My name is Calandra Devona Jackson-Mitchell (Flanigan). My first name is derived from a tropical flower and means "lovely one" and "lark." My middle name, Devona, means "defender," and my last name is Irish—the fighting Irish!

A motto that I’ve adopted in life is: No one needs a handout, but a hand up. My life has been driven by community service, and my deep desire for missions has grown over the years. As a child, I had a close church friend whose family went into a shelter, and I remember telling God, “When You bless me with money, I’ll open a homeless shelter.” Years later, I found myself living in a shelter with my five children. That experience gave me a firsthand understanding of the struggles and lack of resources people face.

Determined to improve our situation, I used the few programs available to people like me. Eventually, I secured a job and a home for my family. This journey ignited my passion for helping others, and I’ve organized several outreach initiatives, including Seeing the Love of Jesus (collecting eyeglasses for those in need), Purses with a Purpose (distributing purses with hygiene items to homeless women), and Joy to the World (providing nearly 100 families with Christmas gifts, food, and resources).

Twenty years ago, I had a dream of being in Africa. Though I didn’t know where, I felt a calling to go. In October 2022, that dream became a reality when I traveled to Liberia for mission work. Collaborating with Mission Minded Life and other mission groups, we provided much-needed resources to the community. During the trip, I was responsible for organizing a block party, distributing hygiene items and clothing, and overseeing a community event that positively impacted over 600 individuals.

The mission in Liberia stirred something deeper in me. Even after returning to the U.S., I couldn’t stop thinking about ways to help the people of Liberia. The average yearly wage for a general working citizen in Liberia is just $460, and the population of cities far exceeds their capacity to provide resources. This led me to join the Board of Directors for the Samuel Grimes Initiative for at Risk Youth, where we provide treatment, spiritual guidance, and life skills training to those battling drug addiction and mental health issues.

As a board member, I returned to Liberia in 2024, this time tasked with rewarding 26 graduates from a drug treatment program and organizing another community block party. We distributed toiletries, undergarments, and food to over 700 people, and donated 240 Bibles to attendees at the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. Liberian Council.

From my trips to Liberia, I’ve developed strong connections, including a partnership with Liberian National Police Officer Robert Cisco. Together, we birthed Bright Business and Resource Center, Inc. to provide Liberians with a “hand up,” offering resources like medical care, hygiene items, educational support, and wage-building programs to help them become productive members of their communities.

When people ask about my trips to Africa, I tell them this: Liberia is poor, yet so rich—rich in humility, in resilient spirits, and in their faith despite the visible struggles they face. This is why I believe, No one needs a handout, but a hand up.

calandra@bbrcliberia.org