We should not be discouraged . . . No man discouraged ever wins a victory..
Booker T. Washington
Sarah earned an AA degree in Business Administration from the College of Alameda, a BA in Business Management from Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, CA, and an MA in Professional Psychology from JFK University in Pleasant Hill, CA. Sarah has worked in the field of psychotherapy, as a counselor for individuals, couples, families, and groups. In 2002 she began working in a nonprofit counseling agency funded by Alameda County Probation to divert “at-risk” youth from entering the juvenile justice system by providing them with counseling, case management, and crisis intervention services. She has been an administrator for a youth crises receiving home, and also provided social work for a level 12 foster group home.
Sarah is the founder and executive director of Extraordinary Legacy, and BTWEN, Inc. Both organizations were created to carry on the legacy of her great-grandfather, Booker T. Washington, of uplifting people. She is the coauthor of “Timeless Treasures –Reflections of God’s Word in the Wisdom of Booker T. Washington.” Like her great-grandfather, Sarah has a passion for lifting those who have strong desires, but trouble lifting themselves.
Her famous family legacy also includes her maternal great aunt and her namesake, Sarah Meriwether Nutter, one of the founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. And she is a first cousin of a U.S. Congresswoman, the Honorable Diane E. Watson. Sarah is a native of California. She was raised in Oakland. She currently lives in the Bay Area in Northern California with her husband Anthony.
Sarah O’Neal Rush, MA – Great-granddaughter of Booker T. Washington BTWEN Founder and Executive Director
Jacqueline Bautista, MS, “Jacque” Director
Jacque earned an MS degree in Psychology. Currently she is working as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice, and with the City of Hayward Police Department, where she works with “at-risk” youth and their families in a program funded by the Alameda County Probation department, designed to divert youth from ending up in the juvenile detention system.
Jacque is passionate about working with “at-risk” youth, and conducting counseling and workshops with families, parents and couples. She currently lives in the Bay Area in Northern California.
A. Joyce Grant, MBA, “Joyce” Director
Joyce is the controller and a partner with ARES Corporation in Burlingame, CA. She has over 20 years of accounting experience.She earned a BS degree in finance and accounting, and an MBA from Holy Names University in Oakland, CA.
Joyce is a native of Dallas, TX. She has lived in the San Francisco/Bay Area all of her adult life. Joyce is the mother of three adult children, and step mother of 2 adult children. She currently lives in San Leandro, CA with her husband Olen Grant. They are both active members of Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland, where she serves as a deaconess and her husband is a member of the deacon board.
Anthony W. Rush, “Tony” Director
Anthony attended North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, NC before joining the United States Air Force. After four years of service in the Air Force, he went on to work for United Airlines where he has been employed since 1989. Anthony is also the president and CEO of A&S Enterprises, an umbrella company involved in acquiring investment property, and setting up merchant service accounts, and legal service plans.
Anthony often volunteers his time to help organizations which serve disadvantaged populations, including the Junior League, the NBA Player’s Association’s Feed the 5000 Program, and San Leandro High School’s annual career day.
Anthony is one of the original members, and a former co-chair of the San Leandro African-American Business Council. He is a native of Laurinburg, North Carolina. Currently he lives in Northern California with his wife Sarah.