I Am 1112

About the Organization

Organization category

Public Charity

Country / State

United States / California

Mission

Our mission is to create safe spaces where individuals rediscover their true essence. Through healing, community, and career support, we inspire our community to listen to the 'I AM' inner voice, empowering every person to build a life that feels whole and authentic.

I AM 1112 is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has spent nine years building community trust, relationships, and workforce infrastructure required to address low to moderate income (LMI) areas in South LA. Our name carries intentional meaning: 11 represents "awakening", 12 represents "growth”, together declaring: 'I AM awakening growth.'

Programs or services

Since 2017, I AM 1112 has served Florence-Firestone and West Athens/Westmont through 17 evidence-informed programs, anchored by Project: Financial Literacy, recurring workshops and symposiums building budgeting, credit repair, and asset-building skills, and Project: Fatherhood/Brotherhood, mentoring men and boys alongside reentry services for formerly incarcerated individuals.

These programs advance economic opportunity and sustainability in a majority Black and Latino, 87% low-to-moderate income community, equipping residents with the financial literacy and workforce readiness tools to build lasting stability.

Detailed programs

I AM Birthing Support Circle (IABSC) — Pre-Launch
I AM 1112's flagship perinatal care program, offering community-based doula support, prenatal education, and postpartum care to Medi-Cal-enrolled birthing families in South Los Angeles. Currently in pre-launch with a 50-family pilot cohort model, dedicated clinical leadership, and managed care reimbursement partnerships in place. The organization is actively securing capital to launch funds.

Facility Acquisition Initiative
I AM 1112 is pursuing acquisition of a permanent commercial site in the Florence-Firestone or West Athens/Westmont corridor to house IABSC and its clinical operations, supported by pending applications to public and private capital sources.

Target Audience

I AM 1112 primarily serves low-income birthing families and residents in the Florence-Firestone and West Athens/Westmont corridors of South Los Angeles — majority Black and Latino communities within LA County Service Planning Area 6 and Supervisorial District 2.

Geographic Focus

United States, California (USA), Los Angeles County (CA), Carson (CA), Compton (CA), Huntington Park (CA), Inglewood (CA), Long Beach (CA), Los Angeles (CA), Lynwood (CA)

Current projects

Alongside its maternal health work, I AM 1112 continues to operate its established community programs on a recurring annual basis: Project: Feed 1000 (food assistance), Project: Refresh the Homeless (hygiene distribution), Project: 111 (school readiness), Project: Financial Literacy (economic empowerment), Project: I AM Woman (wellness and empowerment), and Project: Fatherhood/Brotherhood (mentorship and reentry support), serving low-income families across Florence-Firestone and West Athens/Westmont.

Organization goals

Short-Term Objectives

• Launch I AM Birthing Support Circle (IABSC), starting with a 50-family pilot cohort of community-based doula, prenatal, and postpartum support
• Secure launch capital through grant and CDFI loan funding to fully operationalize the perinatal care model
• Establish billing and reimbursement operations under Medi-Cal/SB 65 through existing partnerships with Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, and L.A. Care
• Sustain and grow the organization's six recurring community programs serving families across Florence-Firestone and West Athens/Westmont
Long-Term Objectives
• Scale IABSC beyond the pilot cohort to serve the full population of Medi-Cal-enrolled birthing families across South LA's Supervisorial District 2
• Acquire a permanent commercial facility in the Florence-Firestone or West Athens/Westmont corridor to anchor clinical operations and program delivery
• Build a diversified, sustainable revenue model combining Medi-Cal billing, institutional grants, and community investment funding
• Measurably reduce Black and Latina maternal and infant mortality rates within the organization's service area
• Deepen I AM 1112's role as a holistic community anchor institution in South Los Angeles

