I began my teaching career in the Four Year Old Program in Charlottesville City Schools in 1990.In 2004, the International Rescue Committee sponsored many refugees from Africa, Bosnia, Afghanistan and other countries in conflict.I had the opportunity to teach the young children of these refugees, and because of the nature of this program, I was involved with their families as well.

In 2010, when I retired from teaching, I started volunteering at The Haven, a homeless shelter on Market Street.At first I made snacks for PACEM during the registration process for overnight Winter sleepovers in local churches and the synagogue.After a while, I started cooking breakfast at The Haven three mornings a week.In 2018, I became the manager of The Haven Lunch Cafe.This Cafe was open to the public one day a week and run by our guests who participated as servers, cooks, hosts and prep people.The Cafe staff, (our unhoused population), learned practical restaurant skills and received a salary for each shift they worked.The Cafe was a way for the Charlottesville community to learn about The Haven, and hopefully, see us in a new light. Oftentimes, we served one hundred people in the two hour window that we were open.Unfortunately, due to COVID, we shuttered the Cafe in 2020.

One of the greatest joys of working at The Haven is the opportunity to donate food to refugee families and other underserved people in need.The Haven receives many food donations that we cannot use either fast enough or food that doesn’t fit our breakfast needs.I, and other volunteers, bag this food for distribution.I want to ensure that people get fed and that the food does not get wasted or thrown away in the landfill.I guess I could say that getting food to people is my mission.

Kristy Jones is a 35 year old self made/self taught local entrepreneur- known as KrissyCakes. Her talent is specialty cakes and desserts but her passion is community. From donating over 300 cupcakes to uva frontline workers and nurses during covid, to yearly back to school drives, thanksgiving turkey giveaways, back to school bashes, Christmas drives, helping fight against homelessness and partnering with the children’s hospital to donate birthday cakes to sick children. She has been pushing community work since beginning her endeavors in the entrepreneur world and gradually has grown each event yearly. Even with being in business for over 4 years and creating over 500 cakes- her favorite part of her job is giving back.

Kari Anderson Miller spent twenty years as an elementary educator, primarily teaching students learning English as a second or other language. Having served in the U.S. Peace Corps for two years in Thailand, Kari empathized with the obstacles newcomers face in learning to live and work in a foreign country while acquiring a new culture and language.

In an effort to integrate the Charlottesville community and equip struggling neighbors with the resources needed to thrive, Ms. Miller founded International Neighbors in 2015. Since then, International Neighbors has connected more than 300 families- from places including Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo- with the people and skills needed to succeed in the United States of America.

In 2019, Kari Anderson Miller joined seven other grassroots refugee organizations to found the Hello Neighbor Network, a nationwide initiative that works to make communities across America more welcoming to newcomers. “The joy I get from this work comes from seeing desperate, hopeless clients becoming self sufficient IN volunteers and donors- within a matter of years. Charlottesville is full of people who care about the well being of everyone in our community- not just those who share the same language and socioeconomic level.”

International Neighbors highlights the best of humanity, allowing everyone the opportunity to be a great neighbor by sharing and celebrating the multifarious community that is Charlottesville.

Sabrina Feggans is a fitness coach and trainer and owner of Beyond Fitness with Sabrina. The former CIC Entrepreneur Graduate holds a Business Management Degree, a number of certifications ranging from Group Fitness Instructor, Personal Training  to  Business Process Improvement and Design. Sabrina  is currently  enrolled  in  Cornell’s  Equitable Diversity and Inclusion Program. Her knowledge and skillsets has allowed her to own, operate and grow Beyond Fitness with Sabrina into a community name. Sabrina does not just run her own business, but donated & volunteer her time, resources and knowledge to the community.

Sabrina has received countless accolades for her work in the community and was most recently the recipient of the 2023 John F. Bell Sr. Vanguard Award. Sabrina has raised money for our local Blue Ridge Area Food in the Shop to Stop the Hunger campaign. Sabrina’s passion for the community, women  and health is evident in her community work , she is the founder of the Annual Women’s Empowerment Day’–a day dedicated to empowering women and highlighting small women-owned businesses.and the TQ Evans Young Women Entrepreneur Scholarship raising money to assist local young women entrepreneurs grow their small businesses. She co-organized and hosted 25 little brown and black mermaids who are making waves in the community and their family to a private screening of  the historical  Disney Little Mermaid movie.  Sabrina has volunteered her time and knowledge to organizations by leading fitness and wellness sessions for United Way, luncheon,  Charlottesville Area Community Foundation Retreat, University of Virginia African American Studies’ De-stress hour.  Sabrina has Partner with 101.3 Jamz as an ambassador to promote small black businesses through media radio.

Sabrina believes that pouring her time, knowledge, and financial support back community is her purpose.

Cville Tulips is an organisation established in 2022 by Majian Omranian and Bonnie Gordon, to provide support to resettled Afghan women and girls in Charlottesville. Tulips provides health, wellness, cultural and artistic activities for women and girls to build community and combat social isolation. The project started from a conversation that Marjan had with an Afghan woman on a local bus, and has grown into a program that affects and supports hundreds of people. Marjan, Bonnie and their team volunteer hours almost every day, outside of their own professional work and studies, and through their time and ties, have worked tirelessly to expand the program to reach as many people as possible. Tulips has already been a great success, thanks to their determination, creativity, and community-mindedness.

