of workforce development, legal systems, and justice reform.

For more than a decade, she has focused on supporting justice-impacted individuals and at-risk youth through mentorship, workforce development, and restorative justice initiatives. Her leadership centers on accountability, measurable impact, and building structured systems that connect youth to mentorship and opportunity.