Leadership

Executive Team
Rhonda Gregory Brent — Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Co-Founder. Over four decades of public sector experience and 16 years as a financial professional. Leads organizational strategy, funder relationships, and program development.
Ricsyhelle Davis — Chief Visionary Officer (CVO) & Co-Founder.
Qiana Hawkins — Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
Athena Weiland — Chief Operating Officer (COO) / Director of Doula Operations.
Maya Brent, PA-C — Clinical Director. Medi-Cal enrolled; oversees IABSC clinical operations and managed care billing integration. Maya Brent is the daughter of CEO Rhonda Gregory Brent; this related-party relationship is disclosed on file and governed by the organization's related-party policy.
Leonard Davis — Chief Information Officer (CIO). Leonard Davis is the spouse of CVO & Co-Founder Ricsyhelle Davis; this related-party relationship is disclosed on file and governed by the organization's related-party policy.
Norman Feazell — Chief Media Officer (CMO), Executive Program Developer
Madelyn Espiritu — Chief Commercial Officer (CCO).
Gina Muro, LMFT — Clinical Supervisor (CW). W-2 employee providing mental health and psychosocial support supervision, billing under the organization's NPI.
Pier Matthews — Community Outreach (CO).

Strategic priorities

1. Launch and Stabilize I AM Birthing Support Circle (IABSC)
Bring the flagship perinatal care program from pre-launch to full operation, starting with a 50-family pilot cohort, and establishing sustainable Medi-Cal/SB 65 billing operations through existing managed care partnerships with Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, and L.A. Care.

2. Secure Diversified Capital for Growth
Build a funding base that combines institutional grants, CDFI loans, managed care reimbursement, and community investment, reducing reliance on any single funding source and positioning IABSC for long-term sustainability beyond the pilot phase.

3. Establish a Permanent Community Facility
Acquire and build out a commercial site in the Florence-Firestone or West Athens/Westmont corridor to anchor clinical operations, house program staff, and serve as a visible, accessible home base for the community I AM 1112 serves.

4. Advance Maternal Health Equity in South LA
Directly address elevated Black and Latina maternal and infant mortality rates in LA County's Service Planning Area 6 through culturally congruent, community-based doula care and continuity of support from pregnancy through postpartum.

5. Sustain and Strengthen the Community Programs Portfolio
Continue delivering I AM 1112's six established community programs; food assistance, hygiene distribution, youth school readiness, financial literacy, women's wellness, and fatherhood/reentry mentorship, as a holistic foundation of support alongside the organization's maternal health work.

6. Deepen Strategic Partnerships and Visibility
Grow relationships with funders, elected officials, media, and mission-aligned organizations to expand I AM 1112's reach, credibility, and capacity to serve South Los Angeles families.

Organizational capacity

I AM 1112 has built organizational infrastructure to deliver both its established community programs and its expanding maternal health work:

Staffing & Leadership
The organization is led by a defined executive team spanning strategy, operations, finance, clinical care, and communications: CEO & Co-Founder Rhonda Gregory Brent, CVO & Co-Founder Ricsyhelle Davis, CFO Qiana Hawkins, COO/Director of Doula Operations Athena Weiland, CIO Leonard Davis, Chief Media Officer Norman Feazell, and Chief Commercial Officer Madelyn Espiritu. Clinical capacity is anchored by Clinical Director Maya Brent, PA-C, and Clinical Supervisor Gina Muro, LMFT, a W-2 employee billing under the organization's NPI, ensuring IABSC launches with licensed clinical oversight already in place rather than needing to build it from scratch.

Governance & Financial Systems
A four-member Board of Directors conducts quarterly financial reviews, and the organization operates under dual-approval financial controls (CEO and CFO), a formal related-party disclosure policy, and written financial policies, procedures, and systems designed to scale alongside anticipated revenue growth from Medi-Cal billing.

Clinical & Billing Infrastructure
I AM 1112 has secured managed care reimbursement partnerships with Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, and L.A. Care, with Medi-Cal billing eligibility established under California's SB 65 doula benefit meaning the administrative and payer infrastructure for IABSC is already operational, not aspirational, ahead of the program's pilot launch.

Program Delivery Track Record
Nine years of consistent program delivery (2017–present) across six community programs demonstrates operational capacity to plan, staff, and execute recurring community events from large-scale distributions (Project: Feed 1000, Project: Refresh the Homeless) to structured programming (Project: Financial Literacy, Project: I AM Woman, Project: Fatherhood/Brotherhood) without the benefit of a large operating budget.

