Tiffani Billups

The Morehouse College National Alumni Association is dedicated to strengthening the connection between students, alumni, and the broader community through service, mentorship, and outreach. Even as a student at Spelman College, my involvement with the Association has been one of the most transformative parts of my college experience.

Through my work with the REACH/BYMOC Program in partnership with the Andrew and Walter Young Family YMCA, I served as an Assistant Leader for two years and later transitioned to the logistics team. These experiences allowed me to lead in multiple settings, adapt to different personalities and age groups, and intentionally pour back into my community, which is something that has always been deeply important to me.

Beyond REACH, MCNAA opened doors for me to expand my impact in health and education. As an aspiring dentist, I had the opportunity to complete an oral health internship through the YMCA and the Alumni Association, where I helped bring awareness to the importance of oral health in underserved communities. This work extended to participating in Oral Health Day at the Capitol, advocating for greater access and equity in care.

I also contributed to initiatives through the Alumni Association that focused on expanding access and exposure for youth in the Atlanta community. One such initiative, The First Five Hundred, was created to give students the opportunity to experience the Morehouse and broader HBCU culture firsthand. Through this program, I was able to speak with younger students about pursuing higher education at Spelman or Morehouse, reinforcing the value of legacy, leadership, and opportunity.

One of the most meaningful ways I have been able to apply what I’ve learned is through creating GRACE (Girls Rising and Achieving through Confidence and Excellence), a program inspired by REACH that focuses on empowering young girls. GRACE has officially launched its pilot series of workshops, and it represents my commitment to creating spaces where young women feel seen, supported, and equipped to lead.

Additionally, I had the privilege of representing REACH at the YMCA “Color My World” event, showcasing the impact of youth development programs to the broader community.

Overall, my journey with MCNAA and these programs has shaped me into a more intentional leader, strengthened my commitment to service, and allowed me to bridge my passions for healthcare, mentorship, and community impact. These experiences have not only prepared me for my future in dentistry, but have also shown me the power of investing in others while growing yourself.

Volunteering at Discovery at Parklane Elementary was such a heartwarming experience. We helped mentor the kids on their last day, making sure it was filled with encouragement, fun, and positive energy. It was a beautiful way to wrap up their school year and remind them how much they’re supported and celebrated.

On February 28th, I had a great time at the Cupcake Auction Decoration Party, where we prepped for one of the sweetest events of the year. I also had the pleasure of contributing to the creative side, designing the logo for this year’s theme and helping put together the promo videos. It was amazing to see everyone’s ideas come to life through decor, creativity, and community.

Volunteering with SKIRTS at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve was a rewarding experience. We spent the day helping to preserve the park's natural beauty by identifying and removing invasive plant species. It was a hands on way to give back to the environment and learn about local ecology. We even wrapped up with a peaceful hike through the scenic trails, an energizing end to a meaningful day of service.

This saturday I had the pleasure of volunteer at the Peace on the Move mobile pantry with S.K.I.R.T.S. This was a great experience and I loved seeing the smiles on the families faces as we loaded their cars with groceries!

On Martin Luther King Day, I had the pleasure of assiting the andrew and walter young YMCA alongside my fellow colleagues providing food to the community through their hunger relief and aquaponics event. This was a great experience and I would love to come back and do it again!

On Day 1 of the Reach Mentor Program, we fostered a welcoming environment as all participants, including new mentees, introduced themselves, and collaboratively chose our group name. We established rules of engagement, outlined our goals, reviewed our agile profiles, and selected a video topic for our final program pitch, setting a strong foundation for teamwork and creativity.

As a Reach Program Assistant Leader with the Morehouse National Alumni Association, I helped facilitate the program's introduction on January 11th, guiding group interviews to select mentees for the Reach Mentor Program. This experience allowed me to engage with aspiring students, fostering meaningful connections and promoting personal growth within our community.

At the Ashford reserve I was able to use my knowledge from southbend park to help others with the restoration of the Ashford Park which had many patches of English ivies. Many families traveled through this park to walk their does or take a nice stroll and were willing to talk to us or let us teach them more about what we were doing, saving the forest.

At southbend park, I learned a lot about English ivies and invasive species that can hurt the growth of forest life. It was beautiful to see the impact first hand of what can grow when you remove English ivies and the forest floor is seen again.