The fourth of five children born in Over town, Miami to Mattie and Leroy Clark, Mary Edmond Coutain saw parents that never stopped striving. Her dad, a Miami-Dade Police Officer and her mom a hospi...view moreThe fourth of five children born in Over town, Miami to Mattie and Leroy Clark, Mary Edmond Coutain saw parents that never stopped striving. Her dad, a Miami-Dade Police Officer and her mom a hospital employee, were great role-models, and big influences in her life. Mary is a spiritually grounded, energetic woman with determination and guts. Educated during the time of desegregation, she realized that she enjoyed learning and wanted to further her education and achieve a college degree. A comment made by her high school counselor, “you are not college material,” based on low test scores, became a defining moment in her life. It helped to shape her future and ministry. Mary has since earned four degrees, an Associates, Bachelors, and Masters in Business, and a Doctorate in Religious Education. Dr. Mary Coutain has devoted her life to mentoring our youth, helping them overcome adversities, and believing in themselves. This twenty-year venture has yielded lawyers, teachers psychologists, parole officers, numerous college graduates and an ongoing group of college bound youth. Her church experience has been largely Church of God in Christ (COGIC), and her ministry has been mainly with the youth. Currently, as Director of Youth Ministry, she travels and presents seminars to help young people to build a solid educational and spiritual foundation. “If it is to be it is up to me,” and “All things are possible if you just believe,” is what she practices and teaches as a mother of six. She believes obstacles can become opportunities if we just have faith. She mentors middle and high school students based on the words found in Habakkuk 2:2, “write the vision, make it plain, so they that read it may run with it.” Dr. Coutain encourages the youth of today to dream...because dreams become goals and goals can be achieved.view less