Gemma Betancourt devotes her energy to volunteer work in community organizations and outreach programs. These include Soup Kitchens, Camillus House (feeding the homeless), Habitat for Humanity and Creative Beginnings, an organization helping homeless women. Additionally, she was involved as a volunteer at Homestead Correctional Facility in South Florida as a member of Kairos, an International Prison Ministry. Seeing the need to help incarcerated women re-enter society prompted Ms. Betancourt to create LEAP.

Ms. Betancourt has a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Baruch College in New York City and a Master of Business Administration from Pace University in New York City. She has over 30 years of experience in banking and in trading Emerging Markets stocks and bonds. Ms. Betancourt has traveled extensively in Latin America. She is fluent in English and Spanish. She is the proud mother of three adult children.

Patricia Glover has worked within theDepartment of Corrections for almost twenty years in various capacities. Her passion for this important work began as a volunteer with an international prison ministry at Broward Correctional Institution in Ft. Lauderdale. She has since volunteered at Homestead Correctional as a member of Kairos, and as a chapel guest speaker.

Serving on local, state and national boards as well as the time spent in correctional facilities has shown Ms. Glover how important transition and re-entry work is to the incarcerated and to educate and help the community. She has also been employed by the Florida State Department of Corrections as a Chapel Secretary and as a Chaplain. She has extensive training and experience in mentoring and counseling both inside the prison and outside, and loves to see lives change and move in a positive direction.

Ms. Glover is currently the small business owner of Step Business Services, which offers Personal and Corporate Income Tax Preparation and Bookkeeping Services. She has written a yet-to-be-published book of daily devotions and is a columnist for a weekly community newspaper, The Miami Times. She is also the proud mother of six adult children.

Norel R. Ruiz has been a volunteer with Kairos Prison Ministry in Homestead Correctional Institute in Miami-Dade County. This prompted her interest in helping incarcerated women to succeed once they are released from prison and re-enter society.

She is also involved in feeding the homeless at Camillus House and helping with Habitat for Humanity. Norel was a member and volunteer with the Children's Education Program of Fairchild Tropical and Botanical Gardens, Venetian Aquatic Club and Girl Scouts of America.

Ms. Ruiz did her undergraduate studies at the University of Puerto Rico, receiving her Bachelor's Degree in Science majoring in Medical Technology. She has over 30 years of professional experience in a clinical laboratory, and she is fluent in English and Spanish. Norel resides with her husband and their adult daughter.

Gemma Betancourt, Pat Glover and Norel Ruiz met in April, 2008, as fellow team members serving on a prison retreat in Homestead Correctional Institution, a maximum security women’s prison in Florida City. They soon realized that they shared a similar interest and passion for not only prison ministry, but specifically to see the recidivism rate for adult female incarcerated women take a drastic nosedive. They agreed that they wanted women to be released from prison, return to society, and make positive impacts in their homes, and in their communities, and not return to prison.

The idea of a re-entry and transition program for these women was born, and in May 2009, the Ladies Empowerment and Action Program (LEAP) was incorporated.

Gemma, Pat and Norel are looking forward to a long relationship in helping these women and our community. The LEAP founders collectively have over 25 years experience in counseling, mentoring, and specifically the corrections environment. As such, we recognize that recidivism is at an all-time high, and we will promote and work toward a successful transition into society.

Joining the founders in this important effort is a variety of independent consultants from various fields who volunteer their expertise as needed.

Extensive networking across multiple agencies and providers of services to ex-offenders ensures that resources are identified and brought to bear in offering comprehensive and holistic solutions for program graduates.