Diane M. Hodge is the founder and CEO of Potter’s Heart Foundation. Potter’s Heart was established as a solution to reducing the recidivism rate of marginalized youth ensnared in the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). Diane is a native of the twin island federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and a single mother to two awesome young men who inspired her to tackle this societal issue. Her challenges as a lone-parent coupled with societal obstacles for youth opened her eyes to the dire need to provide transformative resources to re-engage youth into society through a positive process. In the early years of her career, Diane was exposed to the issues of recidivism of African American youth who were adjudicated and sent to a transitional facility, yet there was no constructive system in place to reintegrate them with society. Many of these young men returned to the familiar environments where they became repeat offenders and were trapped unknowingly in a cycle. Diane saw the need to create a safe haven where juvenile offenders could find a family of people who would foster a healthy community – a place where collaboration between the DJJ, transitional agencies, and supportive aftercare facilities educate, empower and energize youth to become the best version of themselves.

Diane spends countless hours impacting youth both in her professional and personal life. In her early career, she worked as a counselor at Eckerd, a transitional home for boys. She then transitioned to working as a Child and Adolescent mental health counselor at Advantage Behavioral Health System. Diane then transitioned to working with the African American female population assisting women in tackling and overcoming the lasting effects of trauma and substance abuse history. She also devotes her time to planning and co-facilitating weekly meetings with young people at New Bethel International Ministries, located in Lilburn, GA. Diane now dedicates her time to establishing Potter’s Heart Foundation into an organization that will foster change.

With years of experience working with at-risk youth, Diane’s aspiration is that Potter’s Heart Foundation will become both a safe haven and transformational organization to help revitalize those marginalized through the penal system. Through mentorship, outreach and counseling, Potter’s Heart will serve as a catalyst to reconstruct lives, reenergize hope and reengineer futures of one of our greatest assets – our youth.   

Phone : (1)-(404)-919-8796
Email : diane.hodge@pottersheartfoundation.org