Rachel Delesdernier, a single mother living in southwest Miami-Dade, received a phone call every parent fears. On November 20, 2018, Rachel learned her only son Joseph Delesdernier, known as “Jo Jo,” had been shot. Jo Jo tragically passed away from his wounds shortly after. Faced with a choice to give up or give hope, Rachel chose to give hope. Her faith and love for God taught her how to forgive and be forgiven. The grief and anger that once overwhelmed her transformed into strength and determination.

In the spring of 2019, Rachel founded Angelz On Deck to provide resources for at-risk teens and grieving parents. Aware of the lack of judicial resources for minority families, Rachel aimed to bridge this gap. Through collaborations with pastors, mentors, and community leaders, she embarked on a journey to save both lives and souls. Ministry flows through Rachel in song and dance, and her ability to connect with disadvantaged children is truly a God-given gift.

The love and compassion that Rachel extends is at the heart of Angelz On Deck. We are here every step of the way to help our youth navigate life’s challenges. Our team is committed to excellence and dedicated to creating change for our children, families, and communities. We teach them to love themselves and others as God loves us. We instill values and morals they can be proud of, and we encourage them to embrace their flaws and learn from their mistakes. Through motivation, we remind them not to give up on themselves, even when it seems like everyone else has.

We are their Angelz, and they are our future. We must and we will protect, uplift, and guide them!