OUR TEAM

Founder & Executive Director

Stephen Dey

Stephen Dey was born in Bethlehem, Pa., he grew up and spent his formative years in Charlotte, N.C. Stephen attended St. Ann Catholic School and later Charlotte Catholic High School. After graduating high school, he followed his passion for and education in photography at Randolph Technical College in Asheboro, N.C.

After graduating college, Stephen worked for several companies in the photography industry. At the age of 22, he started Charlotte Image Photography, Inc. In 2024, he celebrated his 35th year as a business owner and engaged community leader.

In March of 1994, Stephen began a lifelong journey with his wife Jessica. They are the proud parents of four beautiful and pretty cool children, Joseph their oldest, Alexandria, Avery and Hudson.

Stephen began his journey in the special needs arena when their daughter Avery was born. Avery was diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth. For the next six years, he and Jessica spent time learning about Down syndrome, volunteering and getting active in the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Charlotte. Avery began attending St. Patrick Catholic school in kindergarten and that’s where their run with creating an inclusion program began.

The principal at the time - Mrs. Debbie Mixer, teachers and staff gave the family tremendous support which allowed Avery to flourish and grow in the community. This was a time in their lives filled with growing in faith, volunteering and education. Stephen joined the Diocese of Charlotte’s school board to help advocate for inclusion and the kids with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) within the program.

Stephen was integral with the start of the Best Buddies of North Carolina chapter. To this day, the Dey family is involved with Best Buddies and Stephen still serves on the special needs committee for the Diocese of Charlotte. Avery is now a rising senior at Charlotte Catholic and Stephen is proud to say the program is flourishing and operating under the name “The Options Program.” When the bell rings for back to school in the fall, Charlotte Catholic will welcome more than 10 students to the Options Program and a multitude of students that are like-minded and support inclusion through the school’s Best Buddies chapter.

In 2021, Stephen and Jessica created an endowment to help support the financial needs for Catholic schools with special needs programs. After a few years, they expanded the reach and created a 501c3 to allow direct access to funds and ability to provide grants. With the help of a dear friend, musician and Charlotte Catholic alumni - Evan Rizzo - they launched Inclusion Rocks Foundation. We are so proud of the work we have done to this point and the many families we have helped along the way. Most importantly, we love all the administrators, teachers and learning support folks who have helped Avery, we are so grateful and blessed.

Board Member

Terri Jarina

Terri spent half her life living on or near military installations. Her father was an aircraft and motor vehicle mechanic in the US Air Force and her spouse, Michael, was a carrier pilot in the US Navy. After moving from Gulfport, MS; Bellville, IL; Chyene, WY; San Marcos, TX; and to Biloxi, MS (where her sister Cathie was born) from fifth grade until graduating from Gulf Coast Junior College Terri lived in Panama City, FL. During the Navy spouse years she lived in Jacksonville, FL; Meridian, MS; Kingsville, TX; and Virginia Beach, VA. Charlotte, NC is the first totally civilian area where she has lived.

After a move to Pensacola, FL, for a Civil Service job at the Naval Air Station Terri spent two years searching for a church home. During the year and a half of dating Michael, she was the first girlfriend he took to meet his parents and he invited her to attend a Christmas Midnight Mass. That was the start of her learning about and becoming a Catholic. Michael would claim that he is the reason she became a Catholic, but Terri believes that God was leading her on the journey all along.

In February 1971 Terri and Michael were married at the Naval Air Station Catholic Chapel in Pensacola. They are the parents of daughter Lyn, and son Matt. They have three grandchildren: grandsons Cameron and Wyatt, and granddaughter Rowan.

During the early “Navy” years Terri had some temporary and part-time employment wherever they were transferred. Volunteerism has always been a staple in Terri’s life including Girl Scouts, Military Wives groups, Church ministries (including Lector and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion events and activities), and board membership at C.O.S. Kids Child Development Campus.

In Texas her first full-time position was as the assistant director of the Public Affairs Office at Texas A&I Kingsville. When the family moved to North Carolina she first worked in the Marketing Department at Wingate University.

Her employment at Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte was where Terri learned about Catholic Social Teaching (file:///C:/Users/Terri/Downloads/17us495_cst_handout-adult_en-digital.pdf.) One of the Seven Themes of CST is Life and Dignity of the Human Person which expanded her knowledge of social justice and eventually led to her role as Diocesan Director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (Who We Are | USCCB). As the Director Terri traveled across Western North Carolina to facilitate programs for parishioners about the mission of CCHD’s anti-poverty program. She also led a committee of committed individuals from across the Diocese in determining grant awards at national and local levels.

During her time at Catholic Charities Terri also was introduced to JustFaith Ministries (Home - JustFaith Ministries) inspiring action for justice through small group programs that advance peace, racial equity and a sustainable world. Since 2011 Terri has co-facilitated several JFM programs and serves on the JustFaith Ministries Charlotte Core Committee. Since 2009 she has volunteered with Homemakers of Mercy (HOM) [now under the CCDOC umbrella] where she collects home furnishings and furniture and helps set up apartments for refugees, immigrants, veterans and previously unhoused families.

Terri stives daily to follow the Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi (st francis peace prayer printable - Search Images (bing.com) Amen.