Our Mission

FOUNDER, CEO

Serena Valentine is Founder and Executive Director of CORE Initiative, a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people living with diabetes through education, peer support, advocacy, and access to community resources. Drawing from her own experience living with type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related vision loss, Serena is a Texas-certified community health worker, diabetes peer educator, advocate, and writer. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration and a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management, both from Columbia Southern University. Her diabetes education articles have been published by WebMD, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), TheGrio, and the American Diabetes Association, and can be found through her WebMD author profile and other national platforms. She participated in the All Eyes on DME campaign, a national awareness initiative by Diatribe in collaboration with Genentech, focused on increasing awareness of diabetic macular edema and reducing stigma surrounding diabetes-related vision loss. She also serves on the Prevent Blindness Diabetes Plus the Eyes Advisory Committee, working with healthcare professionals and patient advocates to advance awareness and education about diabetes-related eye disease. In addition to leading CORE Initiative, she serves as the Houston Diabetes Peer Support Network Lead under Cities for Better Health Houston, connecting people living with diabetes to education, peer support, and community resources. Through her leadership, writing, and advocacy, she collaborates with healthcare providers, public health organizations, and community partners to expand access to evidence-based diabetes education and improve health outcomes in underserved communities.

President

Bruce Young currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board for The Nature Heritage Society and has been an active real estate developer & investor around Harris County for more than 10 years.  Mr. Young first became interested in real estate investment while working on major construction projects with W.S. Bellows, Linbeck, and Turner Construction. His work with these companies provides him a unique background in comprehensive safety programs, as well as managing both a project’s schedule and budget. Mr. Young helped oversee the expansion and renovation of Conoco Phillips World headquarters in Houston, Texas. His outstanding dedication to a job well done and strong leadership qualities helped him to gain the famed Ronald McDonald House construction project, as well as the rebuilding of many Macy’s stores after Hurricane Ike.  The experience gained from working on these projects, combined with studying Psychology at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, has helped him to understand culture diversity, corresponding mindsets & behaviors within many communities and help facilitate progressive behaviors leading to positive change within these communities. He strongly believes that getting down to the root cause of illness is key and it should be done using a holistic approach to achieve better health outcomes. Mr. Young is also passionate about improving organizational outcomes through community engagement and fundraising. 

Secretary

Sandra Rose brings more than four decades of nursing and healthcare experience to the CORE Initiative Board of Directors, where she has served for five years. Her extensive healthcare background, commitment to education and advocacy, and firsthand understanding of health disparities help inform her dedication to CORE Initiative’s mission.

Sandra’s relationship with CORE Initiative Executive Director Serena Valentine began through Cities Changing Diabetes, a global initiative sponsored by Novo Nordisk, when Houston was selected as the first North American city to participate. Sandra and Serena served together in the Faith and Diabetes initiative through the Institute for Spirituality and Health, where their shared commitment to diabetes education, peer support, and empowering individuals to take an active role in their health formed the foundation of a lasting professional relationship.

As Sandra prepared to leave Houston in 2019, she asked Serena to “take the torch” and continue leading the peer-support work they had helped develop. Serena accepted that challenge. When CORE Initiative expanded its Board of Directors in 2021, Serena invited Sandra to serve, drawing upon their previous work together as well as Sandra’s healthcare experience and background in diabetes management.

Having lived in Texas for 16 years, Sandra witnessed firsthand the health disparities that can affect individuals, families, and communities. She believes strongly in CORE Initiative because of its commitment to helping people help themselves—and one another—through health education, peer support, practical resources, and particularly the ongoing battle against Type 2 diabetes.

Sandra currently makes her home in Arizona, but after 16 years of living, working, serving, and building relationships in Houston, a part of her heart will always remain in Texas.

Treasurer

Patrina Pelton-Smith is the principal consultant & CEO of The Business of Charity, LLC, a consultancy focused on formation, capacity building, and grant/proposal writing to support non-profit and small business clients in successfully funding their mission. 

She has held leadership positions with several Houston-area non-profits: Bay Area Turning Point, Inc., New Horizon Family Center, Inc., and Fresh Spirit Wellness for Women, Inc. With a team of specialists, BOC annually assists over 100 clients with launching and/or funding their organizations.

Patrina earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration from Prairie View A&M University, a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas Tech University School of Law, and her Grant Professional Certified (GPC) from the Grant Professional Certification Institute. She is one of only 500 individuals worldwide who have obtained this certification. 

Finally, she is a proud member of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), serving as the 2026-27 Immediate Past President of NAWBO Houston, and a former member of the Grant Professionals Association (GPA).