Facility & Expansion Capacity
I AM 1112 is pursuing acquisition of a dedicated commercial facility in Florence-Firestone or West Athens/Westmont to house clinical operations and staff as IABSC scales with Genesis LA providing real estate technical assistance to support this transition from home-based/distributed operations to a permanent, community-anchored site.

Workforce Growth Plan
As IABSC launches, I AM 1112 plans to expand its team with certified doulas (a requirement for all incoming doula staff) and to transition bookkeeping/reconciliation responsibilities from the CEO to the CFO, reflecting a deliberate plan to professionalize financial operations as the organization scales.

Funding Needs

Grant categories you're seeking

Awards, BIPOC, Capital Funding, Children, Community and Economic Development, Community Services, Disabilities, Disaster Relief, Domestic Violence, Education, Health and Medical, Homeless, In-Kind Support, Individual, Justice and Juvenile Justice, Mental Health, Nutrition and Food, Quality of Life, Research and Evaluation, Social Justice, Students, Substance Abuse, Women, Women-Owned Startups and Businesses, Workforce, Youth and At-Risk Youth

Funding needs

I AM Birthing Support Circle (IABSC) Program Launch — $150,000–$250,000

Funding to launch I AM 1112's flagship perinatal care program, supporting a 50-family pilot cohort of community-based doula services, prenatal education, and postpartum care. Includes staffing, clinical supervision, doula training and compensation, and program infrastructure needed to bring the pilot to full operation.

Facility Acquisition — Up to $1,340,000
Funding to acquire a 3,000–6,000 SF commercial property in the Florence-Firestone or West Athens/Westmont corridor to serve as a permanent home for IABSC and clinical operations.

Tenant Improvement / Buildout — $150,000–$450,000
Separate funding to renovate and equip an acquired facility for clinical and program use, including buildout costs not covered by acquisition-specific funding sources.

General Operating Support
Funding to sustain I AM 1112's six ongoing community programs; food assistance, hygiene distribution, youth school readiness, financial literacy, women's wellness, and fatherhood/reentry mentorship, which operate on recurring annual cycles across Florence-Firestone and West Athens/Westmont.

Impact & Recognition

Outcomes and impact

Nine Years of Consistent Community Impact
Since its founding in 2017, I AM 1112 has translated its mission into measurable, on-the-ground outcomes across South Los Angeles:

• 1,700+ families fed through Project: Feed 1000
• 3,200+ hygiene products distributed to unhoused individuals through Project: Refresh the Homeless
• 400 backpacks and 5,600+ school supplies distributed annually to local youth through Project: 111
• Recurring financial literacy workshops building economic empowerment skills among community residents
• Annual healing-centered conferences through Project: I AM Woman, supporting wellness and empowerment for women
• Ongoing mentorship and reentry support through Project: Fatherhood/Brotherhood for men, boys, and formerly incarcerated individuals returning to the community

This track record demonstrates sustained organizational capability and community trust, achieved without the operating budget larger organizations typically rely on.
Emerging Impact: I AM Birthing Support Circle (IABSC)
IABSC is currently in pre-launch, with a 50-family pilot cohort designed to measure clinical and programmatic outcomes once operational. Because this flagship maternal health program has not yet launched, I AM 1112 does not yet have clinical outcome data (e.g., birth outcomes, reduction in preterm births, maternal satisfaction scores) to report but the pilot is intentionally structured to generate this evidence, with dedicated clinical oversight (Clinical Director and Clinical Supervisor) in place to track outcomes from day one. This data will directly demonstrate IABSC's impact on reducing Black and Latina maternal and infant mortality in Florence-Firestone and West Athens/Westmont and will inform the organization's plan to scale beyond the pilot.

The Change I AM 1112 Creates
Across all of its programs, I AM 1112's impact is measured not just in units distributed but in stability restored, families who don't go hungry, unhoused neighbors met with dignity in the coldest months, children who start the school year prepared, women and men supported through healing and reentry, and, soon, mothers and babies supported through one of the most vulnerable periods of life with culturally congruent, trusted care.

