About Us
Our goals are to improve the lives of patients and caregivers who are dealing with this chronic illness. We plan to strengthen our connections to the medical community and honor those whose pioneering efforts have saved lives.
Our Founder
Adrienne Shapiro
Founder/Science Administrator
Adrienne is a fourth generation of mothers in her family to have a child born with Sickle Cell Disease.
She was one of the first supporters of the work done by Dr. Kohn in bone marrow and later stem cell transplants. As a true believer that science would cure Sickle Cell Disease, she has dedicated a large portion of her life to improving the lives and overall healthcare of those living with the disease. In the past three years she has found her voice as a Stem Cell Activist. Speaking in support of the funding for medical trails thru CIRM, her experience includes attending educational conferences and seminars, as well as meeting with Southern California Congress members to lobby for the support and passage of the Sickle Cell Education Act.
This has helped shape our mission: "Education and Advocacy with urgency"
Our Board
Steven Shapiro
Board Member
With more than three decades of experience in the financial services industry, Steven Shapiro has been involved in the financing of hundreds of entertainment-related projects and handles the management of several thousand entertainment-related relationships. In addition, Shapiro serves as the Entertainment Division’s sales and marketing manager and oversees marketing activities for the division’s offices in California, New York, and Nashville. Shapiro joined City National Bank in 1999, and has more than 30 years of entertainment banking experience.
Dr. Janice Johnson
Board Member
Dr. Janice Johnson has a 30 year practice in Marriage & Family Therapy. She also is a trauma specialist.
Ron Shapiro
Board Member
Ron Shapiro caught the radio bug when he was just 7 years old. After his father helped him build a radio station in his bedroom, Ron honed his skills playing radio at home, as well as on his high school radio station, and college station. Currently, Ron is the Program Director of Hot 923 The Beat.com. He is also co-owner of the internationally syndicated radio programs “Top Ten Now And Then” and “The Stories Of Classic Rock”.
Rick Nuhn
Board Member
Rick Nuhn has been a player in this game of music for 4 decades. His “Double Sided “career features extensive playing time in both radio & records. On the radio side Rick has been a personality, music director, and program director at a wide variety of formats. He is also co-owner of the internationally syndicated radio programs “Top Ten Now And Then” and “The Stories Of Classic Rock”.
Marissa Cors
Board Member
Marissa Cors is an adult living with Sickle Cell Disease. As a life long resident of Los Angeles she has extensive experience with medical and support services in the area. She has written and published serval essays on life with Sickle Cell Disease. She also has conducted seminars for nurses on the Sickle Cell Patient Experience.
Joyce Stein
Board Member
Joyce has worked for some of the country’s top Fortune 500 companies. Joyce’s contributions included oversight of technology and improvement projects. As a technical writer and information architect, she created documentation, online help, web-based instructional and sales sites. Joyce is skilled at facilitating presentations to large groups and meetings are focused, energized, forward thinking, productive, creative and fun. Joyce is a Six Sigma subject matter expert and has literally saved millions of dollars by examining and initiating improvements across the people, process, and technology dimensions. Joyce also worked closely with senior executives in the development of communications programs and organizational development programs that helped build a strong information technology organization. Joyce has mentored technology professionals and continues to be a positive influence to many.
LaTanya Kirk-Carter
Board Member
LaTanya Kirk-Carter is currently the Chief Administrative Officer for the Beverly Hills Unified School District. She has previously held administrative positons at Torrance Unified School District, Centinela Valley Union High School District & the North Orange County ROP. Ms. Kirk-Carter, initially joined the Beverly Hills Unified School District as an Executive Staff Consultant, a position she held until October 2012. She then joined the Inglewood Unified School, serving as Interim State Administrator and Assistant Superintendent, Business Services . She returned to Beverly Hills in 2014, to the post she now holds.
Ms. Kirk-Carter received her Associate of Arts degree from Glendale Community College in Psychology her Bachelor of Arts degree in counseling from California State University, Los Angeles and her Master of Business Administration degree in Organizational Management from National University. She also sit on numerous advisory and work boards in the K-12 Public Education Sector.
She has two children, Johnathan , a Senior, Sport Mgmt. Major at Briar Cliff University, Sioux City, IA and Chandler a Sophomore, Music Business Major at Fisk University, Nashville,TN.
Our Staff
Chloe Spencer
Designer
Chloe Spencer is an artist as well as a great musician. She is currently a freshman attending Pasadena City College studying art and marketing. She created the Axis Advocacy logo for the site.
John Spencer
Web Design
John Spencer is a freelance designer who has over 19 years of web design experience.