Our Leadership
Once formerly incarcerated, Leonora "Light" Walker is now the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of a holistic educational 501c3 nonprofit called FREED Texas, formed in 2019 at Geekdom. She is a Nationally recognized Designated Peer Support Specialist, working with agencies such as the San Antonio Council of Alcohol and Awareness and Center for Healthcare Services. She holds a degree in Human Services: Addiction Studies, from San Antonio College. She has served as a member of the Bexar County Reentry Board, appointed by Bexar County Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Calvert. Leonora also is an appointee to Precinct 4’s Bexar County Child Welfare Board. She has five years of experience as a high impact volunteer in prisons throughout the southern region of Texas and taught at the Lockhart Correctional Facility for two years.
Ms. Zuniga is a Certified Rehabilitaion Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Licensed Chemical Dependency counselor with a Master's Degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling. She served as a Rehabilitation Counselor for the State of Texas for 10 years. Her passion for address recidivism and serving the justice involved population stems from her own experience in the Juvenile justice system. Ms. Zuniga attributes her rehabilitation to a strong support system she found in her family and faith group. She believes the foundation to reducing recidivism is to address the mental health needs, build strong support systems, and strengthen the sense of community. She believes in the FREED Texas mission and goal to help Scholars developing skills needed to combat the challenges faced by a marginalized population.
Rebekah is a former child in foster care, a foster parent, adoptive parent, foster care agency staff, counselor for juvenile probation, mental health training, a child advocate and a positive behavior specialist. Her heart and focus is reducing the number of children in foster care and promoting family reunification whenever possible.
She is a creative and innovative marketing specialist with extensive experience in community education and development of collaborative partnerships and staff training workshops.
Rebekah has over 25 years in marketing, serving and connecting state and community organizations to Churches, pastors and faith-based resources to meet the needs of children and families in crisis.
Frontline Advocate Alumni
FREED Texas believes in the power of a person's journey and story. Each Cohort, we offer scholars from previous Cohorts the opportunity to serve as a Frontline Advocate Alumni. The Alumni are paired with a facilitator and will provide hands on assistance to both the Facilitators and the scholars. This approach leads to a deeper more meaningful collaboration since each Alumni is able to share their personal experiences to build towards the scholars success.
Robert Bond
Frontline Advocate Alumni
Matthew Montez
Frontline Advocate Alumni
Christopher Sepulveda
Frontline Advocate Alumni
My name is Robert Bond. I am a proud father of 3 boys. My sister introduced me to Leonora. It was during that time I learned of FREED Texas and I wanted to become part of it. Once I became a FREED Texas Scholar, I learned of all the resources available for us and that this wasn't the end. I have not only become a FREED Texas Scholar Alumni, I am also a registered voter and a college student. I have always wanted to help people and FREED Texas gave me a better sense of direction on what I will become. I am now working towards the goal of becoming a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. The future is only getting brighter and I am proud to be part of FREED Texas.
My name is Matthew Montez I'm 19 years old and currently pursuing my Associates of Arts Degree at San Antonio College. Born and raised in San Antonio I joined FREED as a scholar and now a Frontline Advocate Advisor. It is my pleasure to help others in need like I was in a position of need as well. Our mission is to put an end to recidivism and help our people rehabilitate back into society.
To enrich the formally incarcerated and steer them in the correct route has always been a part of my vision. I now have the opportunity to return back as a Frontline Advocate. I feel as if I’m striving with purpose. I myself was also incarcerated for 12 years and upon receiving back my liberty, I broke my generational curse. I’ve accomplished my Associate Degree in Child Development, became a small business owner and am employed at Metropolitan Health District as a Community Health and Safety Worker. I am an original FREED TEXAS SCHOLAR. My goal as a Health and Wellness Facilitator is to enlighten the future Cohorts by highlighting the importance of mental, physical and spiritual well-being. I believe instilling growth mindset into the minds of others is definitely one cure for recidivism.
Frontline Advocate Facilitators
Our Facilitators come from a variety of career backgrounds. Facilitators are involved in the development of the curriculum tailored to address the needs of each Cohort. With each individual experience in their discipline, our FREED Texas Facilitators work together to offer quality services in a wholistic approach.
Nevetta King
Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor
Cris Porras
Occupational Therapist
Health & Wellness Facilitator
Nevetta King has spent the last 20 years of her life helping, guiding, and supporting others through her profession and through ministry. Her mission is to help and support individuals as they journey towards wholeness and a balance of life.
Nevetta is the Board Secretary of Forward Progress Arts & Entertainment Center, Inc.
She is an Honors Graduate of Royal Priesthood Academy in San Antonio, Texas with her Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Christian Counseling. She is also a Certified Temperament Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor under the National Christian Counseling Association.
She currently works at SJRC Texas, as a case manager and currently works with various organizations and ministries throughout San Antonio where she specializes in youth services and administrative work.
Cris Porras is an Occupational Therapist with 25 years of experience in the industry. She has worked with individuals with disabilities to include Learning Difficulties, Autism, Sensory Processing Disorders, Behavioral Issues, and Trauma. She has also worked with premature infants and those with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. She is a proud mom, grandmother, wife, and a trauma survivor.
"My desire is to help others succeed. By assisting the brain and body to work together in an optimal manner, a person can overcome challenges that interfere with their success in school, work, or in their daily lives.