Success stories

November 2025 — Project: Refresh the Homeless / Project: Feed 1000

In November 2025, I AM 1112 brought together Project: Refresh the Homeless and Project: Feed 1000 for a joint distribution event on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles, reaching individuals and families as brutal winter conditions set in. Volunteers distributed over 500 coats, hats, scarves, gloves, socks, mylar blankets, hygiene kits, and hot meals, meeting both the immediate warmth and nutrition needs of the unhoused community in a single day of outreach.

One recipient, a mother who had been unsure how she would feed and keep her children warm through the winter, was moved to tears. Through them, she told our team:
"You all are a God send... may God continue to bless your organization so that you can help more people in need."
Her words capture the heart of I AM 1112's work: meeting people exactly where they are, in the moment they need it most, with dignity and compassion, one family, one coat, one meal at a time.

Since 2017, I AM 1112 has translated its mission into measurable community impact: over 1,700 families fed through Project: Feed 1000, 3,200+ hygiene products distributed to unhoused individuals through Project: Refresh the Homeless, and 400 backpacks and 5,600+ school supplies distributed annually to local youth through Project: 111. The organization has also convened women through Project: I AM Woman's centered conferences and supported formerly incarcerated individuals through Project: Fatherhood/Brotherhood's mentorship and reentry programming, building a track record of direct, hands-on community support across Florence-Firestone and West Athens/Westmont well before its flagship maternal health program even launches.

Organization achievements

• 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Status: I AM 1112 has operated as a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization since its founding in 2017, filing annually via Form 990-N.
• City of Inglewood Champions Grant Recipient (2023): Selected as a Champions Grant recipient by the City of Inglewood, recognizing the organization's community contributions.
• Nine Years of Sustained Community Service: Since 2017, I AM 1112 has continuously operated and grown its programming despite operating without a large budget, expanding to 7 active programs and initiatives.
• DONA-Certified Clinical Leadership: Athena Weiland, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Doula Operations, is a DONA International Certified Doula. All doulas joining I AM Birthing Support Circle (IABSC) will be required to hold certifications, ensuring services meet a nationally recognized standard of trained, professional doula care.
• Managed Care Partnerships Secured: Established formal reimbursement partnerships with Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, and L.A. Care, positioning IABSC for Medi-Cal billing eligibility under California's SB 65 doula benefit, a significant institutional milestone ahead of program launch.
• Board and Advisory Affiliations: Leadership maintains a relationship with The Change Company, reflecting the organization's standing and network within broader diversity, equity, and community finance spaces.
• Diverse Corporate and Institutional Support: Earned funding and sponsorship support from a range of institutional partners, including Mechanics Bank, First Republic Bank, T-Mobile, Spectrum, and LA County (Office of Supervisor Holly Mitchell), reflecting cross-sector confidence in the organization's mission.

Major funders

City of Inglewood (Champions Grnt)

Partnerships & Collaborations

Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, and L.A. Care — Managed care partners enabling Medi-Cal/SB 65 doula reimbursement for IABSC

Genesis LA — Real estate technical assistance partner supporting I AM 1112's facility acquisition initiative

Soft Yet Strong — Program/community partner

City of Inglewood — Municipal partner and funder (Champions Grant)

City of Los Angeles — Municipal partner

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) - Vendor

KJLH and KBLA — Media partners support community awareness and outreach

Mechanics Bank, First Republic Bank, T-Mobile, and Spectrum — Corporate sponsors supporting program funding

Sustainability, dissemination & replicability

Sustainability
I AM 1112 has built its flagship I AM Birthing Support Circle (IABSC) program around a diversified, insurance-integrated revenue model rather than one dependent solely on grant funding. Managed care reimbursement partnerships with Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, and L.A. Care under California's SB 65 doula benefit allow IABSC services to be billed directly through clients' existing Medi-Cal coverage, creating a recurring revenue stream that scales with the population served. This structure is designed to reduce long-term reliance on philanthropic funding, positioning IABSC to sustain itself financially once past the initial pilot and launch phase. The organization's six community programs, in operation since 2017, have similarly sustained themselves through a combination of grants, corporate and individual donations, and founder-level contributions when necessary, demonstrating nearly a decade of organizational resilience even without a large operating budget.

