Stephen Alan Musselwhite
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Sherman Lea, Jr.
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Captain Angela Traynham
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David Cox
Private Representative (5/10 Term) Board Position: Parliamentarian Superintendent: Western Regional Jail, Salem, VA Term: April 2019 – April 2024 David is a native of Roanoke, Virginia and is a proud graduate of Patrick Henry High School. He received a Bachelors in Business Administration from Roanoke College and a Masters from Boston University in Criminal Justice. Professionally, David has previously worked as a Police Officer with the Salem Police Department and as a Deputy Sheriff with the Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office, where he rose to the rank of Captain, Chief Correctional Officer. David became a founding member of the Western Virginia Regional Jail and was a part of the transition team involved in the completion and opening of the jail. He held the positions of Services Commander and Deputy Superintendent with WVRJ before being appointed as Superintendent in June of 2021 . David is happily married to Carolyn, his wife of 30 years and is the proud father of 2. |
Cheryl MosleyPrivate Representative (5/10 Term)Board
Position: Secretary/Treasurer Term: July 2021 – April 2026 Cheryl Mosley is originally a native of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. She relocated to Roanoke, VA with her family as a young child. Cheryl attended Roanoke City Public Schools and graduated from Patrick Henry High School. She graduates from Virginia Western Community College in 2021 with an Associate of Science in Social Sciences. She is also currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies at Norfolk State University. Cheryl has three adult children, Rayshon Cobbs, Jr., Bryce Cobbs and Micah Cobbs. At her core, Cheryl is driven and inspired by her purpose which includes helping others and building community. These qualities are engrained in her work, personal and social life. Cheryl has spent most of her professional career in the non-profit sector. Cheryl is currently the Director of Operations at Feeding Southwest Virginia Community Solutions Center. Cheryl joined the food bank in July 2019. Prior to joining Feeding Southwest Virginia, Cheryl was employed with VA Cares, Inc. as Mentor Coordinator and assisted in the development of the WINGS program for women re-entering the community after incarceration. She served as Director of LIFES Academy (K-12 Private Day School for students with special needs) at STEP, Incorporated in Franklin County for 10 years. While at LIFES Academy, Cheryl was responsible for ensuring the school obtained its full accreditation through VAISEF (Virginia Association of Independent Specialized Education Facilities). Cheryl’s non-profit service also includes Total Action for Progress (TAP). Cheryl is the co-owner of a small business located in Roanoke, VA, Delish! Sweets & Treats that she has co-owned with her daughter for 11 years. Through her business, Cheryl has led instructional sessions and workshops on entrepreneurship and community building. Cheryl also mentors other small business owners through an organization that she developed in 2019 named, Inspired to Create. Cheryl is currently on the Leadership Team of The Hill Church located in NW Roanoke. She has (or currently participates) participated on several committees, EX-OUT; MOTA; Interwoven Equity for the City of Roanoke; FAPT; Regional Food System Partnership; Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for Ending Hunger; Community of Practice; and Job Training Cohort for the Feeding America National Organization to name a few. She is currently on the board of the Roanoke Cultural Endowment and serves as a development committee officer on the Acts 2 Ministries Board of Directors. Most recently she became a member of the Restoring Hope Roanoke Board of Directors. |
Elizabeth CranwellPrivate Representative (5/10 Team)
Board Position: Member At Large Term: April 2019 – April 2024 Elizabeth Cranwell is a successful real estate agent with locally owned MKB, REALTORS of Roanoke. She entered the real estate arena in 2018 as a second career after raising her family. A former public relations professional, Elizabeth served as the publicist for the Virginia Festival of American Film, now known as the Virginia Film Festival; Press Secretary for former Congressman Rick Boucher of Virginia; and Communications Director for former Congresswoman Leslie Byrne of Virginia. She also provided private sector consulting in public relations and worked in several political campaigns and non-profit organizations. A community activist and volunteer, Ms. Cranwell has served in many capacities. In addition to her service on the Board of Directors of VA Cares, she was the President of the Arlington Community Temporary Shelter, Inc. (now Doorways for Women and Families), Arlington County’s only domestic violence shelter and short-term homeless shelter for women and families. Upon moving to Roanoke, Ms. Cranwell served as a Commissioner on the Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission and as a Board Member and Marketing Committee Chair for the Science Museum of Western Virginia. She was also a member of the Board of Directors of Emerge VA, an organization that trains Democratic women to run for public office. Dedicated to the belief that a good education is key to individual and societal success; Elizabeth has devoted much of her time to this field. She co-founded and served as President of New Vista Montessori School in Roanoke, Virginia. She was a member of the North Cross School Board of Trustees, President of North Cross School’s Parents Association, and a Commissioner on Governor Tim Kaine’s Start Strong Council, which worked to expand pre-kindergarten education in the Commonwealth. She is currently a member of the University of Virginia Board of Visitors where she serves as Chair of the Academic and Student Life Committee and as a member of the Building and Grounds Committee and the UVA College at Wise Committee. Ms. Cranwell is married to C. Richard Cranwell, an attorney and former member of the Virginia House of Delegates. They have two grown sons. Ms. Cranwell received a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Government and Spanish from the University of Virginia in 1986 and a Master of Arts in Public Communication from American University in 1996. She resides in Vinton, Virginia where she has lived for the past 27 years. |
Damon Williams
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Linda MoyerLow Income Representatives (5/10 Term)
