Community Grapevines Inc was founded in 2023 as a 501(c)(3) organization that empowers vulnerable communities, champions family reunification, and provides housing, job readiness for any necessary essential support for the incarcerated citizens and citizens reentering society. Community Grapevines partners with other local non-profit and non-government organizations, local school districts, and senior citizen facilities.

Its founder Ms. Lakeeta (LaLa) Burnette develops impactful programs that foster growth and opportunity for her clientele. Through mentoring, re-entry initiatives, alternative education, and other vital services, the organization equips individuals with the resources and support needed to be able to thrive. In 2013 Ms. Burnette’s owned a Kid Salon and Spa, and she began providing food and clothing assistance to the homeless shelters and offered free hair grooming services to under their underprivileged clients for back-to-school haircuts and hairstyles for boys and girls, including providing care packages for the youth during the holidays.

Since 2013 Ms. Burnette’s passion for these services to others inspired her to acquire the following certifications from Alison Empower Yourself Training:

•Child Trauma and Trauma Informed Care Certification

•Diploma Mental Health

Ms. Burnette also worked with Julia’s Heart, The Best in Senior Programs located in Washington, DC, a non-profit organization. For more than 2 years she offered the best musical therapeutic and programing experience for senior citizens. Currently, Grapevines has a partnership with Julia’s Heart providing services to senior citizens.

In 2018, Ms. Burnette became a certified foster parent and a mentor through Mentor Maryland and the National Youth Advocate Program under the State of Maryland.

Ms. Burnette’s personal experiences added to her passion for the programs that her organization supports and was her inspiration for establishing her own organization in 2023. She lost her mother to domestic violence at a young age, and her father was incarcerated until she was 12 years old and was raised by her paternal grandmother and aunt. Ms. Burnette has demonstrated a life of adaptability and has strived for self-improvement on her life journey. She’s committed to making a positive impact for helping others. More importantly, she joyfully supports at-risk youth, returning citizens, and senior citizens. She possesses the unique understanding of those she serves.