Jacquena L. McIver​​​​,  LCSWA, MSW

 Founder & CEO

Jacquena knows what it feels like to endure family health challenges and dreams deferred. She understands the power of being resilient and tenacious in the face of such disappointments. Jacquena knew she could not accept the status quo and the socially constructed chain of poverty among urban teenage mothers, so she went back to school to obtain her GED. In the Fall of 2006, she had an epiphany that confirmed her life purpose: To inspire others to live more fulfilling lives. Despite her fears, Jacquena took a leap of faith to pursue her dream.

This transformation led her to start A Queen Above All, The Jacquena Bryant Foundation. Jacquena's dream is to empower others to live out their dreams and not to give up; she is especially passionate about helping young mothers because she was once one. She was raised by her great grandmother in the New York City projects in poverty. By the age of eighteen she was a mother of three. Jacquena is a survivor of domestic violence, she almost lost her life at the hands of her batter as a teenager. Despite it all she never stopped striving for better.

As a single young mother Jacquena went back to school to obtain her GED at Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC), she then went on to obtain her associate degree in Paralegal Studies at GTCC and later her bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts with a concentration in African American Studies from North Carolina A&T State University (NC A&T SU). Jacquena also holds a Masters of Social Work with a concentration in Advance Clinical Practice from Walden University. She is a certified Reiki Master Teacher, a certified Life Coach, Meditation Specialist, Aromatherapy Specialist and Spiritual Advisor.

Jacquena is a mother, wife and the CEO and Founder of A Queen Above All, Inc., The CEO and Founder of A Queens Healing Touch, where a portion of the proceeds are donated to the foundation. She is employed by a fortune 500 company and a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Jacquena is a motivational speaker and is continually active in the community, she is a lifetime member of NC A&T SU Greensboro Alumni Association where she has served as the chair of the Young Alumni committee from 2017 to 2019.

Jacquena served as a volunteer officer of Guilford County courts as a Guardian Ad Litem where she advocated for neglected and abused youth in foster care. Jacquena is an advocate for the LGBTQ Community.

Jacquena's has a heart for service and believes that everyone should work toward leaving the world in a better shape than they found it. Jacquena's life goal is to inspire people from all walks of life especially, young women battling anxiety and depression, young mothers and victims of domestic abuse. It's Jacquena's wish for people to ask for help when they need it and to not fix a temporary problem with a permanent solution. 

Life is precious and We Need You Here! 

She wants everyone to know that they are not alone and if she was able to overcome anxiety and depression, you can too. She wants to help others see the light at the end of the tunnel that's shining bright for them.

"For our present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start."