- Virginia

Sarah Hummel
Reality Check Director, Virginia Beach

As the Director and Founder of Reality Check VA, through the efforts of Wave City Care, Sarah Hummel has been speaking with teens, young adults and parents since 2008 on the topic of sex and its consequences. Sarah and her team love to empower young people to make the best decisions for their sexual health, their bodies, and their futures. By actively participating with the Portsmouth Coalition for Youth and the Virginia Beach Youth Opportunities Team, Sarah does her best to partner with other organizations in the Hampton Roads area in order to be as effective as possible with this message of truth and empowerment. It is a great joy for her to see a teen catch the vision for their future during one of her talks! In supporting the vision of Wave City Care, Sarah is also the director of ShineGIRL a self esteem program for girls ages 5th - 12th grade. Sarah lives in Virginia Beach with her husband of 12 years and her amazing children!

Maylissa Luby
Reality Check Speaker

Maylissa Luby is a business woman, a mother of two, and a wife to an awesome husband of 9 years. With a history of challenging childhood/teen experiences, Maylissa has been able to share her own story and be a great influence by deeply connecting with teens to help them make healthy decisions for their own futures. Being a mentor to teens is something that Maylissa enjoys and embraces. Since joining Reality Check in 2008, Maylissa has spoken with countless teens and has seen many lives changed. She considers it an honor to be part of such an inspiring team. Never having had the "sex talk" as a young women, Maylissa finds it a tremendous privilege to educate and speak to teens on this subject.

Vernicia Eure
Reality Check Speaker

With her personal experience, business skills, counseling and trauma training, Vernicia Eure is an asset to the Reality Check VA team in many ways. Her history of making unwise choices in her teen years and living through those consequences has been the catalyst that has broken down walls and built trust as she speaks into the lives of teenagers. She is thrilled to be able to give back to this age group because it was the period of life in which she has struggled the most. Her professionalism and story of success gives the audience hope that they too have a purpose in life. Vernicia challenges them not to live aimlessly, but to make wise choices today because these choices impact their futures.

Mary Benson
Reality Check Speaker

Mary Benson is passionate about young people and helping them make healthy choices. She speaks with the Reality Check team, and is also the founder of "Rosebuds," a group she created in 2005 for girls to understand and embrace their true selves. As a healthcare professional for over 12 years, Mary has had a close-up look at what can go wrong when our teens are not educated on the risks of sex outside of a committed, monogamous relationship such as marriage. Mary is glad to share her own story with the youth of this area, and to encourage them to make choices that will lead to the futures they desire. She is happily married and has a son named Caleb.

Jessica-Rae Ziolkowski
Reality Check Intern

Jessica-Rae Ziolkowski is a college student at Old Dominion who will graduate May 2013 with a double major in Women's Studies and Creative Writing. She's been working with teens in various capacities, including Reality Check VA, since 2010. Jessica-Rae is passionate about seeing young lives changed and empowered through the Reality Check program. "It's incredible to see teens and young adults apply the knowledge they gain and take charge of their decisions. Reality Check is not just a program. I've seen it bring hope for a better future."