Team
Our team
The people building healing spaces, leadership pathways, and lasting opportunities for system-impacted girls.
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Naquasia Jones
Naquasia Jones, Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), is a passionate advocate, activist, and direct service provider dedicated to supporting women and young girls impacted by systemic failures. As CEO, she leads the organization in its mission to break generational barriers and empower the next generation of community leaders. Her responsibilities include strategic planning, overseeing the organization’s finances, managing staff, and representing PureLegacee to the public.
Lived experience
Naquasia’s deep commitment to social justice stems from her own lived experiences. At 19, she was incarcerated for 15 years in a Women’s Correctional Facility, and while at Rikers Island (Rosie M. Singer), she was pregnant. Upon her release in October 2017, she leveraged her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Minor in Psychology—earned during her incarceration—to begin her work at the Ladies of Hope Ministries, where she supported other women impacted by the justice system.
Her personal experiences with systems that were meant to support her but ultimately failed have shaped her career, driving her dedication to reform and advocacy for women and girls.
Founding PureLegacee
In 2018, Naquasia founded PureLegacee Inc. to create a healing space for young girls, helping them to overcome generational challenges and cultivate leadership skills. She is also an active participant in the Beyond Rosies campaign and the Herstories documentary, shedding light on the stories of women who have been incarcerated. Naquasia contributed to the Probation and Parole Reform Project with Columbia University and was a part of the FACES Speakers Bureau in 2021, using her voice to elevate the perspectives of formerly incarcerated individuals as change agents.
Advocacy & training
As an alumna of Women Influencing Systems and History through the Community College Fellowship, Naquasia works to train women to become advocates against mass incarceration.
- Reform Alliance Ambassador for New York
- Certified Credible Messenger since 2019 through The New School, where she also taught and trained other Credible Messengers in New York City
- Alumna of Women Transcending at Columbia University
- Cohort member of the Collective Leadership Institute
- Certification in Community Organizing from CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies
Through her tireless work and dedication, Naquasia continues to inspire and empower those around her to challenge systemic injustices and create lasting change.
Amanda Frazier
Office Manager
Amanda Frazier is a dynamic operations and nonprofit professional with a passion for creating systems, building relationships, and helping organizations turn their vision into meaningful impact. With experience in school operations, nonprofit management, executive support, partnerships, events, and organizational development, Amanda brings a strategic yet people-centered approach to her work at PureLegacee.
A proud graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, Amanda holds dual degrees in African American Studies and English, combining her commitment to community and social impact with strong attention to detail and operational expertise.
Known for her charismatic personality, positive energy, and ability to bring people together, Amanda is a natural connector and problem-solver. At PureLegacee, she supports day-to-day operations, program coordination, partnerships, fundraising, events, and the systems that help the organization grow while staying rooted in its mission to ensure girls and young women are whole.
LaKeisha Armstrong
Program Director
Lakeisha Armstrong, Program Director, is a passionate advocate for youth leadership and educational equity. Throughout her career in education and youth development, Lakeisha has seen firsthand how access to mentorship, leadership opportunities, and career exploration can transform lives. Being part of PureLegacee - an organization committed to uplifting the next generation - reflects both her professional purpose and her personal values.
Prior to joining PureLegacee, Lakeisha served in leadership roles at Community High School, St. John’s University, SUNY Morrisville, and SUNY Oswego. Her experience includes positions such as Director of College and Career Readiness, Assistant Director of the Freshman Center, First-Year Writing Professor, and Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Counselor.
These diverse roles have equipped her with extensive expertise in youth and program development, workforce readiness, educational equity, and academic support - all of which she brings to her current role. Lakeisha earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Siena College and her Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University.
At PureLegacee, Lakeisha combines her passion for educational equity and mentorship with her academic and professional experience to create meaningful opportunities that inspire confidence, foster leadership, and prepare system-impacted young people for long-term success in their education, careers, and communities.
Beyond her role, she is a dedicated volunteer who enjoys cooking and playing tennis. Lakeisha hopes to leave behind programs, partnerships, and systems that continue empowering young people long after her direct involvement, ensuring future generations have the support and opportunities they need to succeed.