Updates:

Our Mission

We empower, celebrate, promote, and validate young people experiencing loss and offer an alternative to gang involvement!

Our Vision

"The Belief In The Potential Of All Young People!"

Living the mission through compassion, awareness, support, growth and innovation in grief and gang programming for all.

Our Values

"Frame Discussions, Set Priorities, And Establish Goals."

They comprise the foundation of what we do, how we act toward others and our decision making.

Karmic Gallery

See our Gallery of Pictures from Project Karma, Inc. events and programming. For more information on our events, or to schedule a presentation or service, contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Frequently Asked Questions

This collection of frequently asked questions (FAQ) provides brief answers to many common questions about Project Karma. For more information email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Project Karma Board Members

Ten high-powered board members comprise the Project Karma Board. These engaged community members meet regularly to review Project Karma progress, and provide input on strategic issues. The Board includes expertise and talent from a wide variety of community sectors, and benefits from the collective wisdom of years of experience.

Services

Project KARMA, Inc. offers a variety of services and resources to help celebrate young people, and to create healing circles for your child or teen, and your community. Our programs and support offerings are created and planned to be fun, culturally relevant, sensitive, and responsive to your child/teen’s individual loss history and pressing issues. New programs are being developed all the time to meet the needs of our families and community- so check back often! Most program services are offered free of charge, or on a sliding fee basis as a community service.

Founder's Message

Who I am...

Now, the kids I work with call me "The Death Lady" and I wear this name with honor, and deep pride. Being "The Death Lady" is besides being a mother, one of the most life affirming and whole things I will ever be. New kids to the program ask me all the time how I got the name-so I will share it here as well.

I came to this vision through my very own personal journey with loss. My father gave this mission to me on his deathbed in 1994, after losing a battle with colon cancer. Our last talk consisted of him telling me that he wanted me to give back to the community what they had given to our family during his lifetime of service, and in the wake of his illness. His death was my rebirth in a sense. Losing him left a huge void, and yet, lit in me a fire to make sure that families, and especially kids, could experience a dignified, and meaningful walk with grief and loss. The community that supported my family as we were living with my father's terminal illness, became my greatest teachers. I am forever humbled by the lessons I have shared with my family and friends in my hometown of Tallahassee, FL., and to the caring people at Big Bend Hospice, especially my friends and mentors Kevin Carter, and Pam Mezzina, and the Caring Tree Program family.

Perhaps the biggest debt I owe is to the countless young people that I have had the joy of walking this path with over the last thirteen years. They have trusted me, taught me how to do this gracefully, passionately, and honestly. One of these young people saw me one weekend in the local mall- and across the food court shouted out to me, "... -Hey! Hey! Death Lady, Com' ere!" Surprised- because I keep all group and counseling associations confidential. I approached him and his group of friends sitting by the fountain. He beckoned me to come closer- and said to his group "...This here is the lady I was tellin' ya'll about." "...Tell 'em Miss Alesia, how you helped me with my Daddy- Tell him how your daddy died too..."We here cuz his daddy just died too..." We trying to take his mind off thangs..." These brave little warriors wound up being some of my favorite group members until I left The Caring Tree Program and moved to the metro ATL area. "The Death Lady" name, and the dream stuck...

I would not have written the two books I crafted for their use without this bond, and this welcoming into their hearts, and world. I am constantly walking in the knowledge that I will forever be learning from their experiences and their ability to share. This vision and mission lives because of them.

Why This Matters...

Losing someone early in your life does not have to mean a life lived in sadness, fear or confusion about your future or that of your child or teen. Loss is an inevitable part of all of our lives, and is a natural rhythm of being in the universe. Grief is a natural and normal response to the gift of loving others and of being connected in this world.