Cherese Alcorn,
Clinical Social Worker
About the Founder
Bridge to Abilities: A Founder’s Journey from Adversity to Advocacy
When multiple sclerosis challenged Cherese Alcorn’s mobility and livelihood, she refused to let it define her. After facing workplace discrimination and mounting medical barriers, she reclaimed her power—first by building Wellness Beyond the Chair, then by founding Bridge to Abilities (BTA).
In describing her lived experience, she stated that “Being a Black woman is hard enough. When you add being disabled on top of being young and Black, it makes life even more challenging. Although about 30% of Americans have a disability, the face of illness society accepts most is that of senior citizens.”
Being diagnosed with a disability in her twenties led to isolation as support groups and community agencies didn’t have people in them that were young and of color. BTA was born in 2024 from a simple but profound truth: healing is communal. Dedicated to breaking the stigma around invisible disabilities and expanding access to holistic and mental health care for BILPOC (Black Indigenous Latin X People of Color) with disabilities. Cherese’s mission is clear—no one should have to navigate this journey alone.
Meet the Board
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Aquanette Early, MSW - Board Chair
Aquanette Early received her Masters of Social Work from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and her Bachelor’s of Social Work from the University of Saint Thomas in St. Paul, MN. She has over a decade of experience working for Hennepin County Children and Family Services Division in Minneapolis and is currently the Supervisor of Staff Development/Policies and Procedures.
She has committed herself to working with immigrant and refugee populations, reducing recidivism in Child Protection. Aquanette navigates living with a invisible disability while also centering cultivating the next generation of social workers to value disability education, advocacy and access.
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Cece Mingo, BS - Board Secretary
CeCe Mingo is a St. Louis native, community connector, and advocate for empowerment through creativity, business, and transformation. A proud Xavierite, her experience spans sales, business development, group facilitation, research, and career coaching with organizations like Xavier University of Louisiana, LEAD STL, The LaunchCode Foundation, and Arch Grants. As the Founder of C. Mingo Consulting Group, she crafts personalized coaching strategies to help entrepreneurs build confidence, implement strategy, and achieve sustainable success.
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Cherese Alcorn, LCSW - Chief Financial Officer
Cherese Alcorn is a St. Louis transplant. She is a licensed psychotherapist and certified holistic wellness practitioner. She holds a Masters of Social Work degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a Bachelor’s in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. With over a decade of experience, Cherese has provided individual, family, couples, and group therapy across hospitals, schools, clinics, and community spaces.
Beyond traditional therapy, Cherese is a certified sound vibration therapist and Reiki Master, blending evidence-based mental health strategies with energy medicine. She believes that true healing happens when we honor both the science of the mind and the wisdom of the body.