Three new members have joined our Community Advisory Committee (from left to right): Brezhana Reed, Jacquelyn Kim, and Rhonda Austin. The Community Advisory Committee partners with our Community Impact staff to guide community-advised grantmaking and capacity building in our region.
Brezhana Reed is a community engagement professional committed to advancing equity and strengthening systems of support for students and families across the Charlottesville and Albemarle region. She currently serves as Community Engagement Coordinator with Communities In Schools of Northern Virginia (CIS NOVA), where she partners with Albemarle County Public Schools to connect students and families to critical resources, coordinate community partnerships, and mobilize volunteers to address barriers to success. In addition to her professional role, Brezhana actively contributes to the local nonprofit ecosystem through board service. She is currently serving her second term as Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Charlottesville NOW, where she leads outreach and engagement efforts to increase community awareness and participation. She has also served as a board member for Black Women of Central Virginia and Commonwealth Cares, supporting initiatives focused on empowerment, wellness, and crisis support for individuals and families. Brezhana holds a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation and Human Services from Pennsylvania State University and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Leadership and Management. She is passionate about community-driven solutions, cross-sector collaboration, and contributing to initiatives that create lasting, equitable impact.
Jacquelyn Kim (she/they) currently serves as the exhibitions coordinator at the University of Virginia’s Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library. Outside of the UVA Library, she has been involved with various community initiatives revolving around immigrant, housing, environmental, and disability justice for the past seven years as a Charlottesville community member. Jacquelyn graduated from UVA in 2023 as a Jefferson Scholar with highest distinction in American studies and global development studies. She is currently pursuing a master of library and information science with a concentration in archives management from Indiana University—Indianapolis.
Rhonda Austin is a lifelong resident of Buckingham County. She works in IT as a Portfolio Associate and is a Certified Scrum Master. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Averett University and a graduate certificate in Project Management from the University of Virginia. She is passionate about living a life centered on continuous giving. In response to the events of 2020, Rhonda became more actively engaged in serving and supporting the community she deeply values. In addition to supporting voter registration efforts and helping organize community events as a member of Forward 2020, she serves as Chairperson of the Habitat for Humanity Buckingham Committee and as Treasurer of the Buckingham Branch NAACP.
Welcome Brezhana, Jacquelyn, and Rhonda!