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Meet The Team

Cecily Croskey – Founder/Director

Cecily Croskey of Tacoma, WA is the Founder of Girls Hearts on Fire. She thrives on empowering young people to reach inside themselves and boldly walk in what drives them; knowing that it is vital to find your passion and pursue success within that.
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Additionally, Cecily has partnered with other community programs to best support Tacoma’s youth and also has the privilege of being a board member for Impact Schools and Under His Cover.

Cecily’s vision as a professional and entrepreneur is to empower the community’s youth and adults alike to walk boldly in their passions.

“We all have different gifts and each one is essential to our community’s forward movement.” – Cecily Croskey

Lacey Barker – Director of Development

Lacey Barker is from Tacoma, WA.  Her professional career has been centered around affordable housing and advocacy for youth.  As an Asset Manager, Lacey ensures that low-income families have a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. As a Housing Counselor, Lacey spent years helping foster youth, Veterans, and domestic violence survivors obtain permanent housing in the Seattle area. She taught households exiting homelessness how to be successful in their new environments to impact lifelong change.

Lacey is a self-proclaimed, “serial-volunteer”.  She donates her time to the Tacoma Redevelopment Council, the Affordable Housing Management Association, and Girls Hearts on Fire.  She has sat as a PTA president, cheer coach, Parent Advisory Council for Graduate Tacoma, and Emerging Advocates Program with WLIHA.

Naecha Roberts – Program Coordinator

Naecha Roberts is delighted to join the team as the new Program Coordinator, bringing with her a passion for community engagement and a commitment to holistic well-being. Drawing inspiration from Audre Lorde “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation and that is an act of political
warfare.”

Naecha believes in promoting a mindset where health is considered wealth in every aspect of life. With a diverse background that spans marketing and advertising roles in California to presenting research across the country, Naecha’s journey is rooted in education and personal development. As an artist and nature enthusiast, she finds inspiration in the colors and evolution of the world around us.

Naecha is particularly passionate about storytelling as a tool for education and understanding, leveraging art and other mediums to amplify diverse voices and narratives. With a Master of Arts degree in Communication Management from the University of Southern California (USC) and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Eastern Washington University (EWU), Naecha is well-equipped with the skills and insights to thrive in the non-profit and philanthropic sector.

Whether through community engagement initiatives, educational outreach, or administrative support, Naecha is dedicated to making a positive impact and fostering connections that empower individuals and communities. As Maya Angelou once said, “When you learn, teach, when you get, give.”

Vicky Buford – Board of Directors

Vicky Buford is from Tacoma, WA.  As a Certified Life Coach, a National Women’s Conference speaker and developer, Student of Color Conference speaker, and Women’s Peer Counselor, Vicky champions the needs of some of our most vulnerable populations in her community.  She has worked with formerly incarcerated adults and led a lesbian women’s college advisory group.  

Vicky has held elected roles as a union president and an appointed board member for the Pierce County Chemical Dependency board.   

In business, Vicky is a successful non-profit owner and entrepreneur.  Her high-level knowledge of community and business needs support the Girls Hearts on Fire mission and helps guide policy that meets our youth where they are.

Winnie Smith – Board of Directors, Treasurer

Winnie Smith of Puyallup, WA, was born and raised in Seattle, WA.  As a comprehensive financial specialist, she ensures her company’s assets are protected and accounted for.  Her oversight of detailed information makes her an invaluable asset and resource in her role as Treasurer on the GHOF board.  

On a personal level, Winnie focuses on mutual respect for all.  Her black-and-white lens allows her to contribute from a standpoint of fairness and equality.  Winnie loves seeing young people on the right track!  She is excited to be a part of such a positive program with the common goal to support the mental needs of our future while opening their minds and empower our young intellectual visions.  

“Self-confidence is the best outfit, rock it, and own it.” -Richa Kanwar

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