Dissemination
I AM 1112 shares program outcomes and lessons learned with funders, partners, and the community through regular reporting, board-level quarterly review, and public-facing materials such as its GrantWatch profile and organizational prospectus. As IABSC moves through its pilot cohort phase, the organization intends to track and share clinical and operational outcomes — informed by its Clinical Director and Clinical Supervisor's oversight, to demonstrate the program's impact on maternal and infant health outcomes in Florence-Firestone and West Athens/Westmont, and to inform the broader field of community-based perinatal care.

Replicability
IABSC is designed as a replicable clinical infrastructure model: a community-based doula program built on standardized clinical oversight (Clinical Director and Clinical Supervisor roles), managed care billing integration under SB 65, and a defined pilot-to-scale cohort structure. This model is intended to demonstrate proof of concept in its initial 50-family pilot, with a built-in success trigger for expansion, allowing I AM 1112 to replicate the program in additional corridors of South LA or, longer-term, serve as a template other community-based organizations or managed care partners could adapt in different regions facing similar maternal health disparities.

Internal checks & balances to prevent fraud

I AM 1112 maintains dual-approval financial oversight, with Rhonda Gregory Brent, CEO, and Qiana Hawkins, CFO, now serving as approvers for organizational expenditures, ensuring no single individual controls financial decision-making from initiation through approval.

The Board of Directors conducts quarterly financial reviews, providing independent oversight of organizational finances outside of day-to-day management. I AM 1112 maintains a formal related-party disclosure policy, under which existing family relationships among staff (Clinical Director Maya Brent and CEO Rhonda Gregory Brent; CIO Leonard Davis and CVO Ricsyhelle Davis) are disclosed and governed accordingly.

I AM 1112 maintains written financial policies and procedures, and bank reconciliation is currently performed by the CEO, transitioning to the CFO upon IABSC's launch as the organization brings on dedicated financial professional capacity.

On financial transparency: I AM 1112's prior-year operating budget, reported via 990-N, reflects gross receipts under $50,000. As a micro-nonprofit, revenue has historically depended on grants and donations, supplemented, when necessary, by founder-level personal contributions to sustain community programming without interruption.

This is precisely the gap I AM Birthing Support Circle (IABSC) is designed to close: with managed care partnerships now in place with Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, and L.A. Care, and Medi-Cal billing eligibility under SB 65, IABSC is projected to generate sustainable, recurring revenue in the hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, moving I AM 1112 into a substantially larger and more diversified operating budget.

As financial activity increases, I AM 1112 will implement additional controls proportional to scale, including multiple-signature and/or board approval requirements for expenditures above defined thresholds.

Get Involved

How can volunteers get involved?

I AM 1112 welcomes volunteers to support its full range of community and maternal health programs across Florence-Firestone and West Athens/Westmont:
• Project: Feed 1000 — Assist with food distribution events, packing and handing out meals and groceries to families facing food insecurity
• Project: Refresh the Homeless — Support outreach events distributing hygiene products, clothing, and essentials to unhoused individuals
• Project: 111 — Help organize and distribute backpacks and school supplies during annual back-to-school events
• Project: Financial Literacy — Support workshop logistics or share professional expertise as a guest speaker
• Project: I AM Woman — Assist with planning and hosting healing-centered conferences and gatherings
• Project: Fatherhood/Brotherhood — Support mentorship programming and reentry service events
• I AM Birthing Support Circle (IABSC) — As the program launches, opportunities may include community outreach, family support, and administrative assistance (clinical/doula roles require certification)

How can donors support your mission?

