By: Lennard James
For Jarai Boykins, leadership is not just about structure, it’s about service. As a Substance Abuse Program Leader for Community Corrections, she stands on the front lines of transformation every day, helping women who have lost their way find the strength to reclaim their lives. Her work is deeply personal, passionately driven by a mission to empower, uplift, and restore. Through a career that bridges psychology, counseling, and public service, Jarai has found her purpose in helping women rise beyond addiction, trauma, and adversity.
A proud graduate of Morris Brown College, Jarai earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and graduated Magna Cum Laude, a distinction that speaks volumes about her academic rigor and determination. It was during her time at Morris Brown—a historically Black college known for producing leaders—that she first began to understand the depth of her calling. “Psychology gave me a foundation,” she reflects. “It helped me understand human behavior, but more than anything, it taught me empathy. It taught me how to listen.”
That foundation laid the groundwork for her next chapter. Jarai went on to pursue her Master of Arts in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy Counseling at the University of Holy Cross, where her commitment to healing communities took on new meaning. With an advanced understanding of relational dynamics, trauma-informed care, and behavioral health, she was uniquely equipped to step into the role of program leadership in the corrections space—an arena where structure and compassion must co-exist.
In her current position with Community Corrections, Jarai leads with purpose and a keen sense of responsibility. She works with women who are often dealing with not just addiction, but also histories of abuse, incarceration, poverty, and mental illness. “These women aren’t just battling substance use. They’re battling systems, stigmas, and silence,” she says. “My job is to walk with them through their recovery—not just to sobriety, but toward wholeness.”
For many, the criminal justice system is a revolving door, but under Jarai’s leadership, the programs she facilitates strive to become gateways to opportunity. Through evidence-based counseling, group therapy, family reintegration efforts, and community resource referrals, she helps participants see beyond their past mistakes. Her approach is both firm and compassionate, grounded in clinical knowledge and a deep belief in second chances.
At the heart of her work is an unshakable commitment to women’s empowerment. Jarai doesn’t just want her clients to survive their struggles, she wants them to emerge with dignity, confidence, and purpose. “Women need to know that they are not broken. They are not defined by what happened to them. My role is to remind them of their power, even when the world has tried to take it away.”
That belief in transformation is what drives her every day. She’s witnessed firsthand how a woman who once struggled with addiction and hopelessness can evolve into a mother, a mentor, or a professional. For Jarai, those success stories are more than case files—they are the evidence of her life’s work.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Jarai continues to invest in her growth. As a current graduate student, she remains committed to academic excellence and lifelong learning. “There’s always more to learn—about people, about healing, about justice,” she says. “And I never want to stop growing, because the more I grow, the more I can give.”
Jarai Boykins is more than a program leader—she is a light bearer for women walking through some of life’s darkest seasons. Her journey from Morris Brown to the University of Holy Cross, from student to healer, reflects the impact of education when fueled by passion and purpose. She is a powerful example of what it means to lead with compassion and create real, lasting change.
Published by Joseph T.
