About

Our Founding Members

Our Story

Entheos Leadership was established on the belief that there are opportunities in front of us all - everyone deserves a chance.....however many chances it takes.

Our purpose is to make positive impacts in the lives of at-risk young men. We strive to help them by showing empathy to their challenges and past poor choices, by helping them remove challenges in the way of them moving forward.

To see it is to be it. Our goal is to allow young men the opportunity to have experiences and meet people, allowing them to “see what they want to be”.

Our Mission is to provide opportunities and experiences for 'at risk' young men that they would not otherwise have.

Our Purpose is to positively improve the lives of 'at-risk' young men by providing experiences and opportunities that impact their lives and the lives of generations to come. We strive to help them by showing empathy to their challenges and post poor choices, by helping them remove challenges that are in the way of them moving forward through education and experience.

Our Vision is to provide young men the opportunity to have experiences and meet people, allowing them to "see what they want to be".

"To See It Is To Be It"

Liz Welch, our Executive Director, believes in second chances. As Owner/Broker for Synergistic Real Estate and Synergistic Property Management, Liz's experience comes from her 19 years in the Corporate environment. Her project management experience included research and development of policies and procedures, coordinating solutions for her clients and their customers. She is action oriented with excellent interpersonal communication skills. A highly motivated individual with the ability to work independently paying high attention to detail. She is straightforward and inspires trust. She has vast experience in the development and administration of budgets. Her communication skills include public speaking, negotiating, counseling, sales and ability to translate detailed information into laymen's terms.

She’s an experienced business woman with a no-nonsense approach and an impressive track record. She has supervised operations for several companies, including Manager of Operations for Tampa-based Nielsen Research. Liz also owned and operated a gift basket boutique during which time she received recognition as “Small Business of the Year” by the Chamber of Commerce in her hometown of Omaha, NE.

She enjoys the Tampa life and travels to Omaha frequently to see her two children and grand children.

Meet Our Founding Members

Ka’Mar Hatcher - Executive

My name is Ka’Mar Hatcher. I was born June 4, 2005 and I was born and raised in the city of Tampa. I like to think of myself as any easy-going person that gets along with everyone pretty well. Most of my interests involve technology and learning how it works. I also enjoy playing and watching most sports.
Originally, I was attending King High School, but in the 10th grade I stopped going to school. Some days I would go to school, but then walk off campus and walk around the neighborhood. The things going on in my personal life and some issues I was having with friends at school just built up. I didn’t want to deal with it, so I just left.
One day, the school counselor called my dad and suggested a school called AMIkids. At first, I wasn’t interested in going to AMI, but I liked it better than my old school because of the way it’s structured. I started caring about school and my grades and began finishing classes.
I am now on pace to finish high school and would like to go to college and get a degree in business. AMIkids Tampa has really changed my life.

Jordan Morales - Executive

My name is Jordan Morales and I’m 15, in 9th grade, currently enrolled at AMIkids Tampa. Before AMI I was at Liberty Middle school where I wasn’t doing good. I was disrespectful towards both teachers and my peers and was failing most of my classes. After a certain incident, it was the last straw for them, and they decided to kick me out.
From Liberty I went to a choice school about 5-10 minutes away from my house called Lutz K-8. The same situation was happening there. I was just being blatantly disrespectful towards the teachers and other students. I stayed for my 7th grade year and then went back there for 8th grade during the pandemic. My mindset was if everyone was focused on the pandemic they wouldn’t be as focused on me. That was not the case, I got kicked out of that school and was referred to AMI.
At first, I was skeptical about it, I didn’t want to go and just didn’t have a positive attitude about it. After about two months of being out of school I finally went in for a tour, multiple students greeted me and I immediately felt welcomed.
The first few days were rough because my anxiety gave me severe nausea and I threw up a few times, but after about a week, I started feeling more comfortable.
The transition was the hardest part of the entire experience. I am now passing my classes, doing volunteer work, got a scuba certification, got a job, and am looking to go back to my neighborhood school, Freedom High School, in the second semester. All with the help and support of AMI and staff. I am very grateful for AMI and can’t imagine where I would be without them rerouting me back on the right path.

Dontae Alexander - Executive

Hello my name is Dontae Alexander. I am a part of the 1st Leadership Team. I’m the youngest out of my 2 siblings. My goal when I grow up is to be a professional basketball player. My favorite basketball player is Lebron James.
My second option is being a chef because my grandma and dad are chefs, and my brother knows how to cook good. When I do get money playing basketball or either being a chef, I want to get into doing stocks and pay for some college students’ tuition and start a foundation.
The reason I’m at AMIkids Tampa is because I wasn’t doing my schoolwork or homework and talking during class and having problems at home with my mom.
AMIkids has helped me to do better than I was at my old school. My goal here is to finish my classes and go back to my regular neighborhood.
I hope you have a good time reading this.
Thank you.

