Dawn S. Paramore
LPCMH, CAADC, NCC
C.E.O.
Dawn S. Paramore, LPCMH, CAADC, NCC, a Philadelphia native, is a licensed mental health professional, receiving a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling from Wilmington University in 2013. Dawn has received several certifications specializing in trauma, drugs and alcohol treatment pertaining to children, adolescents, adults and their families.
Dawn is the C.E.O. of Tranquil Solutions for a Centered Mind, LLC, Camp BLISS Kids, Inc., and Total Renewal Wellness Center, LLC. Dawn works with her K-9 companion, a Certified Therapy Dog with PAWS for People and Canine Good Citizen, Duke Ellington of Delaware, a 3-year-old Goldendoodle.
Dawn and Duke became a PAWS therapy team in December 2016. Since joining PAWS, the therapy team frequently visited places such as Terry Psychiatric Center for Children, Ferris School for Boys, and The Cottages. They, spend a majority of their time between her private practice and Skyline Middle School’s Autism Program. At Skyline, this therapy team work together to conduct Mental Health Risk Assessments to determine if a child is in crisis, participate in hallway duties, and engages with “Lunch with Duke”, where children earn an opportunity to eat lunch with Duke, immediately followed by reading their favorite book of choice.
Some additional fun facts:
- Past Camp Counselor at Camp Neumann, Jamison, Pennsylvania
- Foreign Exchange Student to Switzerland with American Field Service
- Attending Concord High School, Wilmington, Delaware
- Attended Norfolk State University, Norfolk Virginia
- Obtained an ABA Certified Paralegal Certificate from Widener University
- Was crown Miss Norfolk State University in 1998 under the Miss American Organization
- Norfolk State University Cheerleader from 1995-1999
- One of a few minority women who currently holds an Amateur Radio Operators License in the State of Delaware (KB3UAV)
Dawn continues to remain passionate towards mental health issues and awareness pertaining to children and their families.
Dr. Keenan D. Dorsey Sr.
Board Member
Dr. Dorsey was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services, a Master’s Degree in School Counseling and Leadership, and a Doctoral Degree in Higher Education Leadership. He has over 15 years of effective education leadership experience serving as a student advocate, school counselor, school administrator, school turnaround specialist, school leadership developer, and college professor.
Dr. Dorsey currently serves as Managing Director at Girard College in Philadelphia, PA. He also serves as a consultant to current and aspiring school leaders, coaching them in best practices for: Building Effective School Culture & Climate, Meeting Academic and Social Development Needs for a Diverse Student Body, Building Community and Parent Partnerships, and Creating Innovative Educational Program Models for At-Risk Student Populations.
Sarafina King
Board Member
Sarafina King is a Philadelphia native who is a daughter of two loving parents, and the middle child of three. She is a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counselor by vocation whose passion spills over for our youth, especially those under-privileged.
She has an A.S. in Humans Services, a B.S. in Behavioral Science, and M.S. in Administration in Human Services. Sarafina is a staunch advocate for youth in her community and also actively serves on Epiphany Fellowship Youth Leadership Group-"The Plug". She is grateful for the opportunity to serve on the board of Camp Bliss and is excited to make an impact on the lives of children and their families.
Sherry Dorsey Walker
Board Member
Sherry Dorsey Walker, a native of Wilmington, Delaware, is the first Person of Color elected to the Delaware House of Representatives from the 3rd District in 2018. As well, she is first Woman and the first Person of Color elected to the 6th District to the Wilmington City Council in 2012. She earned a Masters in Film from Howard University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Delaware in English/Journalism. She is a proud product of St. Elizabeth School, where she attended for 12 years. In 2001, Sherry established SWAP Productions LLC, an independent film production company. SWAP is an acronym for Sisters With A Purpose. Sherry humbly believes that her purpose in life is to educate, entertain and enlighten through her films and her public service. For this reason, she conceptualized “Justice For All: The Documentary.”
“Justice For All: The Documentary” addresses the ill-treatment of youth in the juvenile justice system in America and overseas. The film was chosen to screen in conjunction with the Congressional Black Caucus in September 2010. Also, the project was the Official Selection of the following: Kingdomwood Christian Film Festival in Atlanta, New Orleans International Human Rights Film Festival and the Philadelphia International Film Festival. Sherry humbly believes that we, as a nation, truly need to do a better job of improving juveniles' lives and divorcing ourselves from the notion that corporal punishment is the best form of rehabilitation.
Furthermore, Sherry has worked on two additional films simultaneously “Strokes of Justice,” a film focusing on Simmie Knox, the first African American to paint portraits of a President (Bill Clinton) and his wife Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as Justices Thurgood Marshall and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In addition, Sherry produced SOS 2 (Saving Our Sister/Sharing Our Stories), a film in conjunction with the Tunnell Cancer Center in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and the Susan G. Komen Foundation of Philadelphia, PA, which focuses on the affects of breast cancer on Women of Color, in Sussex County, Delaware.
As a City Councilwoman, Sherry worked tirelessly to foster relationships among businesses, governmental agencies and schools. Sherry established Above The Rim Basketball League with the Browntown Civic Association Kidz Club. With the help of the community, Sherry created a crime-fighting program using solar-powered lights. The lights were strategically placed in high-crime areas and the program drastically reduced crime in the neighborhood. Also, Sherry advocates for educators, children and their families in the school and local communities. Moreover, Sherry literally walks the streets of her district, in an effort to identify constituents who desire to work and assists them with becoming gainfully employed.
Additionally, Sherry is Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Kind to Kids, she is a former board member of the ACLU of Delaware, Biden Breast Health Initiative, Delaware Africa Caribbean Coalition (Founding Member), Delaware African Caribbean Affairs Commission, St. Michael’s Day School and Public Allies of Delaware. Sherry serves on the following committees in the House of Representatives: Agriculture, Economic Development, Judiciary, Revenue and Finance, Sunset and Veterans Affairs. She previously served on the Board of Parole and the Governor’s Women's Commission. She is also a Member and Trustee at Bethel AME Church in Wilmington, DE. She is married to her college sweetheart Dwight.
Desmond Wynn Jr.
Community Liaison
Desmond Wynn, Jr., is a Community Liaison and has been employed with the Rockford Center for over 25 years. He began his career at the Rockford Center in 1991 where he worked primarily with the Adolescent Day Program before transferring to the in-patient facility. Desmond has a passion for working with youth and possesses the ability to reach them by building relationships based on trust and effective listening. Desmond’s current goal is to improve the process of how students transition from the center back to their respective schools. Improvement in this process, which will clearly define the expectations of the schools and the Rockford Center, is paramount to the overall success and well-being of students that have been in our care.
Desmond is a 1986 graduate of Delaware State University and possesses a B.S. degree in Marketing. He has also been a “Handle with Care” trainer with the Rockford Center for over 15 years. This in-service training program teaches employees how to manage and communicate with aggressive patients.