Family Empowerment and Relief Organization

The mission of Family Empowerment Services is to improve prospects for low socioeconomic individuals, families, organizations, and communities globally. By promoting a comprehensive, community-based support system, we can create a bond with community actors, such as community leaders and residents of all social classes, trade unions, business leaders, and institutions. Together we can identify and meet community needs. Judith Lahai emigrated from Sierra Leone to the United States in 1975 fresh from high school. When she came to the US, she worked menial jobs at restaurants and convenience stores to support her family. After over 20 years in the US, she started college at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas in 1988 to pursue a degree in Health Care Administration. She attended school year round while raising a family and working full time. Judith was featured in the Whos Who of College Students in 1990 and graduated from Texas Southern in 1991. She went on to obtain her Masters in Public Health in International and Family Health from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. Judith and her husband co-hosted The Matthew Momoh show for 16 years on KPFT radio in Houston. The show discussed the African diaspora and addressed issues within the immigrant community in the Houston area. When the show ended, Judith and her husband founded and ran the non-profit organization SLAO Saving Lives through Alternate Options. The organization focused on helping not only the African community but all immigrants needing services and assistance in the Houston area. Judith assisted with grant writing and fund raising activities for local and international projects. She was elected Executive Director in November 1997. Under her directorship she managed the local and international staff, and managed grant writing and fundraising activities for local and international projects, developed and maintained exchanges between African Universities and government officials with US institutions, and oversaw all local ...