MEETING – CJ Gathers, CEO and Keely Telfer, Development Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry

CJ Gathers and Keely Telfer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry will be our guest speakers.

CJ Gathers, a beacon of empowerment and servant leadership, stands at the helm of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry with a vision to inspire change to ignite the power and promise of tri-county youth. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in religion and philosophy from Benedict College, CJ’s journey is woven with threads of compassion and dedication to fostering growth for the betterment of those who are often overlooked and underserved.

CJ’s heart beats for the needs of women and youth, a calling she has embraced wholeheartedly. In 2017, she planted seeds of empowerment with The WE Group a non-profit organization, where women converged in healing conversations and nurtured their aspirations. Prior to her most recent role as the Director of Programs at YWCA Greater Charleston, where she spearheaded initiatives addressing systemic inequities, CJ carved a path in education, illuminating minds in both higher education and K-12 settings.

CJ’s accolades shine brightly, from serving as Campus Pastor at Open Door Ministries to earning the YWCA What Women Bring Entrepreneurship Award for in 2021 and the 2024 Black Excellence Award for Community Impact. With a deeply rooted passion for impact-focused stewardship, she also devotes her time, talent, and treasures as a member on the Board of Directors for Charleston Hope, and Trident United Way.

Guided by Romans 8:18, “Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” She finds solace in the belief that challenges pave the way for glory. Her forte lies in cultivating robust relationships, yet her most treasured triumph is her daughter, Kendel Ann, the embodiment of her profound joy and personal legacy. CJ’s North Star remains motherhood, a role she cherishes above all.

In her role as CEO, CJ Gathers is poised to champion change, illuminate paths, and sow seeds of empowerment that will flourish for generations to come.