Jamara Stephens serves as the Ready4Work Director of our Central Florida program location. She joined Operation New Hope in 2019 as a Case Manager, then moved to the Ready4Relase team as a Pre-Release Case Manager Lead. In those roles, Jamara took on more responsibilities and earned Employee of the Year in 2020.  In 2022, she relocated to Orlando, Florida to expand her growth as the Workforce Development Manager, and in 2023, she was promoted to Director. Jamara oversees the daily functions of the Ready4Work Central Florida location providing critical reentry services to Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties.

Jamara is a certified targeted case manager and infant mental health counselor. Prior to Operation New Hope, she worked as an individual and group psychosocial rehab counselor for 4 years, and also was the program manager of a mental health program in Jacksonville that provided wrap-around services of case management, therapy, and medication management for children and adults.

Jamara is a native of Tallahassee, Florida and moved to Jacksonville, Florida on a volleyball scholarship. Jamara attended Edward Waters University where she obtained her B.A. in Criminal Justice. She is also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Jamara lives by the quote “Don’t Let your Happenings Affect Your Happiness” and that’s what makes her truly believe second chances matter!