Shelley Jones is the Founder and CEO of Rooted for Life Mentoring Program; an organization dedicated to the growth of our community’s youth.

A California native, Shelley graduated high-school from L.A.C.E.S. After graduation, she attended Cal State Northridge, where she studied Psychology and Theater Arts. Though she did not receive a degree, extreme attention to detail, administrative abilities, and favor, afforded her the opportunity to share her proficiencies with the likes of such companies as Warner Bros., Saban Entertainment, and Walt Disney.

Her corporate background skills include Legal Administration, Marketing, and Documentation Maintenance.

With an enormous passion for the arts, Shelley has been performing since childhood. She enjoys acting, directing, and writing; songwriting being her most recently discovered pleasure.

She taught drama at Animo South Los Angeles through the after-school program Champions USA for one year, as well as choreographed dance for the Warriors for Christ for over 7 years at Liberty Tabernacle Ministries. She is also a speaker, and desires to use this gift to eventually develop and produce her own internet show.

Shelley has been married to her best friend and Rooted for Life Founder John Vampran since January, 2002, and is the proud mother of two gorgeous rubies (daughters).

 

 

John Vampran, Co-Founder and Vice President of Rooted for Life, an organization formulated to help our youth grow in every aspect of life, is a devoted husband and father of 2 beautiful daughters.

He grew up in Los Angeles, CA, and attended Crenshaw High-School. While attending Crenshaw, John helped lead his school to the City and State Basketball Championship in the 1988-1989 season which they won!

After graduation, John attended Oral Roberts University, in Oklahoma, and later attended Los Angeles City College where he received his AA in Liberal Arts.

After college, John went on to become an Assistant Coach at Los Angeles City College in Womens Volleyball and Softball, providing his expertise for the duration of 10 years.

John currently coaches One-on-One, developing and helping to cultivate those just as passionate as he is about sports. John also works as an Instructional Assistant for Lawndale Unified School District as a One-on-One educator for Special Education.

 

Caprice Purnell is a California native. Born and raised in Los Angeles; a community who’s youth she is devoted to, and currently resides.

Caprice graduated from Fairfax High School in 2001.While in her senior year, Caprice took advantage of her half-school days to learn how to efficiently run and operate an effective Administrative Office by volunteering in her school’s front office. The skills that she acquired there, would stay with her for years to come.

Because of Caprice’s deep love for Dance, her younger years were filled with participation in several Dance Teams, Drill Teams, and competitions.

Because of her love for the community, as well as its children, Caprice has given her time to work with various Youth Summer Programs catering to Child Care Services. Spending time with her Community’s youth is where she realized her dream; which at the time, was to become a Pediatrician. Though her Pediatrician dreams have changed to becoming a Social Worker, the need and desire to love, and give back to our children has not.

Presently, Caprice is a student at both Los Angeles Southwest College, and Trade Tech College, putting every effort into making her dreams, her reality. She knows that if she can do it, then she can inspire the youth whom she will come into contact with during her time at Rooted for Life to do the same.

 

 

Kendrell Purnell was born and raised in Los Angeles California, where he currently lives with his wife and three children.

He attended Bravo Medical Magnet High school where he maintained a near 3.0 gpa.

After graduation, he spent a semester at Cal-State University Northridge. During his time at Northridge, he began working for United Parcel Service, where he has been employed now, for fourteen years.

Today Kendrell is a dynamic speaker, and very talented gospel rapper, currently working on his album.

Kendrell is also mentor, presently mentoring several successful young men; leading and showing them that they can do ALL things if they just believe.

Being that Kendrell has always desired to give, he recently took time to explore several ways to do so; discovering that “giving back” through Rooted for Life is where he feels that he can be a blessing, a mentor, and friend to those who may have encountered a similar upbringing such as his.