Who We Are | Amen

About AMEN

Jonathan T. Backers

A Beacon of Hope

Mr. Backers is the grateful vessel that was used and inspired by God to create and found

The Alliance of Male Empowerment Networks, A.M.E.N.

Jonathan T. Backers, is a proud native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the founder and visionary behind the Alliance of Male Empowerment Networks (A.M.E.N.). Inspired by his mother’s resilience following her divorce, Mr. Backers transformed adversity into purpose, establishing A.M.E.N. to fulfill the mission: "Save a Man, Save a Family." Guided by the belief that a healthy village is essential to raising a healthy child, A.M.E.N. empowers men through its unique faith-based training process, "The Spirit of RE." This transformative model fosters REstoration, REnewal, and REgeneration from the inside out, helping men recover, grow, and thrive.

A Morehouse College graduate with over two decades of experience in health and human services, Mr. Backers is a seasoned professional with a proven track record of developing and leading transformative programs. His work spans initiatives for men and fathers, at-risk youth, reentry populations, and Pittsburgh’s homeless veterans, demonstrating his deep commitment to uplifting underserved communities.

As an educator, trainer, and motivational speaker, Mr. Backers’ impact extends throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond. His faith and dedication to the principles of "RE" have allowed him to inspire hope and transformation in countless lives. Through self-reflection, courage, and wisdom, Mr. Backers continues to embody the power of renewal, proving that through purpose and perseverance, true change is always possible.

His motto is...It’s all about “RE” and he is Blessed to be a Child of HE who is “RE” God of Second Chances!

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Dedication. Expertise. Passion.

Dr. La Dawn Robinson

Accomplished leader with extensive experience in Human Resources and a deep commitment to equal employment opportunity, social justice, and diversity & inclusion. Currently serving as the Regional Director for the Pittsburgh region, overseeing operations, investigative work, and community outreach across 23 counties. With over 20 years in HR, Dr. Robinson has excelled in management roles, particularly in Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action, Talent Acquisition, and Employee Relations. She holds advanced degrees in Executive Leadership and Professional Leadership and is an active advocate on numerous committees, councils, and boards.

Erik Vecere

As Chief Partner Success Officer for National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI), Erik Vecere develops and nurtures partnerships with network-based entities that have relationships with groups of human service organizations to help them assess their father-friendliness, and be more father-inclusive.
Mr. Vecere also facilitates strategic planning meetings that culminate in action plans, provides trainings on NFI programs, and oversees the implementation of funded and non-funded projects.
Mr. Vecere received a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania in 2006, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from Robert Morris University, Moon Township, Pennsylvania in 1991 and an Associates Degree in Letters, Arts and Sciences from Pennsylvania State University, Altoona, Pennsylvania in 1989.

Leland Scales

Experienced chef and dedicated community advocate with over 15 years in the hospitality industry, nearly 8 years in community organizing, and 5 years in nonprofit food advocacy. A Pittsburgh native, Scales is committed to improving his community through innovative projects like the Swissvale Community Garden, which provides fresh produce to local residents. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Science in Food Studies from Chatham University. Scales is actively involved in food ministries and serves as the Nonprofit Partner Field Manager at 412 Food Rescue

Teri Johnson

Teri Johnson is a seasoned human services professional with over 25 years of experience. She began as a Foster Care Counselor, where she developed successful intervention strategies that led to significant improvements in family outcomes. Her work at Allegheny General Hospital's Family Growth Center was part of a research project that achieved notable successes in mother-child bonding, reducing repeat pregnancies, and lowering school dropout rates. Teri founded Teri Johnson Training Consulting, Inc. (TJTC, Inc.), which supported the development of over 30 non-profits and government agencies across multiple states. Her contributions have earned her prestigious awards, including the State of Pennsylvania Best Practices Award and the Governor’s Award of Business Excellence. Currently, she is working in non-profit development and as a Quality Director for a behavioral health hospital in Arizona, while completing her Doctorate in Psychology

Dr. Solomon Armstead

Dr. Soloman Armstead is a well-known content creator with over 20 million views on his videos, which focus on educating the public about the effects of trauma on youth and families. He is a recognized leader in violence prevention, community outreach and public safety for the city of Pittsburgh. Experienced with over 27 years of working with high-risk youth and their families in various settings, including juvenile probation, group homes, residential treatment, and drug and alcohol programs. Excited to share his insights, experiences, best practices and encouragement. Hopeful to teach and inspire other parents to strive to be better and healthier leaders of their families.

Dawn Monteiro

With over 23 years of experience in organizational and individual development, this professional specializes in program management, evaluation, and systems development, with a focus on economic improvement and effective service delivery. Their expertise spans several areas, including strategic planning, program development, leadership, credit counseling, and revitalization coordination. They have consistently worked on projects to enhance community stability and infrastructure while adhering to federal regulations, particularly HUD guidelines.
Throughout her career, Ms. Monteiro has demonstrated strong leadership, program management, and a deep understanding of federal housing policies, having worked closely with local governments, contractors, and community partners to improve living conditions and employment opportunities for underserved populations.

About

The A.M.E.N. is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to Save a Man, Save a Family. AMEN seeks to strategically bridge their networks collective REsources, to effectively deliver health and human services that empower and inspires men and women to courageously embrace and initiate their journey of changing and REcovering from bad decisions and choices. This is done through an innovative and transformative approach to change and REcovery called The Spirit of RE. The Spirit of RE is a spiritually infused process of change and REcovery designed to inject men and women with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of self, and the internal and external REsources available to assist them on their Spirit of RE process. This “RE” process is centered in Christ and Righteous Character Development, because we aim to REstore, REnew and REgenerate the real man or women from the inside out.