CEG Co-Founders,
Natalia Cales (left) & Agnes Rivers (right)
Ms. Natalia Cales
Executive Director
Bachelors of Science degree in Health Services Management,
Norfolk State University, 2001
As the Executive Director of CEG, Ms. Cales is committed to CEG's mission of "Empowering People Day by Day". The vision of CEG became a reality less than a year after Natalia loss her mother to major HIV/AIDS complications in January 2006. Witnessing her mother's battle with this disease motivated her to continue the fight against this epidemic. Having the wonderful opportunity to travel to Nairobi, Kenya, attend the YWCA World Council Meeting and participate in the MTV 48Fest has impacted Natalia's life tremendously.
These experiences have transformed her recent tragedy of losing her mother to HIV/AIDS into something very positive. Ms. Cales is compelled to address South Carolina's national ranking of no. 9 for new HIV/AIDS infections. Her life's mission is to educate and prevent others from contracting this deadly disease. In addition, she has reached hundreds of youth by sharing her life's story of surviving the foster care system by overcoming the odds. She lives by the famous Maya Angelou quote, "when you know better, you do better", and strives to empower people to make better life choices and decisions.
Ms. Agnes Rivers
Associate Director
Masters Degree in Psychology, The Citadel, 2007
Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology, University of South Carolina, 2001
As Associate Director of CEG, Ms. Rivers has dedicated her life and is committed to helping educate individuals, and bringing awareness about issues that affect the community such as HIV/AIDS. She believes the most powerful tool that we have to fight the battle against HIV/AIDS and to take back control of our lives from this disease is communication.
As HIV/AIDS increases within the United States, South Carolina ranks 9th in the nation for newly infected cases. Ms. Rivers feels that the virus continues to spread because few have learned enough about this deadly disease to save their own lives. This has been a driving force behind her fight against this epidemic. She draws from Lawrence Kohlberg and firmly believes in, "my readiness to accept people for who they are while providing opportunities for them to enhance their development."