Ceddrick Delaughter - Manager

My name is Ceddrick Delaughter, I’m 17 years old and, a Junior at AMIkids Tampa, also an inspiring business owner.
Before arriving to AMIkids Tampa, I was going towards the wrong path. I was fighting, skipping school, and very disrespectful towards my mother. After getting kicked out of my traditional school – Blake High School, my mom was told about AMIkids Tampa from a friend whose son attended. She asked me if I was interested and I responded with “I’ll see after we do a program tour” At first, I wasn’t sure if I was interested but after the tour I felt a lot more comfortable and saw all the opportunity AMIkids Tampa has to offer.
While attending AMIkids Tampa I have learned the traits and characteristics such as integrity & leadership needed to achieve my goals of owning my own landscaping company. For example, about a week ago I was asked to part of the virtual Winter Challenge group after one of my peers dropped out of it; but I had only attended AMIkids Tampa for 3 weeks. I stepped up thanks to a little convincing from both Mr. Jesus & Mr. Porter and agreed to join. The day of Winter Challenge, I got overwhelmed and almost didn’t come to school because I felt unprepared. But then I remembered I must have integrity if I want to move further in life. It turned out that even though we didn’t win the big prize, our team’s confidence was boosted and made everyone want to try harder next time.
At AMIkids Tampa every staff member is committed to the success and wellbeing of the students. It means a lot to be able to come to AMIkids Tampa and talk to any staff member and just have them listen. AMIkids Tampa has taught me a lot about what it takes to be not only a man but a gentleman. For example, AMIkids Tampa has given me the resources to choose how I would like to be represented at school such as formal attire they allow you to wear or normal school uniforms – in other words not dressing up like a bum. AMIkids Tampa has also given me the opportunity to join different clubs and activities to show my intelligence and leadership but also to allow me to see and understand different aspects needed to be successful in life.
The most valuable lesson I’ve learned about life is if you want to become someone and do something productive with your life - you must first want help in order to be helped. And second you must acquire the traits and characteristics of a leader and someone with the desire and grit to want to achieve your goals, dreams, & aspirations. I’m not the smartest and I’m not the best, but hopefully with the continued help of my AMIkids Tampa family I will become a productive citizen of my community.

Travion Curry - Manager

My name is Travion Curry and many of my consequences have led me to this school, AMIkids. The series of events that has headed me down this road was I was very behind in school, failing most of my classes with F’s.
Two years ago, I was held back which was a major set back in my life. I wanted a fresh start, so I reached out and found AMI was willing to help everyone in need.
AMI helped me by giving me classes to work at my own pace and now I’m ahead and have wonderful grades, but when I transfer back to my Hillsborough County School, I plan to keep doing well so I can go to college.

Carrington (CJ) Smith - Manager

Hi, my name is Carrington Smith. I am 14 years old. I was born in Miami, FL and raised in Tampa, FL. I love to play football and basketball. I am the 2nd oldest of 5 siblings.

My favorite…yea, I’m a Florida Boy 😉 is fried chicken.

I once was considered a ‘troubled youth”, I am a better man now. I have aspirations of playing in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks.

During my free time I like to do pushups and play video games. My favorite game right now is Madden 21.

Camden Abbott - Employee

Hello, my name is Camden Abbott. I’m 16 years old. I have 4 family members: my dad, my brother, my uncle, and my aunt.

When I was 8 years old my mother overdosed in front of me and died. The experience changed me. I began staying out late, smoking and drinking. I went down the wrong road. I was hanging out with the wrong group of people.

Dowdell Middle School told me about AMI. Now, I’m a better person. I try to stay focused on school and growing up. I also had to realize that everything happens for a reason.

If I become a basketball player, I know that it’s gonna keep me out of trouble. My mother wanted me to become something, so that’s what I’m gonna do.

Ta’Conyae Diggs - Employee

A Little Bit About Ta’Conyae L. Diggs

Life before AMIkids wasn’t so peaceful. It was more, “Imma get what I want, when I want, how I want.” For instance, if I wanted some money, I would rob somebody. Some mornings, I woke up just wanting to fight because I didn’t care about life or what comes with it.
In regard to school, I didn’t think it was important because some of the things I did in life were not that difficult to do. I mean even a four-year-old could do it. Because I thought that way, I started to skip school. Sometimes I would leave campus and come back high or drunk. I was also fighting all the time to the point where the school didn’t want to put up with my foolishness anymore. That’s when they told my mother about AMIkids.
The first time I came to AMI, I thought it was just another typical school that was going to teach me stuff that was irrelevant. But, as soon as I started, the staff and students showed me that being at AMIkids isn’t bad. It felt like a helping hand reaching out to me. It was a speck of light surrounded by darkness saying if you take my hand, I can help you reach your goals.
But not long after that, I got into an altercation with my stepdad. I beat him up. That decision caused me to get locked up. But, while I was in DJJ, a staff member from AMIkids came to visit me. They talked to me about my situation and gave me good advice on what to do next. That moment I changed because I realized I had more than just me on my team.
So, after I got released, I started going back to AMIkids. As I kept going to AMIkids, they helped me and encouraged me to do better in life. Some of my plans and future goals are to successfully complete the AMI program, go back to traditional school to join a football and track team, get a high school diploma and welding certificate. Then, I’d like to go straight to college for football or become a doctor. My biggest dream is going to the NFL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Written by: Ta’Conyae L. Diggs

Jouri (Joe) Vieyra Patina - Employee

Hello, my name is Jouri Vieyra I am the second oldest out of four kids and I’m also the only boy so, I have to set an example for my sisters. I’m going to be the next head of the family, so I have a lot of responsibilities, for example to protect and take care my mom and sisters.
A few of my hobbies are working on cars I would love to become a mechanic in the future. Other hobbies of mine or cooking reading and driving. I’m a simple man, I like to sit back and relax and just enjoy life, but you also have to put in the hard work.
I come from a Latin family, so I was born in the USA but raised in Mexico until I was 12 yrs old and then I came back to the USA. I did not speak English so it was hard for me to communicate with people and that started to cost me problems because I didn’t know what they were talking about, so they started to ignore me so I got in to trouble; started to do stupid things and so that added up in my school, so then school had enough with me so I left and dropped out of school and work for 1 year but I was not satisfied with myself so I wanted to go back to my old school, but they did not accept me back so I had to look for another school.
I’m glad I found AMIKIDS for Tampa. This school has allowed me and helped me to achieve my goals in life so I’m really thankful. (These are just some things to think about /which path I should take, right where nothing is left or left where nothing is right?) The answer is you create your own path!)