Candace Hutson, Academic Success Coach

Candace is inspired by her late sister Shonda, who prepared a family friend for her Graduation prom; Candace decided to volunteer at the 2010 Prom dress giveaway and began the Queens chapter of Operation PROM in 2011 in New York City. Now known as Operation PROM National Network (OPNN), a nationally recognized 501c3 not for profit organization, was originally established to help low-income students attend their proms by providing free prom dresses and tuxedo rentals.

Candace is now a board member of the Operation Prom National Network and one of the directors of Shonda’s Prom Closet. The organization has dressed more than 1,500 students for prom and has become a staple in the Queens community celebrating 10 years in 2019. Candace can be found speaking at Women Empowerment events, local PTA meetings, and on social media giving a word and as of 2019, on her podcast “Candid Conversations with Candy.” Candace is a first generation graduate.