WE ARE

Eight Million Stories

Founded in 2017, we are a nonprofit created to support disconnected youth in Houston, Texas.

Our Mission

We are working to empower the lives of at-promise youth (9-24 years old) through education, employment & personal development.

The Problem

Young people, especially young men of color, are disappearing—from schools, from communities and from the workforce. Rooted and fueled by zero tolerance policies in our school systems, the school-to-prison pipeline is sweeping disproportionately high numbers of youth/young adults into the criminal justice system and ultimately out of our workforce.

In Houston, 111,000 individuals are categorized as opportunity youth (out of work and school). The obstacles faced supporting Opportunity Youth in finding pathways to success can be a complex challenge. They lack the exposure and equitable opportunities to transition into career pathways. There is a critical need for communities to provide pathways to opportunity for this population through formal training program that develops the soft and hard skills that are critical to their successful transition into adulthood. For many, this persistent problem, is the start of a lifelong cycle of poverty and imprisonment.

Our Theory of Change

Our theory of change is that by providing disconnected youth/ young adults who have been pushed out of our school system or justice involved, with an opportunity to complete their education and obtain meaningful employment, we can drastically improve the likelihood of them successfully transitioning into adulthood and becoming self-sufficient.

Furthermore, we believe that this model can work alongside school districts, systems of care and community organizations in finding alternative pathways for youth/young adults to complete their education and find meaningful employment.

Our Name

The name “Eight Million Stories” comes from a rap song by Hip-Hop group “A Tribe Called Quest” towards the end of the song is this repetitive phrase “ Help me, help me”.

When we think about disconnected youth or youth involved in the juvenile justice system. They are not bad kids. At the root of their behavior and poor decisions is a cry for help.

They just want someone to listen.

Meet Our Team

  • Contact:

    mpierre@eightmillionstories.org

    A native New Yorker, Marvin Pierre began developing 8 Million Stories during his year as a TNTP Bridge Fellow. Before that, he served as the Assistant Principal at KIPP Polaris Academy for Boys in Houston, Texas.

    Prior to joining KIPP Polaris, he served as the Dean of Students at Excellence Boys Charter School in Brooklyn, NY. He was an Assistant Dean of Students at Summit Academy Charter School, and has also served as Director of Student Life at Achievement First Endeavor Middle School (Brooklyn, NY).

    Marvin also worked in the Investment Banking (Municipal Finance Group) at Goldman, Sachs & Co.

    Marvin holds a bachelor's in Economics from Trinity College (Hartford, CT) and a Masters in Education Administration and Supervision from the University of Houston. He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and desires to pursue opportunities in community development and co-found a K-8 school for young boys of color in Houston, TX.

  • Contact:

    aali@eightmillionstories.org

    Alejia Ali is the Communications and Evaluation Coordinator for Eight Million Stories. Her focus is to refine and streamline external and internal communication.

    Alejia's role also includes the collecting, managing, and communication of qualitative and quantitative data produced by our efforts and impact.

    Alejia holds a Bachelor's Degree in Communication with an emphasis in media and a Masters Degree in Counseling from the University of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

    She has a desire to use her educational background and experience to be a driving force in planning and implementing communication strategies that help achieve the organization's goal and supports the overall mission.

  • Contact:

    jdiaz@eightmillionstories.org

    Jose Manuel Diaz, originally from Chicago, Illinois, has spent most of his life on Houston's east side and is a proud graduate of AAMA’s George I. Sanchez Charter High School.

    With extensive experience in community work, Jose has been involved in adult education with AAMA Adelante and has supported the immigrant community through his work at FIEL.

    He is also thefounder of ORALE (Organizers Redefining Activism through Leadership and Education), an organization dedicated to bridging gaps within the community by organizing initiatives like providing holiday gifts for children in need and creating leadership programs for high school students.

    In addition to his community endeavors, Jose brings a wealth of experience in entrepreneurship, business management, construction, and the industrial sector. His diverse skill set has been instrumental in his roles as a Career Coach, Training Instructor, Financial Counselor, and Small Business Coach/Coordinator.

    He is now looking forward to utilizing these skills in his new roleas the Construction Manager at 8 Million Stories, where he aims to continue making a positive impact.

  • Contact:

    zgallo@eightmillionstories.org

    Zola Gallo, a committed GED Instructor at Eight Million Stories, leverages her background in criminal justice to comprehend the challenges faced by her students.

    Before joining the organization, Zola worked in the justice system, where she developed empathy for individuals caught in its grasp. This experience inspired her to pursue education, advocating for equal opportunities for all students.

    Zola holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in criminal justice from New Mexico State University, where she focused on breaking the school-to-prison pipeline. By combining her knowledge of criminal justice with her passion for teaching, she creates an innovative educational approach.

    Upon joining Eight Million Stories, Zola embarked on a mission to equip her students with the tools and support necessary for their success.

