Governance

Jerry V. Davis is the founder, CEO, and Executive Director of Making It Better (MIB). Mr. Davis is responsible for setting the vision and direction of the organization; interfacing with MIB Board of Directors; directing strategic planning for expansion; developing relationships within the corporate and foundation communities in order to secure both financial and volunteer support for events and programs; and hiring of leadership team.

Mr. Davis received his Bachelor of Arts from Washington College, his Teacher's Certification from the University of St. Thomas, and a Masters of Education from Prairie View A&M. Davis taught at both Yates and Westside high schools, teaching special education and coaching lacrosse and basketball. From 2001 to 2003 he was the Dean of Students at Westside as well as Head Men's Lacrosse Coach from 2001-2005. Mr. Davis is currently also co-proprietor of the breakfast klub and The Reggae Hut.

Davis is a member of the Leadership Houston Class of 2012 and serves on the board of the Houston Housing Resource. The vision behind Making It Better stems from Davis' desire to address the severe disadvantages faced by low income families in the Houston area.

My two brothers and I grew up in an area that wasn't the best. Yet while we were leading healthy, successful lives, many other young people in our neighborhood were having problems. What was the difference in our lives and theirs . . . why did we make it when they didn't? We were surrounded by a family of educators and successful adults while other kids in our area were not. This became the driving force behind the vision and creation of Making It Better . . . providing helpful and positive adult influences in children's lives in hopes that it would turn their lives around.

It's unimaginable to know that one out of three African American males and one out of six Hispanic males will be incarcerated at some time in their life and not try to do something about it! At Making It Better we want to get these children off the track to prison and break the cycle of poverty. It's such a huge drain on our community, but it's also about just being a human being and giving our kids a chance.