Board of Directors

Leonard Clark, Sr., CADC II

Founder/Managing Director, RISK Reaching in Serving Kids & Families, LLC. Leonard is a Portland native serving at-risk communities providing multi-cultural substance use disorder treatment, counseling, referral to community resources and family service coordination. Leonard has been a MHACBO certified addiction counselor since 2006.

Debbie Elliott, PhD

Debi has been a human services researcher at Portland State University’s Regional Research Institute for Human Services since 1992. In 2018, she also joined the Research and Planning unit of Multnomah County Department of Community Justice to focus her research in the criminal and juvenile justice fields. She has implemented local, regional and national research and evaluation projects in the areas of substance abuse recovery and treatment, child and adult mental health services, juvenile and criminal justice, victims of crime, housing and homelessness, school-based programs and child welfare. A number of those projects have been focused on supporting the African American recovery community in Portland. She has expertise in grant writing and securing funding from local, state and federal agencies. She has also served on PSU’s Human Subjects Research Review Committee that oversees the ethical conduct of research throughout the University, serving as an expert on issues related to research with children. Debi received her Doctorate in Clinical Child Psychology from Ohio State University in 1994 and her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Washington in 1982. On a more personal note, Debi has been a friend of The Miracles Club for many years and passionately believes in the work that is done here.

Yondella Hall, QMHA I

Yondella is a native of Portland, Oregon she grew up in NE Portland where her grandmother’s home still stands not too far from The Miracles Club. She did not set her sights out to grow up to become a member of the club however, the fact remains she is forever grateful to The Miracles Club. Yondella has been a part of The Miracles Club for over 20 years. She has experienced a full spectrum of feelings and events as a result of being a member and/or at the club. It has been the place to relieve stress, positive clean fun, gain personal support and also over come multiple challenges. She was able to change the narrative of her family and expectation for her own children by becoming a first time home owner. The Miracles Club was a safe haven for Yondella and her children early in her recovery, when she surrendered and wanted help. There were role models that paved the way and showed her, she too could find freedom and live drug free on a daily basis. Yondella is elated to be able to be of service to the community. “My heart smiles just being of service to an organization that provided space and opportunity for the seed of recovery to be planted into me.” Yondella holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Portland State University in Criminology, and Certifications as a Community Health Worker, Qualified Mental Health Associate, and a Domestic Violence Advocate. The services she provides benefit the family dynamic as a whole. For the past 14 years she has steadfastly worked with families through the lens of prevention services at Lifeworks NW. In addition to being employed full time Yondella spent 10 years as a Therapeutic Foster Parent providing services in her home to teens and some sibling pairs. She still maintains a room in her home for the opportunity for emergency placement or respite to mothers in the community if needed. Yondella proudly states “If I was to give a person anything it would be the gift of laughter, the ability to literally laugh out loud thru sound, play and work. She cannot describe in mere words just how important The Miracles Club has been in setting a strong foundation for her continuous long-time recovery.

Mick McPartland

Mick was a certified addictions counselor for over a decade and is now retired. Mick has a long history as a member of Portland's recovery community and member of the Miracles Club.

Denis Thompson

Denis is a native of Chicago Illinois, he relocated to the Northwest in 1994. He returned home to Chicago and would eventually return to the Pacific Northwest, where he attended Clark College and earned his associate degree in Addiction Education Program. Denis enrolled in Warner Pacific University to work towards a bachelor’s degree and later transferred to WSU. He began his counseling career at The Right Choice Treatment Center in Vancouver, WA. Because of his personal struggles he made a “ten-year commitment” to himself, to serve others who suffered from substance abuse issues. He would spend the next 11 years working as a CADC-II, QMHA, working at DePaul Treatment Centers, VOA Treatment Center and Central City Concerns. Denis says these last 17 years in recovery have been the best years of his adult life.

Charnae Bailey

Charnae, born and raised in Los Angeles, California, brings a well-established background in social work and counseling for many years.

She is now retired and holds a master’s degree in education psychology and counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), from California State University, Northridge (CSUN), a Bachelor’s Degree, in Sociology, from University of California, Santa Barbara and Certificate (Post-Graduate) in Gerontology and Board-Certified Behavior Analysis (BCBA), from (CSUN).

As a former Social Worker, Charnae worked as an investigator and case manager for the County of Riverside, Children Services. She provided support, therapy, and advocacy to vulnerable individuals, families, and communities and helped to improve healthcare and social services for all. Charnae also served as a counselor. Throughout her 10 years as a MFT she brought healing to victims of trauma, violence, and grief.

For 15 years she served as a Financial Aid Counselor, her major focus was working with culturally diverse communities with an emphasis on the African American Community. Charnae provided specialized support and guidance to families and students in need.

Throughout her career she has worked with various populations including domestic and sexual violence, child abuse and neglect, foster care, preventative services, and geriatric populations.

She embraces the core values of integrity, innovation, education and growth. Her motto is Good, Better, Best, Never Let it Rest until Your Good is Better and Your Better Is Best (unknown).

These experiences have equipped Charnae with a deep understanding for the unique needs and challenges faced by each group. Charnae is excited to be a part of the great work and positive social change the Miracles Club is making.