Built by a community that believes in its young people

Vice Chair

Sparkles Farrar-Gordon

Sparkles Farrar-Gordon serves as the Vice Chair of CARE, bringing more than two decades of leadership, public service, and community engagement experience to the organization. As a Sergeant with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office and the current supervisor of the agency’s Community Engagement Division, she has dedicated her career to building meaningful relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

A Charlotte native and graduate of West Charlotte High School, Sparkles earned her Bachelor of Business degree, graduating Cum Laude from Montreat College. Throughout her 20-year career with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, she has served in multiple divisions while consistently demonstrating a passion for leadership, mentorship, and service.

As Vice Chair of CARE, Sparkles plays a vital role in helping shape the organization’s strategic direction and community impact. Her extensive experience leading youth mentorship initiatives, coordinating community outreach programs, organizing food and clothing drives, supporting homeless populations, developing community gardens, and fostering partnerships aligns seamlessly with CARE’s mission to Connect, Advocate, Respond, and Empower young people and families.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Sparkles has devoted countless hours to volunteer service with organizations such as Right Moves for Youth, Elevation Church, and nonprofit boards including Peace 4 Poverty, Beds 4 Kids, and the ESCAPE Foundation. Her commitment to strengthening communities through collaboration and compassionate leadership makes her an invaluable asset to CARE’s Board of Directors.

Outside of community service, Sparkles is an accomplished entrepreneur and culinary professional. As the owner of Sugar & Sparkles, a full-service baking, catering, and event planning company, she has earned statewide and national recognition, including being named the 2023 Dessert Wars North Carolina Champion and achieving a Top 13 national ranking. Her entrepreneurial success reflects the creativity, discipline, and excellence she brings to every endeavor.

Through her leadership, vision, and unwavering dedication to serving others, Sparkles Farrar-Gordon embodies CARE’s commitment to creating lasting change by empowering individuals, strengthening families, and transforming communities.

Executive Director

Whitney Anderson, Ed.S.

Whitney Anderson, Ed.S., is an Assistant Principal with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and a seasoned educational leader committed to advancing student achievement, instructional excellence, and continuous school improvement. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to fostering success for both students and staff, serving in a variety of leadership and instructional roles within CMS, including Instructional Assistant, Teacher, Teacher Leader, Academic Facilitator, and Dean of Students.

Ms. Anderson is an accomplished educator and scholar, holding degrees from Fayetteville State University, Grand Canyon University, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She earned her undergraduate degree in Birth-Kindergarten Education, with a minor in Health, graduating as Valedictorian of her class. She later obtained a Master of Education in Elementary Education and an Add-On Licensure in School Administration. In 2023, she earned an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in K-12 Leadership, further enhancing her expertise in educational leadership and organizational effectiveness.

Drawing on extensive experience in instructional leadership, teacher development, and school operations, Ms. Anderson brings a wealth of knowledge and strategic insight to CARE. Her professional expertise strengthens the organization’s capacity to develop and implement programs that promote academic achievement, positive youth development, and meaningful partnerships among schools, families, and communities.

Secretary

Shana Webber

Shana Webber is a dedicated public servant and passionate youth advocate who serves as Secretary for CARE (Connect • Advocate • Respond • Empower). With a heart for service and a deep commitment to strengthening families and communities, she plays an integral role in supporting the organization’s mission of empowering young people through mentorship, leadership development, education, and community engagement.

As Secretary, Shana ensures the organization maintains strong governance, accurate records, and effective communication while helping guide CARE’s strategic initiatives. Her attention to detail, professionalism, and collaborative leadership help keep the organization focused on delivering meaningful programs that create lasting change in the lives of youth.

Shana has built her career around serving others and believes that every child deserves positive role models, access to opportunities, and a supportive community that encourages growth and success. Her dedication to youth advocacy is reflected in her work to help develop programs that inspire confidence, build character, strengthen leadership skills, and prepare young people to become productive citizens.

She is passionate about creating partnerships that bridge the gap between law enforcement, educators, families, businesses, and community organizations. Through her leadership, CARE continues to expand its impact by fostering relationships built on trust, accountability, and service.

Known for her compassion, integrity, and unwavering commitment to others, Shana Webber exemplifies CARE’s core values of connection, advocacy, responsiveness, and empowerment. She remains committed to helping build stronger communities by investing in the next generation of leaders and ensuring every young person has the support and encouragement needed to reach their full potential.

Communications Director

Tamika Major

As the Communications Director for CARE (Connect • Advocate • Respond • Empower), Tamika Major brings invaluable expertise in organizational leadership, strategic planning, operational excellence, and community collaboration. With more than 15 years of experience in public safety administration and executive leadership, she is recognized for her ability to strengthen organizational communication, build strategic partnerships, and lead initiatives that create meaningful community impact.

In her role as Communications Director, Tamika is responsible for shaping and advancing CARE's communications strategy, ensuring the organization's mission, vision, and impact are effectively shared with youth, families, community partners, sponsors, and stakeholders. Her extensive background in public safety administration, combined with her passion for building stronger communities, positions her to help guide CARE's mission of empowering youth, strengthening families, and creating sustainable opportunities through mentorship, education, leadership development, and community partnerships.

Tamika's experience managing high-impact initiatives, leading cross-functional teams, and implementing measurable improvements makes her a tremendous asset to CARE as the organization expands its programs and community impact. She offers the strategic insight, administrative excellence, and servant leadership necessary to help CARE continue fulfilling its vision of transforming lives and building stronger communities through intentional service. Her expertise in communication, project management, and community engagement helps ensure CARE remains a trusted voice and catalyst for positive change.