  • Contact:

    bgarrett@eightmillionstories.org

  • Contact:

    ghernandez@eightmillionstories.org

    Born and raised on Houston’s northside, German once thought education wasn't part of his path. As a high school dropout, he didn’t believe in his potential—until one day, he discovered the strength within himself to pursue higher education.

    With over five years of experience in nonprofit work, German has dedicated his life to advocating for underserved and overlooked communities. From being a housing case manager for Houston’s homeless population to serving as a program coordinator, his passion for community advocacy runs deep.

    His experience also includes working as a Title I Specialist in Colorado, where he supported schools by fostering community and parent involvement.Currently, German is completing his Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at the University of Houston-Downtown.

    Wherever he goes, his mission remains clear: to create change and leave a lasting impact for others to follow. Once a high school dropout who doubted his own potential, German has turned his life into a testament of perseverance, using his journey to inspire others to realize their own.

  • Contact:

    shernandez@eightmillionstories.org

    Sarah is our YouthBuild Program Manager for Eight Million Stories who oversees YouthBuild programming entities alongside the 8MS team. 


    A native Houstonian, born and raised in the community of Denver Harbor in Houston, TX. Sarah is anchored in her Christianity, family, and culture. She is committed and dedicated to serving others by being the hands and feet of Jesus. Her mission is to love God, love people, and change the world one heart at a time. 

    She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in psychology from the University of Houston-Downtown. She has dedicated her  time, efforts, and career to servicing the youth of the community.

    Sarah served in multiple facets within HCJPD in her previous career. She aspires to empower, encourage, and motivate others to be the best version they can be as the process through whatever circumstances or challenges they encounter. 


  • Contact:

    sthomas@eightmillionstories.org

    Skyra Thomas is the Chief of Staff at Eight Million Stories. Her work at Eight Million Stories is focused on planning, coordinating, and supervising the day-to-day operations of the program and staff.

    In her role, Skyra ensures that the program runs efficiently and is student centered, while driving the mission and vision of Eight Million Stories. Streamlining systems, improving processes, and analyzing the effectiveness of the program are the highlights of her work, but nothing compares to fostering strong and lasting relationships with the students.

    Prior to Eight Million Stories, Skyra was the Dean of School Programming at Brownsville Ascend Middle School, where she led student social-emotional learning, college readiness, and developed the school’s first National Junior Honor Society chapter.

    Skyra earned a Bachelor of Social Work from Oakwood University (Huntsville, AL) and a Master of Social Work with a certificate in nonprofit management from Boston University.

  • Contact:

    nwatson@eightmillionstories.org

    Natosha Watson serves as the Operations Manager at Eight Million Stories. Ms. Watson previously served as an Operations Team Leader for Hope for Families, Inc. and as personal assistant to the Senior Pastor at the Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church.

    Her work is rooted in ensuring the day-to-day functionality of the organization is fully operational, without flaw. Her work in the field of operations not only involves the day to day, but includes event planning, community outreach, marketing and program development.

    Ms. Watson has always aspired to use her experiences to support and empower young people, especially young women. Her goals in supporting Eight Million Stories include continuing her own education in the field of social work and guidance counseling.

    While Ms. Watson’s passion has always involved empowering young people, her Christian faith keeps her grounded in being the best mom, sister and daughter she can possibly be.

  • Contact:

    gbrown@eightmillionstories.org

Interested in joining our team?

We’re always on the hunt for talented people to join our team. Whether you’re interested in something part-time, full-time, or on a volunteer basis, there’s a place for you to make a difference at Eight Million Stories.

Our Board of Directors

  • CEO She’s Happy Hair

  • Chief Operating Officer - Luby’s & Co.

  • Chief People Officer - KIPP Texas Public Schools

  • Executive Director at Healthcare Innovators Professional Society (HIPS)

  • Co-President Houston PetSet

  • General Counsel Houston Forensic Science Center

  • Senior Vice President Bank of America Private Bank

  • Private Wealth Advisor– Merrill Private Wealth Management

  • Regional Vice President – West Region HEB

  • Head of Asset and Portfolio Mgt- KKR& Co.

Our Advisory Board Members

  • Director of Learning Design - Getting Smart

  • Principal - Uncommon Schools Excellence Boys Middle Academy

  • Head of Legal - Encino Energy, LLC

  • Program Manager - Artificial Intelligence Engineering - HP, INC.

  • Senior Vice President Exclusive Leadership and Opportunity - Greater Houston Partnership

  • Advisor, Social Impact TC Energy

  • Vice President - Contract Administration and Contractor Diversity -Harris Health System

  • Talent Acquisition Diversity Strategist - Starbucks Global Talent Acquisition, Retail

  • Eight Million Stories Inc. - Alumni, Southern University

  • Owner at Pennebaker

  • Principal Cloud Solution Architect -Microsoft

  • Educational/ Workforce Consultant - Te2 Consulting

  • Executive Director - J.P. Morgan Wealth Management