Compassion's Mission

The mission of Compassion Edge LLC is to empower students and support their transitional journey into scholars through personal development, peer-oriented programs and professional pathways.  Through tailored and persistent support, we illuminate the journey, nurture aspirations and foster resilience within a community built on empowerment and guidance.

 

Compassion's Vision

Our vision is driven by a student-centered commitment which focuses on each individual’s unique capacity to unlock their potential, bypass boundaries, and exceed expectations of the tradition educational experience.

Compassion's Story

Compassion Edge LLC was founded in February/March 2024 and is a heart heavy desire to create a cause and effect ripple in the educational transition experience of foster students.  Our paths crossed in 2014 during Leadership Lamar wherein we continued to work together in higher education.  With a rich history in student engagement and support services, we saw where students in foster care systems struggled to acclimate and adjust in the college setting.  The struggle was observed in all areas of growth where the students were not successful personally, academically or socially. As a result, we partner with colleges and communities to understand and close the gap where students or foster organizations need support during their transitional journey. 

Meet The Team

Robin Butler, TBA

Co-Founder

Robin Butler is a Professional School Counselor and National Certified Counselor who started her career as a Human Resource Specialist, before moving into counseling. Currently, she is employed with the third largest school district in the nation, Gwinnett County Public Schools.  Robin has also worked in the higher education arena (Gordon State University) helping adolescents navigate their college years. Driven by a mission to empower others, Robin has been involved in many community projects to include Leadership Lamar and Northeast GA Black Chamber of Commerce. She considers her “superpower” to be reconnecting people to themselves.  Dedicated to serving and helping others, Robin faced an unrealized dilemma of professional burnout in Spring 2020 coincidentally at the same time the World was being disrupted by COVID. This mixture produced the ideal environment for a personal and career “reset”.

Triggered by the racial injustice of home ownership highlighted in the Apple TV movie, “The Banker,” she decided to attend real estate school and obtained a real estate license. Diving into entrepreneurship proved not to be as smooth of a feat as expected. As a result, Robin  immersed herself into another level of personal development research and growth.

Armed  with her own personal development insights and experiences from counseling, Robin has discovered a niche to help others to connect to themselves, explore and leverage their natural talents and skills which can be an exponential benefit in the creator economy. 

She has returned to her career of professional counseling to continue empowering young adults to overcome trauma, develop self-confidence, identify multiple career options and strong decision making.

Tonya Coleman, Ed.D.

Co-Founder

Tonya R. Coleman is a life-long learner and  proponent of best practices within process and protocol.  She is a Valdosta State University graduate where she earned her bachelors of science in Administrative Services and Speech Language Pathology.  As a graduate assistant in the Intramural/Recreation Department and the MBA Program, she completed her masters of public administration degree at Valdosta State University while serving two terms as a Governor's Intern at Lowndes County DFACS.  After graduation, she continued in higher education at then Gordon College (now Gordon State College) in student affairs/services. During this time, she was active in various administrative roles such as interim athletic director, vice president for student affairs and dean of students.  In 2018, she obtained her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Management from Capella University and currently holds the position of director of student engagement at College of Coastal Georgia.  As a learner in the system, she has also been active with committee and task force participation (Board of Regents VAWA Violence Against Women Act, Board of Regents Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and University System of Georgia Executive Leadership Institute-ELI 2022).  With many interests, she is most committed to community causes and partnerships such as the American Red Cross, American Cancer Society-Relay for Life, Communities in Schools-Henry County Advisory Board, and Leadership Lamar near and dear to her heart.