Born and raised in Charlottesville, Jessica Carter is deeply committed to community service, particularly youth empowerment. After graduating from CHS, she earned a Bachelor of Arts from Mary Baldwin University and a Masters of Arts in Human Services-Mental Health and Wellness from Liberty University Online.

Jessica’s career path has been dedicated to supporting adolescents. She began as a correctional officer/counselor, initiating a Youth Program for incarcerated juveniles. Transitioning to Blue Ridge Juvenile Detention, she served as a residential advisor, impacting young lives. Moving into community-based roles, Jessica became a Case Manager for Region Ten CSB, aiding youth with mental health and developmental disabilities. Simultaneously, she worked as a Therapeutic Behavioral Specialist, offering crucial support to children and families.

Jessica’s commitment to youth extends beyond her professional roles. She served as an Attendance Counselor for Charlottesville City Schools, coached basketball at various levels, and is involved in nonprofit work. She founded HER SPORTS in 2020 to break down barriers for girls in sports and co-owns XtraMile Youth Services, providing therapeutic services to youth and families.

Certified in Mental Health First Aid, Mandt, and suicide prevention, Jessica is trained in trauma-informed strategies and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). She holds a QMHP-C license from the Virginia Department of Health Professions Board of Counseling and has received accolades for her contributions.

Together, we are dedicated to uniting communities, uplifting families, and promoting equity in education through collaborative efforts that remove barriers and create opportunities for success.

Team Members: Miles Nelson, Latara Ragland, Angie Brement, Fran Clark, Misty Price-Chambers and Tracey Howard-Gough.

Khalilah Jones is a dynamic fusion of fashionista, youth and family advocate, and the epitome of a Momshell and wife – because who said you can’t be all that and more? Yes, there are layers and levels to this, and Khalilah unapologetically embraces every part.

A fervent believer in the power of embracing your whole self, Khalilah scoffs at the notion of dimming one’s light for the sake of others’ comfort in their mediocrity. She’s not here to make herself palatable in any given space. Instead, she impresses upon everyone she works with the value of diversity and, more importantly, the unique value each person brings to the table.

Armed with a BBA in human resources management and an MBA in marketing with a flawless 4.0 GPA, Khalilah marries style and social responsibility seamlessly. A chartering member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, she’s served in leadership roles (i.e. Vice President of Membership and Director of Philanthropy). Currently, she is an active member of ETA Phi Omega the local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She serves as the chairwoman for the Uplifting Our Local Community, Social Action and Communications committees.

Khalilah stays plenty busy and is intentional about sharpening the iron in various leadership roles such as: Greene County Chamber of Commerce and the Black Professional Network board member, Leader in the current Charlottesville Chamber of Commerce Leader’s Lab, creative director and lead organizer of the Soul of Cville festival and co-president of Families Helping Families, to name a few.

By day, Khalilah is a Community Connector for Albemarle County, acting as a liaison between the county and its community. Yet, she doesn’t stop there – she’s a freelance image consultant, wardrobe stylist, social media influencer, and brand ambassador.

Fueled by sassy shoes, an energetic 8-count, and delectable desserts, Khalilah is a force to be reckoned with. Whether dressed to the nines or in combat boots, she can conquer the world in a New York minute. Her goal is to design a world that’s thoughtful, socially responsible, and aesthetically pleasing, and her mantra is that pretty is not a look; it’s a behavior.

Khalilah Jones is an Atmosphere Shifter, weaving together heart for service, aesthetics, social responsibility and elegance to craft experiences that transcend community engagement. She makes people feel like they are the only ones who matter during interactions – because they are. Summing up Khalilah’s essence: 1 part Black girl magic, 1 part Khalilah razzle dazzle.

Her personal philosophy is simple: sometimes, you have to build the ship you’ve been waiting to come in.

Originally from the Chicago area, Zakia Haque relocated to Charlottesville, Virginia in 2015, where she currently resides with her husband and three daughters. In her mosque community, Zakia serves as the principal of the community Sunday School and helped to establish an afterschool program at ISCV. She is also actively involved in several interfaith initiatives, including IMPACT, a local social justice organization, and is active with the Charlottesville Habitat for Humanity. Zakia has a background in nonprofit management, with several years’ experience working in various nonprofit organizations, including mental health, domestic violence and community education nonprofits. During the pandemic, Zakia decided to change course and enrolled in an MA program in Islamic Studies at the American Islamic College based in Chicago, which she hopes to complete this spring.

Born and raised in Peru, Filadelfia Soto immigrated to Charlottesville in 2007. She attended the University of Virginia and graduated with a BA in Spanish and Italian Language, Culture and Literature. Later, she earned a Master in Teaching Foreign Languages and English for Speakers of Other Languages from the same institution. In the field of education, Filadelfia has worked with students of all ages and backgrounds, from preschool to adult education. Currently, Filadelfia is a Spanish teacher at a local elementary school. She has been active in pursuing equity and inclusion by being a member of committees for Albemarle County Public Schools and the Charlottesville Ballet, and by supporting children and families at her school and beyond.