Founder of The 429 Project. A wife and mother of two boys. She is the owner-operator of the Amoy Boucher company, a natural plant-based company that focuses on eco-friendly candles. A self-published author of Raking Leaves poetry book. Mrs. Graham has 12+ years in and out of the classroom as an educator. Her entrepreneurial skills prepared her to become the founder of The 429 Project. She is an accomplished leader who has earned a reputation for consistently meeting and exceeding aggressive objectives. Her years at the Marriott Foundation/Bridges from School To Work as a Job Developer Specialist has groomed her to engage in diverse communities. Mrs. Graham earned a Bachelor’s degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She’s currently working at Amtrak National Railroad Corporation in a leadership position.

My life journey is a tribute to victory and perseverance. I have endured hard seasons, which, in turn, have strengthened me to live a purposeful life. I believe true leaders don’t wait for things to change; they initiate the changes they want to see around them. Leaders see greatness in others and assist them to discover their fullest potential. I strive to maximize my success in everything I set out to do.

In 2014 after burying my brother Marlon Boucher in Jamaica, I was on the flight returning home to the United States. I was angry and distraught about my brother’s murder. I spoke with Marlon hours before he was killed. In our final conversation, he talked about his ambitions and expectations he had for himself and his children. He was dreaming, and he was full of life. The pain of losing my brother struck me, and I allowed my tears to flow. I took my journal from my carry-on luggage, and I began to write. I wrote a business plan outline for The 429 Project. The plane landed, and I resumed my life of taking care of my family and dealing with life stressors.

In 2017, my brother Andre Hinton was unarmed in his bed. Police officers reported that they mistakenly identified Andre for someone else after they fired their guns and killed him. In total, three of my family members were killed by gun violence. I am not unique to tragedy, and the pain violence has robbed families and communities. The 429 Project understands the importance of having a supportive organization for children who have been affected by violence.

I recalled a visit to my late brother’s old neighborhood in Kingston. At the same time, I was buying chips, biscuits, and bag juices for the kids in the lane. A young girl with beautiful brown eyes stood next to me quietly. To get my attention away from the other children, she gently tapped my leg and spoke in a hushed voice. “Miss, I am hungry, but I don’t want anything to eat. I am seven years old. I have never been to school, and I want to learn how to read and write. I want to learn how to spell my name. When September morning comes, I want to go to school like the rest of the pickney dem in the lane.” I looked into her beautiful brown eyes, knowing that she would stay hungry for her education. Her parting words were, “Please don’t forget me when you leave here and go back to foreign…I just want to go to school, please”. It was then; I decided to put my ideas into action.