SNN was founded by Areva D. Martin, Esq. and Donna Ross-Jones, and is led by a 12-member Board of Directors.

Ms. Jones and Ms. Martin, both established entrepreneurs with over 20 years, respectively, of solid business experience, came together five years ago after their sons were diagnosed with autism. As a result of their own experiences, they were sensitized to the enormous challenges faced by families in low-income and poor communities, particularly, South and South Central Los Angeles. After years of successfully working their way through the bureaucratic maze, they decided to pool their resources and expertise to assist the state’s most vulnerable families.

During 2005 - 2007 SNN served thousands of families in South and South Central Los Angeles through free community forums, training classes, and radio and television information interviews.

SNN Mission Statement: SNN's mission is to raise public awareness of developmental disabilities and to impact public policy, while providing education and resources to families, children and adults. SNN serves as a link between underserved communities and mainstream developmental disability organizations and governmental institutions, which often fail to address issues specific to these communities.

SNN’s Board of Directors represent a cross-section of parents and professionals from the Los Angeles community and include:

Jan Davis

Clarence Harris, CPA, Treasurer

Annette Hollomon

Areva Martin, Esq., Chair

Kevin McCarthy

Sonjia White, Esq., Secretary

Andrew Yellen, Ph.D.

SNN’s Advisory Board Members

Lee Bailey

Dave Clark

Ruth Creary, PH.D

Rev. Vanessa Dantzler

Pat Grayson De-Jong

Elizabeth Koo Edwards, Ph.D.

B.J. Freeman, Ph.D.

Cheryl Gully, LCSW

Bonnie Berry Lamon, Esq.

Prudence Baird-Metcalf

Rev. Cecil L. Murray

Seth Weisbord, Esq.