Meet Our Team

Megan Manigault Founder/Executive Director

Meet Megan Manigault, Founder/Executive Director, 6x Best-Selling
Author, International Speaker, Mentor, Sexual Violence/Self Awareness
Advocate. She is a Charleston native and has always been a forerunner,
paving the way for others and showing her love for her community by
sharing her talents and gifts.

In her teen years, Megan became a founding member of the Students Can
Really Use Bedside Skills (S.C.R.U.B.S.) – a mentoring program at Roper
St. Francis Healthcare. She continued to shine as a poet, being one of
the 1st students to participate in “Gear Up” – Gaining Early Awareness
and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs.

One of her poems (co-written with her mother) became the lyrics to a
song entitled “STV”, used during the “Stop the Violence” month. Megan
was the founding member of the “In the Spirit of Giving Fund” – a
program started at Garrett Academy for students and family members
experiencing traumatic life events.

As an actress with the “Charleston Street Vendors”, she performed in
plays and skits about the history of Charleston and its enslaved people.
These performances included the Mojo Arts Festival and the North
Charleston Arts Festival.

Megan graduated from Trident Technical College and theUniversity of
South Carolina, focusing on project management, healthcare, and
psychology. She has worked in the medical ?eld in various positions for
over fifteen years. Through her studies of science, human
culture/behavior, universe, and nature through the years Megan has
received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Philosophy focused on the study
of Metaphysics. She has spent countless hours volunteering at hospitals,
nursing homes, and various faith-based organizations. Megan has started
many outreach and mentor camps for girls.

As a survivor of childhood sexual violence and other traumatic
experiences, she founded I AM VOICES, Inc. in 2017- a non-for-pro?t
organization located in North Charleston, SC, and in 2018 her Lagos,
Nigeria chapter; wascreated to provide restorative care to women
at risk or victimized by sexual exploitation. In 2021, Megan opened the
first Blooming Flower Transitional Housing Program in the State of South
Carolina for women who have experienced sex trafficking, sexual
violence, aging out ofthe foster care system, in spring 2021
through self-funding and community donations. The program organized and
run by I AM VOICES, Inc. provides innovative, hands-on help with
housing, life skills, job placement, education, transportation, social
skills, financial literacy, therapy, education, job placement, and
positive contraceptives choices to women.

Her program, Your Voice, Your Unique Power in Lagos, Nigeria, created a
unique way for young children to learn social-emotional learning through
learning the power in their voice, body safety, and boundaries.

In 2022, Megan started mentoring with Lowcountry Youth Services; a
nonprofit that focuses on mentorship in a way that Every Child Wins. She
continues the support to that program. Megan is now the Program Director
and co-creator of Girls on the Rise youth development program, an
in-school initiative for women.

She is known to change the dynamics of a room with her transparent
talks, workshops, inspirational message, and love of people. Her
presentations are mentally stimulating and inspire you to TAKE POSITIVE
ACTION to change your thought process on life. She wants you to
creatively, authentically, and genuinely LOVE YOU enough to Bloom. Her
motto is “You had a purpose before folks had an opinion.” With a focus
on self-love, self-respect, and self-awareness, Megan has an amazing
drive to help humanity. Megan uses what she has learned as a survivor,
to help others develop their strategy to overcome mental obstacles. She
believes you must acknowledge where you’ve been to find where you are
and where you are going.” Megan has appeared on several radio and new
publications; even being a cover model for a few magazines; “of all my
rewards in business the biggest is seeing our participants bloom in
life, seeing them succeed and overcome the trauma they have faced is one
of the GREATEST gifts of all.”

Alesia Flores Board Chair

Alesia Rico Flores is passionate about empowering women to achieve their dreams and live their best lives. She is thrilled to be Board Chair of the I AM VOICES. Alesia embraces every opportunity to utilize her time and talents to positively impact the lives of others, especially young and vulnerable women, navigating their way through sometimes dangerous and exploitive situations.

Alesia Rico Flores is currently the South Carolina Director of Policy & Systems Change at Root & Rebound, a nonprofit, reentry advocacy organization. Her work focuses on transforming the criminal justice system in South Carolina, through policy reform, education, and direct representation of clients impacted by the criminal justice system.

Prior to joining Root & Rebound, Alesia served as the Administrative Judge for the City of Charleston Municipal Court in Charleston, South Carolina. She also has prior legal experience as a Prosecutor (including experience as a domestic violence prosecutor), Criminal Defense Attorney, and Immigration Attorney.

Alesia earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina. She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary and a Juris Doctor Degree from The University of Tulsa College of Law. Alesia is licensed to practice law in South Carolina and Florida. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with family.

Lt TirekaCerone Wright Board Member

Lieutenant Tireka Lynn Cerone is a certified police officer with the city of North Charleston Police Department for 14 years. She is a Summerville South Carolina native and graduated from Stratford High School. Lieutenant Cerone continued her education at Trident Technical College, and gained an associate degree in Criminal Justice, and graduated from Everest University with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. While being employed with the NCPD, she has been a part of the Narcotics Unit, Neighborhood Resource Officer Unit, STAND program, Gang Intervention Unit, andPatrol Division, and currently works in Internal Affairs. Lieutenant Cerone began her law enforcement career as a Correction Officer at the Charleston County Detention Center for four years. Lieutenant Cerone is an active youth advisor at Life Center ministry and is an ordained Minister. Lieutenant Cerone strives to bridge the gap between the community and Law Enforcement, to build a safer and strong community. She leads the Let’s Stand Together initiative, which brings together community churches and NCPD officers together in Prayer and Mediation four time a month. Lieutenant Cerone is also a member of RECAP (Rebuilding Every Community Around Peace). This group of church members and police officers walk together in crime-ridden neighborhoods, to gain relatability and to address the concerns in these communities. She also works with Juvenile Tours (Scared Straight Program) with the DJJ. Lieutenant Cerone works closely with the juvenile justice system to help decrease recidivism among juveniles placed on probation in the Charleston County justice system. Lieutenant Cerone believes that the work of I AM VOICES is needed in our community and has seen firsthand the change it has made in the restoration of women in South Carolina. Lieutenant Cerone is a firm believer in Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see good works, and glorify your Father, which is in heaven.

Crystal Brooks HR/Payroll Clerk-Board Secretary

I am Crystal Brooks, the Board Secretary for I AM VOICES 

I’m passionate about serving others, empowering women, and finding innovative ways to make systems align and run smoothly. My career experience includes 14 years as a Sr. Docket Clerk at the City of Charleston Municipal Court.  I trained the staff on how to run various court processes, create court forms, and calendars while handling the administrative responsibilities for weekly court sessions.  I was recognized by Mayor Joseph Riley for my contributions and service to the City of Charleston.

During my tenure at The City of Charleston Municipal Court, I witnessed first-hand how the lack of mental health resources has a detrimental effect on a person and how accessing mental health services can have a positive impact on an individual’s life.  

I believe in I AM VOICES, because I believe in empowering women to not only survive but thrive. I believe the resources I AM VOICES offers has and will continue to save many lives, by providing shelter, counseling, and other support to assist women with regaining control of their futures. As an abuse survivor myself, I realize the necessity of I Am Voices!  I Am Voices provides a safe place for women to heal and soar.