Malon E.D. James

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As Georgia's youngest hydroponic farmer, Mr. Malon E.D. James believes hydroponics is a viable solution to the world's problems of food insecurity and climate change. The onset of Covid-19 was the impetus for Malon's current research initiatives.

Malon began his career of community service at the tender age of 7 years old when he worked with environmental lobbyists to move a house bill in the state of Georgia into law. Meeting Governor Nathan Deal was just one of the many privileges in what has become a history of serving others. 

Two years later, when the Coronavirus pandemic hit the world, Malon sprang into action. At age 10, he became enthralled with face masks in the early days of the Coronavirus pandemic, watching children’s specials from his Gwinnett County home that featured Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. 

An immediate Fauci supporter, Malon made sure all his friends wore masks when they came out to play, but their flimsy disposable ones disheartened him. Malon told his mother that he wanted to get children the safest masks possible. A year later, he stood in a Norcross mobile home park, giving out hundreds of high-quality, reusable cloth masks to small children and their families. He wore dress clothes and a face covering that proclaimed, “Everyone Deserves A Mask.” 

At 11 years old, six months later, Malon expanded the 'Everyone Deserves A Mask' campaign to the African country of Liberia to benefit families in Nimba and Montserrado counties. Malon, through his partners, donated hundreds of reusable masks and directed students and parents to Covid-19 test and vaccine locations. 

Malon has developed a mHealth (mobile Health) app to get much need supplies to far away, underserved countries with little or no cost. His supplies “Hitch-A-Ride” with humanitarians traveling abroad to Low-to-Middle Income Countries (LMIC). His app also tests safety protocols in a pandemic among children. 

Out of the need to transport the mask overseas quickly and with minimal expense, came Malon’s system to work with humanitarians like Honorary Consul General, Cynthia L. Blandford, for the Republic of Liberia to the state of Georgia, to allow his supplies to ‘Hitch-A-Ride’ to the foreign country of Liberia. As a result, hundreds of high-quality, reusable masks were gifted to children, their caregivers, and medical professionals in Nimba and Montserrado, Monrovia. Malon’s efforts to provide masks to those in need have now gone overseas. It’s also caught the attention of Dr. Fauci’s team. 

In late 2021, Malon received the prestigious Regis F. Groff youth award from the National Black Caucus of State Legislators for his global humanitarian work. He became the youngest Primary Investigator (P.I.) at 11 years old when his research study was approved by the University of Liberia IRB in January 2022. 

In his research, he identified a crucial gap in keeping children well during a pandemic, war, or natural disaster-and that is food insecurity. He found an answer: Hydroponics. After trial and error over the last two years, he has a hydroponic research farm testing the viability of organically produced nutrients and compares the many facets of hydroponically grown food to traditional farming as it relates to Climate Smart Solutions.

When Malon introduced his theories to the University of Georgia Extension, he was told of hydroponic systems that were purchased by the county years ago but had been placed in the closet of local libraries, senior systems and schools. Six months later, the doormat hydroponic systems in the county have been taken out of storage and placed on display for the public and students. 

It is Malon’s innovative strategies that have brought this project to fruition. He has secured corporate, university, farm growers, NRCS, FSA, food insecurity pantries, and other national support. He has a team of subject matter experts to help him get this research project to the finish line. 

Malon E.D. James was born on February 15, 2010, in Cincinnati Ohio. He moved with his mother and grandmother to the Greater Atlanta area when he was 5 years old. He is now an advanced student taking senior-level classes at 12 years of age. The philosophy he holds dear is that we never accomplish anything great on our own. Malon attributes the success of fulfilling his dreams of serving others in a grand way to GOD and his mentors.

Deborah Brock-Blanks is a registered nurse, black belt in Karate and our lead empowerment facilitator. Her holistic, earthy approach to life makes her the best motivator for those who have experienced trauma.

Don't Count Me Out offers a personal development
Empowerment/Survival  retreat called Kaleidoscope to help anyone make a positive lifestyle  change. The project is modeled after a Proctor & Gamble executive  training series and began in 1996. Groups of 10 at a time receive the  personal development services which include a 3-day, 2-night retreat  followed-up by emotional, physical, social, mental, and spiritual  well-being empowerment training over a 6-month period.

Kaleidoscope is a 3-day, 2-night Empowerment/Survival retreat helps the participants  take a hard look at self. It stretches them mentally and physically.  The purpose is to break the cycle of incarceration, help them heal from  the experience and be better and stronger for their children.

It  is increasingly clear that attempts to empower and mentor children  without the cooperation of their parents is nearly impossible.

Under  the guidance of empowerment specialists Deborah Brock-Blanks, the  parents and children we serve will attend our Empowerment/Survival retreats. Ms. Brock-
Blanks is a subject matter expert who currently addresses issues of the a feelings of isolation, self-esteem, and trauma.

Teresa Watson is an owner of TRJ's Transport Lines, Inc. (TRJ), an  Atlanta, Georgia based trucking company whose mission is to become one  of the largest trucking companies servicing the United States.

