About Us

Our History

The Live Again Story

In 2012, Richard Burrell met over 30 children living at The Fresno Inn, a rundown motel off Parkway Drive, and began showing up with food, kindness, and hope.

Our Founder, Richard Burrell pulled into The Fresno Inn parking lot and saw children playing in an area where raw sewage drained—one of the only places their parents deemed “safe” in a neighborhood overrun by drugs, violence, and human trafficking.

The Fresno Inn, located off Parkway Drive—Fresno’s epicenter for crime—housed families crammed into 150 rooms, often with three to five people sharing a space meant for one. These children were hungry for food and starving for attention. Richard and Roxanne began showing up, bringing meals, joining their games, and slowly building trust. What started as small acts of care turned into an after-school program, and from there, Live Again Fresno was born.

Our Vision

To see a healthy and flourishing Addams neighborhood

How it Started

Our Founder

Richard Burrell

Founder – Executive Director

Richard Burrell knows firsthand the challenges of growing up in Fresno’s Parkway neighborhood—where poverty, gang violence, and survival shape daily life. Struggling with addiction and gang involvement, he once questioned whether change was even possible. But through faith, resilience, and a deep desire to give back, he found a new path—one that led him to create Live Again Fresno in 2012. What started as simply showing up—helping kids with homework, offering meals, and building trust—grew into a thriving organization that now empowers hundreds of children and families each year.

Driven by his own experiences, Richard is committed to breaking cycles of hardship and providing young people with mentorship, education, and a safe place to grow. His journey from struggle to leadership is a testament to the power of hope and community. Through Live Again Fresno, he continues to stand in the gap, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to build a brighter future—one filled with possibility, stability, and the belief that they matter.

Richard Burrell, Founder & Former Parkway Kid
Our Team

Executive Team

Richard Burrell

Founder – Executive Director

JaNessa Williams

Program Manager

Gabriela Cristobal

Outreach

Leonard Medina Jr.

Project Coordinator

Teresa Tovar

Project Specialist
Our Team

Board of Directors

Tammy Townsend

Board President

Brandy Woodard

Board Member

Farah Karipineni

Board Member

Deborah Bento

Board Secretary

Gordon Saito

Officer

Michele Berry

Treasurer

Rick Berry

Officer
Our Team

Parent Partners

Maribel Cristobal

Parent Partner

Bianca Lopez

Outreach Specialist

Daniel Mejia

Parent Partner

Taylor Contreras

Community Navigator

Legend Melendez

Youth Mentor