Our Leadership Team.
The Enai Foundation is a family-led 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to recognizing the profound effects of incarceration on children and families. Established in 2024, The Enai Foundation brings awareness and a call to action to address the adverse impact of parental incarceration on families and communities.
Alex Ray Charfauros
Co-Founder
Alex currently serves the Board President of The Enai Foundation. Alex has embarked on a remarkable journey of transformation and personal growth since 2010 currently serving 14 years of incarceration. In 2016, he made a decisive life changing commitment to leave behind the criminal activity and gang involvement and instead choosing recovery, rehabilitation, education, and spiritual development. Within the last 8 years, he has achieved a series of significant milestones such as attending Bible College through The Urban Ministry Institute (T.U.M.I.), where he developed a strong foundation in faith and leadership. He has also served as Chairman of both Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) and Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.) groups, demonstrating his commitment to supporting others in their recovery. In addition, Alex has engaged in extensive personal and professional development through the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (A.R.C.) and the Alternatives to Violence Project (A.V.P.). He has been involved in the rehabilitation of others by serving as a yard facilitator for the Preparing for Reentry Employment Program (P.R.E.P.). With Straight Life he has engaged criminal law students from Imperial Valley College (I.V.C.) to provide them with firsthand insight into the realities of incarceration from a prisoner’s perspective, demonstrating his community engagement and mentorship. In addition, Alex has pursued higher education and is currently enrolled at Southwestern College, where he is pursuing a degree in Sociology and Behavioral Sciences. His goal is to continue pursuing higher education to obtain a graduate degree in Social Work. Driven by a deeply personal connection, Alex is passionately committed to supporting the children of incarcerated parents as a father himself leaving behind his 7 year old daughter in 2010. Alex takes his accountability in understanding the challenges these children face. His experiences have fueled his unwavering dedication to this cause, which he views not merely as an organizational mission but as a way of living a purposeful life for him and his family. He believes that his story and his daughter's story uniquely position him to inspire others to support the mission, vision, and values that guide The Enai Foundation to shape a brighter future for children of incarcerated parents.
Alannamae Charfauros Salas
Co-Founder
Alannamae currently serves as the Board Treasurer of The Enai Foundation. Alannamae (aka Enai) is driven by a deep, personal commitment to supporting children of incarcerated parents. Having experienced the incarceration of her own parent since 2010, Alannamae understands firsthand the emotional and social challenges these children face. Through years of overcoming personal struggles with recovery, domestic violence, homelessness, and raising a daughter with an incarcerated parent, she has gained invaluable insight into the importance of faith, relationships, community, and resilience. Guided by a strong belief in offering hope and love to those in need, Alannamae is passionate about ensuring that these children know they are not alone and that their future can be filled with opportunity, support, and purpose. She currently facilitates youth peer support groups to children of incarcerated parents.
Geneveve Matundan
Chief Operating Officer
Geneveve currently serves as the Secretary and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She attended the University of Southern California with a Master's of Social Work degree and is a doctoral candidate at Capella University. With a strong background in leadership and social work, Geneveve has been instrumental in advancing the field of social work practice, focusing on improving strategic operations and compassionate service. Geneveve holds over 10 years of experience working in various settings such as private practice, community mental health organizations, non-profit organizations, community based healthcare, hospitals, and the private business sector. Her commitment to social work and community empowerment drives her work with students, colleagues, and organizations, ensuring that each contribution makes a meaningful impact on the individuals encountered.
Meet Our Peer Mentors
Peer Mentor
Alannamae
Alannamae (aka Enai) is driven by a deep, personal commitment to supporting children of incarcerated parents. Having experienced the incarceration of her own parent since 2010, Alannamae understands firsthand the emotional and social challenges these children face. Through years of overcoming personal struggles with recovery, domestic violence, homelessness, and raising a daughter with an incarcerated parent, she has gained invaluable insight into the importance of faith, relationships, community, and resilience. Guided by a strong belief in offering hope and love to those in need, Alannamae is passionate about ensuring that these children know they are not alone and that their future can be filled with opportunity, support, and purpose. She currently facilitates youth peer support groups to children of incarcerated parents.
Peer Mentor
Rachelle "Chili"
My father was incarcerated when I was 11 years old. Along with that came a profound sense of loss that ignited confusion, anger and shame, that my siblings,and I still struggle to face even into adulthood.However, despite that hole in my heart, it also emboldens me to cultivate compassion and empathy for those who have experienced the same, because no matter how society deems my father's character: no child should feel alone in that struggle of picking up the pieces their parents left behind—and burdened by the stigma that too often accompanies it. To me, being a peer mentor is about cultivating a safe space for young people and showing that their story is not their final chapter.
Peer Mentor/ LMSW
Ray-Mya
Hello, my name is Ray-Mya Hardeman, pronounced (Ray-my-Uhhh Hard-uh-man). I was born and raised in Austin, Texas. I moved to Houston, Texas to complete my undergraduate education at the University of Houston where I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Psychology. I am currently also obtaining my master’s in social work from the University of Houston. Growing up I always enjoyed children and helping others. I went through the stages of wanting to be a pediatrician, an obgyn, a therapist, and ultimately a social worker. My knowledge about obtaining a degree in social work was very limited to what others around me thought about social work, which again was limited to Child Protective Services. The more I’ve learned, the more I’ve grown to love social work, and what it stands for. My previous experience is limited to adults as I helped assess and counsel adults within an inpatient psychiatric setting. From that experience I met a wide range of people and it reestablished how important it is for us to get the help and support we need as children. My father was incarcerated from when I was 9 years of age to 15 and as a young woman it affected me a lot. I hope with this opportunity I can bridge the gap for children with incarcerated parents and also be living proof that your circumstances and upbringing don’t define you.
Peer Mentor
Shelia
My name is Shelia Garcia. I was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and I’m currently pursuing my Master’s in Social Work at the University of Houston. I’m excited to be interning here as part of my graduate journey. I bring several years of experience working with unaccompanied minors, having served in various roles including case manager, lead case manager, program director, and now director of compliance. These experiences have strengthened my dedication to supporting youth facing complex and difficult life situations. I have a particular passion for working with children of incarcerated parents. I believe strongly in the impact of early intervention, advocacy, and in creating spaces where young people feel seen, heard, and supported. Outside of work and school, I’m a proud mom of two beautiful girls. I love spending time with my family and friends, and when I’m not with them, studying, or working, you’ll probably find me at the gym, running in the park, or trying out new coffee shops around the city. I’m truly looking forward to growing through this experience and contributing to the important work being done here!