Teresa's  vision to start her own trucking company began after the untimely death  of her father, TRJ Watson. Mr. Watson had been a truck driver for over  30 years, and always wanted to own his own trucking company. The problem  was he didn't ever have the resources. Since his death, God has placed  the same spirit into Teresa and the new vision of TRJ’s Transport Lines,  Inc.

Teresa's success as a business owner and giving spirit has  led her to give back to the community. She demonstrates her commitment  by volunteering as a Community Coordinator for Don't Count Me Out. She heard  about Don't Count Me Out from founder, Monique James, who also works as  a contractor for FedEx Custom Critical.  The volunteers from the family of Custom Critical is growing. 

Ms. Watson was very  instrumental in the Atlanta Father's Day Bailout created by Monique  James and Judge Terrinee L. Gundy. She helped garner the support of the  court system and public defenders office. She interviewed the fathers  who participated and connected with their families. Later, at the  Empowerment/Survival retreat, Teresa made sure the father's had work and  housing upon returning to the city of Atlanta. The release of these  father's was due in a large part to Teresa's efforts.  Her 12 years of working with the Atlanta municipal court system before she started her trucking business, was an invaluable asset to the bailout project.

As a follow-up, Ms. Watson is a member of the Don't Count Me Out design team to provide a systematic housing and work system for the participants of the Kaleidoscope Empowerment/Survival retreat. 

 Demetria White Hillman is a dedicated specialist in Human Services with a passion for Child and Family Services. Since 2016, she has been an invaluable asset to Don’t Count Me Out, Inc., where she serves as a Community Specialist. In this role, Demetria tirelessly assists families in overcoming food insecurity while also empowering them to pursue educational opportunities. Currently, she plays a pivotal role in supporting Executive Director Malon E.D. James in his groundbreaking worldwide public education campaign to combat food insecurity using climate-smart hydroponics solutions. Demetria's commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of others is both inspiring and invaluable to the community. Demetria White Hillman's journey as a family service advocate began in 1998 in partnership with Job & Family Services in Cincinnati, Ohio. Tasked with the crucial responsibility of reuniting parents with children they had been separated from due to out-of-home care, Demetria demonstrated unwavering dedication and compassion.

Over the course of the next decade, Demetria's impact expanded exponentially. She became a beacon of hope for mothers striving to transition from public assistance to self-sufficiency, guiding them towards long-term employment while tackling housing and food insecurity head-on. Demetria's approach went beyond mere assistance; she coordinated empowerment survival retreats, providing families with the tools to identify and address systemic barriers hindering their ability to thrive and succeed as a unit.

Demetria's profound love for her work stems from her own struggles in her early years, making her success rate unmatched. Her journey is a testament to the transformative power of empathy, resilience, and relentless dedication in the pursuit of creating positive change in the lives of others.

Ms. James and the "Don't Count Me Out Team" organized the "Atlanta Father's Day Bailout." She developed a system with the cooperation of the Atlanta Corrections Department, senior member of Atlanta Municipal Court Judge Terrinee L. Gundy, their staff and the Atlanta Public Defenders office, that streamlined the process to bailout fathers jailed on "Quality of Life" charges.  Judge Gundy decided to release the men on signature bond, eliminating the need for bail money.

 Judge Gundy's decision made provisions so that all fathers could participate in the personal development services. This served as a precursor to new Atlanta legislation and municipal court procedures eliminating bail money. Fourteen men were released at the same time, taken to eat by Pastor Christopher Waller of Butler Street CME Church, and reunited with their families for Father's Day. The qualified participants attended the Don't Count Me Out 3-day and  2-night Survival & Empowerment Retreat. Upon return to Atlanta, the men were provided with employment, transportation and communication services. 

Monique James, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio and currently co-owner of a transportation logistics  company, is our Executive Director. As the founder of Don't Count Me  Out, Inc. Monique is extending her many years of volunteerism and  community service to ensure that the most vulnerable children in our state and their parents get a "seat at the table."

Ms. James began her career in Public Relations & Community Affairs with the American Greetings Corporation in Osceola, AR as a Community Affairs Officer with a staff of two specialists. Four years later, Ms. James was invited back to Cincinnati in 1991 to begin a Public  Relations & Community Affairs company that would target urban community participation and support corporate minority interest. Along with two partners, Ms. James directed projects sponsored by public and private  companies through Gibraltar Public Relations & Community Affairs located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Over the  years, Monique has become well known for creating favorable attitudes among various organizations, special interest groups, and the public through effective communication. She has managed more than 16 staff  specialists on a given project.

Since 2010, Ms. James has consulted with Time Wise Management Systems (TWMS) located in Celebration, Florida  as a Legislative Agent for the executive and legislative branch of  government in the State of Kentucky. Monique was also assigned to build public private partnerships along with serving as the communications and  public relations state director for TWMS.

Secularly, Ms. James is a supply chain logistics and transportation management Co-Owner Operator supporting U.S. Veterans under FedEx Custom Critical. As  Executive Director of the non-profit Don’t Count Me Out, she gets to  fulfill her life long goal of serving children and families.