Community Coordinator
Christy Ellis
Christy is experienced in non-profit work and brings communication skills as well as volunteer and event management to the team. She has a sincere desire to help others and believes in making each day amazing. Her Circles focus is outward, coordinating support for the Circles model.
Coach
Rebecca Mann
Rebecca C Mann has 15+ years of working directly with individuals, mid-sized groups and agencies, focused on workforce, business, and personal development programming.
She has facilitated various trainings, workshops, and courses, focused on Diversity and Inclusion, Resume Development, and Personal Success.
Academically, she holds a Bachelor of Science (Interdisciplinary Studies), a Master of Education (Technology and Special Education), and a Master of Public Administration (Nonprofit Management and Supervision).
She is a Certified Workforce Development Professional, Notary Public, and a Certified Loan Signing Agent.
Her motto: Life is truly what you make it.
Administrative Assistant to Circles Coach
Rachel Dunaway
Rachel is a recent college graduate who is passionate about social justice and equality related issues. Her skills include anything related to google drive, administrative duties, and playing the banjo.
Children’s Program Coordinator
Xiomara “Z” Vidal
Xiomara “Z” Vidal came to Richmond, Virginia 25 years ago from New York City and has been working for the Virginia Department of Health for 17 years. She is a plant Mom with an indoor garden and her children care for plants as well. She has years of experience with children’s programming and loves teaching and inspiring youth. Xiomara is a Circles Leader graduate.
Contract Facilitators
Leader Training
Patrice Shelton
Patrice Shelton is the founder and Executive Director of Hillside Court Partnership, Certified Community Health Worker Senior for Virginia Department of Health/Richmond City Health Department, Hillside Court Resident/Tenant Council President, and the Vice President for Richmond Tenant Organization (RTO). She has launched more than 14 groups and teams in Hillside. She has help the community members to know their worth and rights one at a time. She graduated from Louisa County High School June 1991. Ms. Shelton worked at Walmart from 1992 to 2008 in Management and Billing. She moved to Hillside Court 2010 where she does her community work today. Ms. Shelton was able to get her community rezoned to the Bellemeade/Oak Grove Elementary School thru City Council meetings. She has partnered with Shalom Farms and Feed More to bring food to the community for free and low cost since 2012. Patrice has supported her youth in the community to start a Community Garden. She is seated on Maggie L. Walker Poverty Board, RVA Thrives, Central VA Legal Aid Society (CVLAS) Board Secretary, and Central VA Legal Aid Society Client Council (CVLASCC) President and a member of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. She was also a fellow for RMHF 3/2018 to 2/2019.
Ally Training
Courtney Calixte, M.S.W.
Movement and Capacity Building Director at the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance. Her focus is on social justice movement work and capacity building through a trauma informed and healing centered framework. She likes to help agencies brainstorm creative ways to engage communities (especially under served populations) with the outcome of building stronger relationships that create a resilient community for survivors. She has her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University. She also has a post graduate certificate in Gender Violence Intervention.