I AM 1112 offers multiple pathways for donors to invest in maternal health equity and community wellbeing in South Los Angeles:

Monetary Giving
• One-time gifts — Supporting general operations or a specific initiative, such as the I AM Birthing Support Circle (IABSC) pilot launch or facility acquisition
• Recurring/monthly giving — Sustained monthly support (as demonstrated by existing donors) provides predictable funding that helps I AM 1112 plan and sustain programming year-round
• Corporate sponsorship — Businesses can sponsor specific programs or events, joining existing partners like Mechanics Bank, First Republic Bank, T-Mobile, and Spectrum

In-Kind Support
• Program supplies — Donations of food, hygiene products, coats/cold-weather gear, school supplies, and other materials directly used across I AM 1112's community programs
• Professional services — Pro bono legal, financial, marketing, or clinical expertise that supports organizational capacity
• Facility or equipment support — Contributions toward tenant improvement, medical/clinical equipment, or office needs as IABSC moves toward launch

Other Ways to Give
• Planned/legacy giving — Including I AM 1112 in estate planning or wills
• Matching gifts — Donors can check whether their employer offers a matching gift program to double their impact
• Volunteering time — While not monetary, hands-on volunteer support (see Volunteer Opportunities) is another way donors can directly contribute to the mission

How to Give
Individuals and organizations interested in supporting I AM 1112 can visit www.iam1112.org or contact support@iam1112.org to learn more about current giving priorities and opportunities.

Do you accept partnerships?

Yes, I AM 1112 actively welcomes partnerships and collaboration to advance its mission of maternal health equity and community wellbeing in South Los Angeles. The organization is particularly interested in the following types of partnerships:

Managed Care & Healthcare Partners
Building on existing relationships with Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, and L.A. Care, I AM 1112 welcomes additional managed care, hospital system, and clinical partnerships that expand access to culturally congruent perinatal care for Medi-Cal-enrolled families.
Funders & Financial Institutions
Grant-making foundations, CDFIs, and financial institutions interested in supporting IABSC's launch, facility acquisition, or general operations, joining current partners like Mechanics Bank, First Republic Bank, T-Mobile, and Spectrum.
Government & Elected Offices
Partnerships with city, county, and state offices, building on existing relationships with the City of Inglewood, the Office of LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, and the Office of LA Mayor Karen Bass, to align public resources with community-based maternal and family health efforts.
Community-Based & Mission-Aligned Organizations
Nonprofits and grassroots organizations working in food security, housing stability, childcare, reentry, financial empowerment, or maternal/child health, where collaboration can extend reach and avoid duplication of services in Florence-Firestone and West Athens/Westmont.
Corporate & In-Kind Partners
Businesses interested in corporate sponsorship, employee volunteer programs, or in-kind donations of goods and professional services that support I AM 1112's programs.
Media & Awareness Partners
Building on relationships with KJLH and KBLA, I AM 1112 welcomes media and communications partners to help raise visibility around maternal health disparities in South LA.
How to Connect
Organizations and individuals interested in exploring a partnership with I AM 1112 can reach out via www.iam1112.org or suppo

Are you seeking board members?

Yes, I AM 1112 currently has open board and advisory seats and is actively seeking individuals who can strengthen the organization's clinical expertise, funding capacity, and community reach as it moves toward the launch of I AM Birthing Support Circle (IABSC).

Who We're Looking For:
• Clinical professionals — Nurse Practitioners (NP), Registered Nurses (RN), or Physicians (MD) with experience in Black maternal health, pediatrics, or OB/GYN.
• Business owners or entrepreneurs with a large network, platform, or following who can support I AM 1112's awareness campaigns and funding initiatives.
• Funders and corporate connections — individuals with access to funder relationships or corporate/philanthropic networks.
• Mission-aligned leaders who prioritize and champion the IABSC program specifically.
• Diverse perspectives that reflect and represent the communities I AM 1112 serves.
• Spanish speakers are preferred, given the significant Latina population served across Florence-Firestone and West Athens/Westmont.

Commitment Expected:
Board members are expected to actively participate in board meetings and dedicate approximately 10 hours per month to organizational governance and support.

How to Apply
Individuals interested in joining I AM 1112's board or advisory circle can reach out via www.iam1112.org or support@iam1112.org.

Website & Social Media