Our People
Our board of directors and support chairs are a special group of people who have come forward to make a difference in the lives of Spartanburg’s youth. We believe in the ripple effect, that making a big change starts with a small act of kindness. By teaching youth that they are worthy regardless of identity or sexuality, we hope they will spread the same kindness to their peers and it will go on and on …
Raymond Velazquez, Executive Director
Raymond has been heavily involved in the LGBTQIA+, Prevention & Harm Reduction Community since his arrival in Western North Carolina from Florida in 2020. He began working with Western North Carolina AIDS Project in 2020 as a Harm Reduction Specialist/Community Navigator and became the Harm Reduction Coordinator in January 2021. He was promoted to Director of Prevention Services in August 2022. Upon meeting his life partner in Greenville, he moved to the Upstate at the beginning of 2022.
As an HIV advocate, Harm Reduction advocate & a person with years of lived experience, his mission is to serve marginalized and BIPOC communities. He enjoys photography, traveling with his partner, concerts, advocacy, and enjoying life to the fullest while striving to be the best version of himself. He is excited to now serve the Upstate LGBTQIA+ community and youth with an equity lens.
Jodi LaBlanche Snyder, Program Director
Current Board Members
Shelly McMains, Vice President
My greatest joys are being a mother and a grandmother. I live for moments spent making memories with my children and grandchildren.
I love being outside by the water, exercising self care, and conversations with great friends.
I’m passionate about any and all things related to children’s and youth’s mental and physical health! Everyone deserves to be loved unconditionally, and it’s my hope that I can help to make a difference!
Timothy “Smitty” Smith is a lifelong resident of Spartanburg. He was previously the Vice President of Club South 29 which was a huge supporter of organizations within our community.
Adelaine Lilith Bradley
Adelaine Lilith Bradley is a native of the Upstate, a transgender woman, and a graduate of Dorman High School. Adelaine also attended USC Upstate, and graduated from Spartanburg Community College. She has worked in the textile and technical fiber industry for over a decade. She loves the Upstate, and cares deeply about the future of the young people in this area. She is currently the primary caregiver to her dad, and enjoys cooking, crafts, and all things nerdy.
Tristyn Vincelette
Tristyn Vincelette has grown up in Spartanburg and is a graduate of Dorman High School. She was an Uplift youth in its very beginning days and is excited to give back to the community that gave to her. Tristyn is a big supporter of mental health awareness and outside of Uplift, also volunteers at the H.A.L.T.E.R. program. She enjoys being out in nature, reading, art, going out with friends, being involved in the community, and spending time at home with her dog and bird. Her hope is to support and advocate for the youth of her community, as not long ago she was in their shoes.
Rob Moore
Rob grew up between Spartanburg and Myrtle Beach and Graduated from Socastee High School in 1991. Rob has owned and operated several restaurants during his career and now works at Garner’s Natural Foods in Spartanburg.
Rob joined the Uplift Board in 2023 as the Volunteer Coordinator because he loves working with young people. Rob also loves spending time with his granddaughter, daughter and daughter-in-law.
Committee Chairs
Paul Gentry, Social Media Chair
Members at Large
Davelyn Hill, Member at Large
Davelyn Hill (she+/her+) is a Black Queer abolitionist who was born and raised in the south. She+ is the Executive Director for Speaking Down Barriers. SDB is an organization whose mission is Equity for all.
She+ has a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Converse College. Alongside providing counseling services, she+ has led support groups, presented research, and conducted university presentations around racial trauma and oppression. She+ enjoys facilitating groups and retreats around grief and wholeness.
Davelyn Hill, also known as Davelyn Athena is an author, poet, and intuitive painter. She+ also has a master’s in creative writing with an emphasis in poetry from Converse University. Davelyn’s poem “Deloris” was published by the Plant and Poetry Journal, “Questions” was featured online through Spark and Echo, “Galaxy Meditation” and Hemochromatosis were published by The Nelligan Review. Her writing deals with living in a time of systemic racism and imagining a new world where equity is a reality.