Leadership Charlottesville 2020 Selects Community Issues for Class Projects
The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce today announced the Leadership Charlottesville Class of 2020 has selected four community issues to complete their team-based service projects.
To broaden the impact leaders in this program can have with their projects, each Leadership Charlottesville applicant listed on their application what they thought were the top two issues affecting our community. Of the 30+ different issues shared, ten issues were selected for further discussion. The class went through a process that included thorough discussions of each issue. Participants formed project teams around the group’s four top issues: Community Resources, Housing, Transportation and Youth Education.
The teams will use their collective leadership, talent and creativity to propose viable solutions to their community issue. In researching the issue, each team will identify how it’s currently being addressed, what system changes can be made for possible long-term solutions, and how to organize to create change at a systemic/policy level. Teams are expected to engage with local organizations, community leaders and citizens.
The Chamber established Leadership Charlottesville in 1982 as a Chamber economic development initiative. It has been the Chamber’s signature program since. Through its reservoir of engaged, dedicated civic leaders, Leadership Charlottesville helps serve Chamber member enterprises and the Chamber in their decades-long, ongoing efforts to improve our community’s economic vitality and quality of life. Since its inception, more than 1,000 area citizens have graduated from the program.
Leadership Charlottesville is directed by Andrea D. Copeland-Whitsett, the Chamber’s Director of Member Education Services.
Leadership Charlottesville – Class of 2020
Taylor Averitte, Jamie White Real Estate
Titus “Cal” Beasley, CFA Institute
Darrell Byers, Albemarle County Police Department
Gwendolyn Cassady, ManagingProjects
Kara Chandeysson, Ting
Jean Chappell, Piedmont Virginia Community College
Ty Cooper, Lifeview Marketing & Visuals
Daniel Fairley II, City of Charlottesville / Alliance for Black Male Achievement
Marcia Fisher, University of Virginia Community Credit Union
Donald Giannangeli, Edward Jones
Corrinne Giller, MichieHamlett Attorneys at Law
Shelomith Gonzalez, R.E. Lee Companies, Inc.
Robert Gray, Dreamin’ Diamonds, LLC
Gregory Harper, County of Albemarle
Lisa Herndon, Keller Williams Alliance
Treat Jackson, Tax Ladies, Inc.
Russell Kruse, Royer Caramanis, PLC
Caitlin Marcotte, City of Charlottesville / Parks & Recreation
Aiyana Marcus, Charlottesville Area Community Foundation
Richard Needham, Clayborne Education, LLC
Shaista Nizaam, Omni Charlottesville Hotel
Lachen Parks, City of Charlottesville / Communications
Misty Parsons, University of Virginia Foundation
Christian Patrizia, Skeen Law Offices
Judy Jones Pointer, UVA School of Medicine
David Puckett, Albemarle County Fire Rescue
Arthur Rogers, Martin Horn, Inc.
James “Jimmi” Rowland, Great Eastern Management Company
Derek Rush, Steele Property Group LLC
Zoie Smith, City of Charlottesville / Office of Economic Development
Susan Thomas, Retired, IBM Global Consulting
Jesse Torrey, Whole Woman’s Health Alliance
Patton Usry, Miller School of Albemarle
Teresa Willis, Piedmont Virginia Community College
Henry Young, Scott | Kroner, PLC
Class of 2020 Project Teams
Community Issue: Community Resources
Members: Taylor Averitte, Marcia Fisher, Don Giannangeli, Russell Kruse, Caitlin Marcotte, Lachen Parks, Christian Patrizia, Zoie Smith and Susan Thomas
Community Issue: Housing
Sub-issues: Charlottesville History, Wealth Disparity
Members: Gwen Cassady, Shelomith Gonzalez, S. Lisa Herndon, Treat Jackson, Aiyana Marcus and Shaista Nizaam
Community Issue: Transportation
Sub-issues: Accessibility, Infrastructure
Members: Cal Beasley, Darrell Byers, Kara Chandeysson, Jean Chappell, Greg Harper, Misty Parsons, Judy Pointer, Teresa Willis and Henry Young
Community Issue: Youth Education
Sub-issue: Diversity & Inclusion
Members: Ty Cooper, Daniel Fairley, Corrinne Giller, Rob Gray, Richard Needham, David Puckett, Arthur Rogers, Jimmi Rowland, Derek Rush, Jesse Torrey and Patton Usry