Board Position: Term: January 2019 – January 2024 Linda Poindexter Moyer was born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia. After graduating from William Byrd High School, she entered the work force and pursued vocational training. She has obtained numerous certificates of completion from a wide range of training amenities such as: Opportunities Industrialization Center, University of Virginia Extension, Mary Baldwin College, Rockhurst University Continuing Education Center, Virginia Department of Social Services, Neighborhood Reinvestment Training Institute, and City of Roanoke Leadership College. Throughout her life she has served in her community by holding several positions and volunteering her time in church, with inner-city youth, senior citizens and community action groups. Linda’s passion and desire in life has always been to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Growing up with strong role models (mother, grandmother, father and religious leaders) has developed many of her enthusiasms. She not only came to love the excitement of learning simply for the sake of knowing something new, but came to understand the idea of giving back to the community in exchange for a new sense of life, love and spirit. Working at Total Action Against Poverty (TAP), for over 25 years, enhanced her life immensely. She provided technical and administrative work in a variety of assignments, which directly supported the operations and activities within the agency. Her most rewarding assignment was assisting the participants enrolled in the programs. Linda left TAP to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA member with Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, Inc. She found delight in AmeriCorps VISTA’s mission, to assist in building permanent infrastructure and capacity in nonprofit organizations and communities, which helped bring individuals and communities out of poverty. While she continues to serve the LORD, Linda finds endless happiness enjoying the company of her sister, husband, children, grand children, great-grand children, family and friends. |
Jennie S. Amison
Board Position: Low Income Term: July 2023 – July 2028 Jennie Amison is currently employed with the Virginia Department of Corrections as an Offender Workforce Development Specialist at Harrisonburg Men’s Detention and Diversion Center in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She has a B.S Degree in Special Education from Norfolk State University and a Master’s Degree in Education Administration from Strayer University. She is a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor, Certified Advance Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Certified Corrections Manager, Certified General Instructor with DCJS, Dialogue Practioner, Trained by the Matrix Institute in Matrix Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment and a Certified Peer Recovery Coach. She is currently working on a second Masters in Human Resource Management. She enjoys spending time with family and helping others. Education: Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA Bachelor of Science, Special Education 1995 Strayer University, Richmond VA Master’s Degree in Education Administration 2013 Workshops: Virginia Department of Corrections National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice – Numerous Virginia Corrections Association Conference Virginia Summer Institute for Additions Specialist – Faculty Member National Economic Development Conference - Detroit, Michigan – International Studies Group Training – Tokyo Japan Ministry of Justice Workshop Tokyo Japan Virginia Department of Corrections Substance Abuse Conference Virginia Summer Institute of Addiction Studies |
Kemba SmithLow Income Representatives (5/10 Term)
Board Position: Member At Large Term: July 2019 – July 2024 Kemba Smith Pradia went from college student to drug dealer’s girlfriend to domestic violence victim and in 1994 she was sentenced to 24. 5 years in federal prison. Kemba’s case drew support from across the nation. Often labeled the “poster child” for reversing a disturbing trend in the rise of lengthy sentences for first-time, non-violent drug offenders, Kemba’s story was featured on a variety of television shows and in several publications. The support prompted then President Clinton to commute her sentence in December 2000, after having served 6. 5 years in prison. Today, Kemba is a wife, mother, public speaker, advocate, consultant and author of Poster Child. She has worked with senior officials at The White House, the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Members of Congress, and has led trainings for Federal and State Probation organizations across the country. Corporations such as Verizon, Traveler’s Foundation, Proctor and Gamble, Bank of America and Gulfstream have sponsored her speaking at events across the country. She has received numerous awards and recognitions for her courage and determination as a motivational speaker and advocate. In 2019, Kemba was appointed to the Virginia Parole Board by Governor Ralph Northam and served for over two years. In January 2022, she involuntarily separated from the State due to the transition of a new gubernatorial administration. Prior to her appointment, she served on the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission and held the position of State Advocacy Campaigns Director with the ACLU of Virginia. Currently, Kemba is an entrepreneur, consultant, and executive producer of KEMBA, an MPI original Film that is inspired by her life story. She continues to serve on the Board of Directors for Virginia CARES and Drug Policy Alliance. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the NAACP, the National Association of Black in Criminal Justice, and Co-convener of the Justice Roundtable. Along with being an advocate for criminal justice reform, Kemba is the founder of her 501 (c) 3, The Kemba Smith Foundation. Ultimately, Kemba knows that there is a lesson in each experience in life, and she has embraced her experience, learned from it, and is now using that experience to teach others. |
Douglas Taborn
Board Position: Low Income
Term: April 2021 - April 2026
Douglas Taborn, was born and raised in Roanoke, Va. After graduating from William Fleming High School he attended University of Virginia's College at Wise where he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. As a returning citizen, Douglas had dedicated his time mentoring youth that are reintegrating back into the community through programs such as Y.A.L.E. (Youth, Adult, Life, Enhancement) as well as serving as the Athletic Director of Star City Recreation Club. Currently, Douglas is the facilitator of 24 Hour Care Homes that cater to Mental Health Residents by assisting them with life skills that help them reacclimate back into society.
Rita Joyce
Board Position: Private Representative Term: July 2023 - July 2028 My name is Rita Joyce. I am a resident of the City of Roanoke. I have always had a passion for giving back to the community of which of live. My giving back started with being a part of the Roanoke Jaycees many years ago. Other community involvement includes youth involvement with the Inner-City Athletic Association. My profession as a loan officer for a Bank also allows me to give back to the community by volunteering to teach financial education classes for non-profit agencies. I currently serve on the TAP Board and President and Founder of grassroots organization FED UP. I advocate for a better community through providing resources to the underserved communities. Having previously served on the Board with VA Cares from September 2011-September 2016 it would be an honor to be considered to serve once again on this amazing organization. Past Board Affiliations: Inner City Athletic Association YWCA of Roanoke Valley VA Cares Current Board Affiliations: TAP FED UP |