Vonya Quarles is the co-founder and Executive Director of Starting Over, Inc. She has extensive experience advocating for the rights and support of vulnerable populations, focusing on providing housing, job placement, and other essential services.

Vonya blends her experience, education, and community advocacy to create systemic change. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Juris Doctorate and is a licensed and practicing attorney. Vonya is a Women Organizing for Justice Fellow, Women’s Policy Institute Fellow, and recipient of several awards including the J. Irwin Award and Eleanor Jean Grier Leadership Fellowship. She has been instrumental in organizing and lifting the voices of historically marginalized people, and her work has been recognized for its impact on family reunification and addressing the complexities of criminal convictions.

Her leadership in SOS focuses on advocating for systemic changes to support essential services and amplify the voices of those impacted by the carceral system​ (Starting Over, Inc. (Copy))​​ (Women's Foundation California)​​ (Repeal ASFA )​.

Pastor Sharon Green is widely recognized as a trailblazer in housing and social justice across San Bernardino County, with more than two decades of tireless advocacy. As Founder and Executive Director of the Victor Valley Family Resource Center (VVFRC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, she has dedicated her career to eradicating homelessness and advancing equity for vulnerable populations. Under her leadership, VVFRC provides emergency, transitional, and supportive housing for unhoused residents and seniors, while also preventing homelessness through rental and utility assistance in the High Desert region.

Pastor Green ensures that the voices of underserved communities are represented in the decision-making process. She holds key leadership roles, including Chair of the San Bernardino County Homeless Partnership Network, Member of the Interagency Council on Homelessness Board, Co-Chair of the High Desert Regional Steering Committee, and Chair of Outreach and the Coordinated Entry System. Through these platforms, she influences funding, policy, and systems change aimed at breaking cycles of poverty and homelessness.

Her newest initiative is focused on the Northeast side of Adelanto, one of the most underserved areas in the High Desert. There, she and her organization deliver groceries and essential resources to families most impacted by poverty, ensuring immediate relief while building long-term pathways to stability.

Pastor Green is also known nationally for her fearless fight against discriminatory housing practices. In 2016, she became the first nonprofit leader to successfully file and win a lawsuit against a city for its unlawful “crime-free” rental housing ordinance. The City of Hesperia’s 2018 settlement resulted in the ordinance’s repeal, and her advocacy helped spark similar reforms in Victorville, Apple Valley, and Adelanto. Her leadership was instrumental in influencing the U.S. Department of Justice’s landmark settlement with the City of Hesperia, the Police Department, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, which ended discriminatory enforcement of “crime-free” housing policies.

Today, Pastor Sharon Green stands as one of San Bernardino County’s strongest advocates for social justice. Her life’s work reflects courage, resilience, and a relentless commitment to ensuring that every person—regardless of race, income, or background—has access to safe, stable housing and the opportunity to thrive.