Shona Simpson, Co-Chair
Writer

Anna Marie Carr-Reinhard, Co-Chair
Director, Office of Family Engagement, Wake Forest University

Leah Lavin, Vice Chair
Director of Community Relations, the Arts Based School

Alec Robinette, Treasurer
Founder, Elemental Financial

Ucha David, Secretary
Project Manager, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist & Action4Equity

Lindsay Batchelor
Sustainability Director, Duke University

Lindsay is the Sustainability Director at Duke University with more than 20 years experience focused on sustainability in higher education. Prior to joining Duke, she spent two years as the Sustainability Director at Wake Forest University, and 17 years in various roles at NC State University helping catalyze, develop, and lead the evolution of their Sustainability Office and programs to infuse sustainability across the institution. Lindsay’s expertise spans a diversity of topics including but not limited to climate action planning, campus as lab and curriculum, sports sustainability, renewable energy, waste reduction and diversion, food insecurity, environmental justice, and student leadership. Lindsay also facilitates an ACC Sports Sustainability Team with representatives across the ACC seeking to use the power of sports as a driver for positive climate impact. Lindsay has a B.S. in Environmental Studies from UNC-Asheville and lives in Summerfield, NC with her husband Brian and their two daughters (Ella, age 14 and June, age 11). In her free time, Lindsay loves to watch college basketball and football, cook, coach youth soccer, make pottery and take long walks at the lake.
Lawren Desai
Founder & Executive Director, aperture cinema
Lawren received her bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania and her M.B.A. from Wake Forest University. Prior to her career at a/perture cinema, she worked in film production, marketing/merchandising and financial analysis. She has served on numerous boards over the years including the Women’s Fund of Winston-Salem, the Downtown Partnership, and the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County. When she’s not watching films, Lawren loves to travel the world, spend time with her family and read. Her interest in sustainability and the environment stems from the countless films she’s watched over the years that call her to action.
Jessica Fisher
Program Coordinator, Crosby Scholars
Jessica is a native of Winston-Salem, and a 2014 graduate of Wake Forest University, holding Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and History. She earned her Master’s degree in Crime and Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati. She has worked for 8 years with the Crosby Scholars Community Partnership, assisting, and serving middle and high school students in grades 6-10 with future college and career preparation. She enjoys forming positive relationships with her students and has a passion for helping people realize their potential. She is the co-owner of a family business, “The WS Oil Lady”, where she and her mother sell affordable and natural fragrances and other personal care products. Along with social media management, she does marketing and branding for the company, and also serves clients at both store locations. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her pit bull, Cash, and watching YouTube videos to learn new things.
Lauren Quartz DiBianca Frye
Architect and Teacher, Forsyth Country Day & Latent Designs, PLLC

Kristen Haaf
Principal, Roots First Regenerative Design

Jonathan Halsey
Philanthropic Advisor, The Winston-Salem Foundation

Robert Leak III
Regional Lead Organizer, PowerUp NC

Pastor Robert Leak III has over fifteen years of community organizing and activism in the city of Winston-Salem. Robert understands that everyone has a gift, skill, and/or talent to be shared with others to help build change in their community. He believes everyone has a right to be included at the table despite their circumstances. Robert attended Winston Salem State University majoring in Business Administration and minoring in Political Science. He enjoys working in the community and pastoring his church, delivering up-lifted messages to his members and the community. During his free time you will find Robert enjoying quality time with his wife and child.
Rashawn Meekins
Assistant Principal, Cook Literacy Model School
Rashawn is a passionate and driven educator with 10+ years’ experience in leading, supporting, and coaching school leadership, staff, and students to excel. In her current role, she oversees the plan, goals, and vision for Kimberley Park and student success. Rashawn holds a Master of Education in Special Education from Salem College, Master in School Administration from North Carolina A&T State University, and a North Carolina of Public Instruction (NCDPI) licensure. She is a member of the North Carolina Association of Educators and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Daisy Rodriguez
Non-Profit Professional
Daisy Rodriguez was born in New York City and has lived in Winston-Salem for more than 20 years. Her career has spanned the corporate and non-profit world. Most recently, Daisy served as Director of Childhood Hunger Programs for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC. She was a Scholarship Committee member for 10 years for The Winston-Salem Foundation and in 2019 the Foundation hired her as the Director of Student Aid helping to award more than $1.4 million in scholarships in 2021. In August 2021 she retired. Daisy was recognized as one of five “Outstanding Women Leaders” in 2015 by the City of Winston-Salem; is a graduate of Leadership Winston-Salem, Class of 2015; a graduate of both the Citizen’s Police Academy and Citizen’s Fire Academy; was awarded the Donna Lambeth Children’s Champion Award in 2018; and in 2019 became a certified yoga instructor. She resides in Winston-Salem with her husband Dan, three children and five grandchildren.