ABOUT US
The long term goal of Danielle's Place is to house, educate and provide for teens who are currently living outside of their legal guardian's home or facing hardship in such an environment that prohibits their healthy development.
The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness reports that between the school years 2004-05 and 2022-23 the number of students identified by public school districts as experiencing homelessness increased by 104% nation wide. In Oklahoma, there were 23,538 homeless students identified during the 2022-23 school year. This is an increase of over 2000 students from the year before.
We are actively working in the community to support youth on their journey to becoming productive members of society. We do this by providing accessible programs that focus on essential life skills, career exploration and connecting families to critical community resources.
We understand that for a student living with an unstable living situation or high family stress, focus in school is nearly impossible. They may act out but their concerns are valid: Where will my next meal come from? Will I be able to shower and have clean clothes tomorrow?
Our focus is to provide a healthy, stable community where these teens can grow and progress. We recognize addressing these real, unique needs first, will allow them to focus on building a successful future.
OUR TEAM
Ikeya Landrum,
Founder and CEO, Chair President
A dedicated advocate for youth, Ikeya Landrum founded Danielle's Place, Inc. with a mission rooted in lived experience and professional excellence. After overcoming teen homelessness, she realized firsthand the life-changing power of advocacy and community resources.
Ikeya Landrum holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Langston University. Her career began in the corporate sector, where she spent several years in management for Enterprise, honing the strategic skills she now uses to lead her organization. Today, she balances her executive role with a passion for education, serving as a Mathematics teacher for Sand Springs Public Schools. With over a decade of experience in children's ministry and the busy life of a mother of five, Ikeya remains committed to building a world where every child feels seen, supported and empowered.
Jaxon Landrum,
Board Member
Jaxon Landrum is a native of northeastern Oklahoma and born in Bartlesville, OK. He is an alumni of Nathan Hale High School and studied Public Affairs Administration at the University of Oklahoma. As a youth, he served on the board of American Red Cross. Over the last fourteen years, he has worked at Enterprise Holdings in a leadership position.
Heather Smethers,
Vice Chair of the Board
Heather Smethers is a mother of one child. Heather has been a certified medical assistant for more than 10 years and works in Pain Management. Heather supports Danielle's Place because it stands for what she loves to do the most, help people. Heather wants to be a part of changing lives.
Heather Kitchen,
Secretary of the Board
Heather Kitchen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master's Degree from the University of Oklahoma. She works as a therapist at Tulsa Street School. She previously worked as a therapist and medical social worker at OU Health Physicians Diabetes Clinic for 7 years and spent 10 years working at an inpatient psychiatric hospital, Tulsa Center for Behavioral Health. She enjoys working with children and teens to help our youth navigate the difficulties of adolescence. Heather supports Danielle's Place because she believes that providing safety and hope to a child can change families for generations to come.
Matthias Kitchen,
Treasurer of the Board
Matthias Kitchen has a passion for equipping individuals to become self-sufficient, successful members of society who will go on to make positive contributions to our communities. He has had the honor of serving the citizens of Oklahoma since 2007 in various public service roles. He currently serves as an operations director within Oklahoma’s workforce system. He brings his experience working with grants and overseeing multi-million-dollar budgets to his position as Treasurer of Danielle’s Home, ensuring that fiscal responsibility is a core principle of the organization. He believes that investing in people, particularly the up-and-coming generations are the best investments we can make.
Twanna Johnson,
Board Member
Twanna Johnson has worked for Tulsa Public Schools for nine years. She is currently the McKinney-Vento and Foster Care Coordinator for the Tulsa Public Schools. Prior to her current position, she was a social worker and school counselor. Before her family moved to Tulsa in 2016, she provided substance abuse disorder assessment, diagnosis and treatment for the Federal Bureau of Prison and Federal Pre-Trial and Probation at Recovery Centers of Arkansas, ReEntry coordinator and drug court counselor for Arkansas Community Correction. She was a case manager working with adjudicated juveniles in a secured residential treatment center. Twanna has worked with under-served youth since age 19 when she started a tutoring program at a church in the town where she attended college. She doesn't consider what she does a job but a vocation.
Danielle's Place Inc, DBA Danielle's Home, is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Registered since 2021. EIN# 87-2418606. Donations are tax deductible.