2025 Speakers
Odist Powell
Host
Odist Powell is a 20-year-old advocate for change from Richmond, VA, dedicated to empowering youth through his leadership roles at the YMCA. As the overseer of multiple teen programs, Odist creates safe spaces for young people to grow, develop, and lead. With experience presenting at national conferences and designing leadership development initiatives, he believes that true change can only be achieved when intentionality guides action. Odist’s commitment to youth development and advocacy continues to drive his work, fostering positive impact in communities and inspiring the next generation of leaders.
Terrell Artis
My name is Terrell Artis. I’m a full time Candid/Event photographer. I’ve shot just about everything from weddings, to concerts and both personal and professional. This is my second year doing the teen summit. I’ve been a self taught photographer for almost 12 years. Cultural events (art shows/galleries, plays) traveling, and spending time with friends an family brings me joy.
Kai Banks
Kai Banks is an experienced speaker, passionate community advocate, and dedicated leader in youth development and social change. As the Youth Innovation Director at Storefront for Community Design, she empowers young people to engage in creative, community-driven projects that address real-world challenges. With a strong background in food justice, public health, and restorative practices, Kai has served as an Outreach Specialist for the Richmond Food Justice Alliance, Vice-Chair of the Richmond Public Schools Health Advisory Board, and a Board Member for Richmond Restorative Justice and Urban Hope. A proud AmeriCorps alumna and author of Releasing the Shackles: Surviving Abuse, Kai brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her work. She is deeply committed to community collaboration, equity, and resilience, using her platform to inspire action, foster meaningful connections, and drive innovative solutions that strengthen families and uplift communities. Kai is currently pursuing her education at Virginia Commonwealth University, continuing her mission to create lasting change.
Jose Remigio Caraballo
Hello my name is Jose Remigio Caraballo, I’m 17 years old, I attend LC Bird High School as a Junior, I’m Dominican and fluent in both English and Spanish, I enjoy playing video games and watching WWE and the NBA, I’ve also played basketball and baseball before I started working my job at TJ Maxx, I achieved all A honor roll in my first semester in high school, and I love spending time with Jesus, Socializing with others about him, and I love spreading the word to others that may not know.
Zenobia Cardwell, CWEP
125 Black Women
Zenobia A. Cardwell,CWEP, is a multi-hyphenate creative and entrepreneur from Richmond, VA. By day, Zenobia serves as a Community Engagement Manager for the Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia,by night, Zenobia is known by her artistic moniker AllEyezOnZee(All Eyes On Zee) and is in full creative mode. In 2019, Zenobia started H4 Creative Firm, which originally launched as an event planning service and custom apparel company. With years of growth under the H4CF name, she has since expanded to a creative house of brands, placing her own artistic moniker since 2016, under the H4CF umbrella. She made it the home of 4thdmsn.foto, a photography and videography company that aims to capture the Black life experience, GRLGENIUSGFX, a graphic design company focusing on visual identity and publication design, and 125 Black Women, a non-profit aimed to serve girls and young women in the Richmond area. This service to her city provided her with an opportunity to serve her city in a greater capacity. In 2024, Zenobia was appointed to The Maggie L. Walker Initiative Citizens Advisory Board, which focuses on poverty reduction and wealth building. Zenobia likes to refer to herself as not only “a creative, curator, connector and catalyst…but also a girl from ‘The City’ because she believes there is no place in the world like or better than Richmond, Virginia.
Chesterfield Fire & EMS
Lt. Brandon Noel and Lt. Charles Loving
Rasheeda Creighton
The JWC Foundation
Rasheeda Creighton is a builder—of businesses, communities, and spaces where Black
entrepreneurs thrive. After a successful corporate career, she made a bold pivot to focus on
creating opportunities for Black business owners to grow and build wealth on their own terms.
As co-founder and Executive Director of The JWC Foundation, she helps Black entrepreneurs
access resources, networks, and strategies for long-term success. She’s also the Founder of
Killing Superwoman®, empowering Black women to take control of their finances and redefine
success on their own terms. A proud Spelman College and University of Michigan Law
School grad, Rasheeda holds many titles—but her favorite will always be Mom to Zoe, Akilah,
and Saván.
Josh Dusci
Virginia State University
Josh earned a B.S. in Marine Science from Coastal Carolina and a M.S. in Aquaculture/ Aquatic Sciences from Kentucky State University. Currently Josh serves as the Indoor Agriculture Extension Associate where he oversees aquaponic, hydroponic, and aquaculture systems within controlled environments (greenhouse, indoor).
Veronica Fleming
Principal, Veronica Fleming Consulting
She provides interim executive leadership and coaching as well as fundraising and community engagement for non profits. Veronica is a Saul Alinsky-trained community organizer and has many years of community engagement experience. She has worked to in the Richmond neighborhoods of Gilpin Court, Northside and Greater Fulton; the cities of Petersburg, Martinsville, and Roanoke; Virginia and engaged Latino, Native American, African American and White families throughout the United States. She led several non-profit organizations, including The Garfield Childs Memorial Fund, The Chamber of Commerce Youth Matters Initiative, LISC, and the Partnership for Families. She also served as the as the National Director of U.S. Programs for the Christian Children’s Fund (now Child Fund International). Veronica is currently the community engagement consultant for RVA Rising, the region’s Economic Mobility Initiative. Veronica is a founding member of Sisterfund, Virginia’s first African American Women’s Giving Circle; Immediate past Secretary for the Better Housing Coalition and a member of the Leadership Team of The Greater Fulton Civic Association. She is a proud graduate of Howard University and devoted mother and grandmother.
Jasmine Frazier
Partnership for the Future
Jasmine Frazier was raised in Richmond, VA and is a proud product of Richmond Public School Systems. Jasmine graduated from Richmond Community High School and was awarded over a half million dollars in scholarships. She is a recipient of local, national, and institutional scholarships, including the prestigious Gates Scholarship. She is a published author of a book that helps students navigate the college and scholarship application process. Jasmine graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with triple degrees: Supply Chain Management, Business Management, and Public Health. As a certified Life & Career Coach, and the Sr. College Access Manager at Partnership for the Future, Jasmine assist youth with pivotal transitions to college and the workforce through career and college readiness workshops and one-on-one coaching.
Hamilton Glass
Art and Impact
I am Hamilton Glass and I am one of the Mending Walls artists. My partner and I have been working in this field for over 30 years a full time artist between both of us. What brings us joy is being able to tell students they are able to anything their heart desires and watch them realize it.
Henrico Police Division
Jermaine Alley
Traymanesha Lamy, Ph.D.
Javilyn Consulting, LLC
Dr. Traymanesha Lamy is the CEO of NextUp RVA, Richmond’s out-of-school time intermediary and the Founder/CEO of Javilyn Consulting, LLC. She is a research practitioner, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and leadership coach with over 2 decades in community development. Traymanesha has managed several multi-million dollar advocacy programs for a national health justice organization with partners in 49 states. Dr. Lamy also successfully directed two out-of-school time intermediaries, and established youth development networks with over 250 program providers serving more than 20,000 youth. She has chaired cross-sector collaboratives and ecosystems with youth and families, public schools, higher education institutions, the business sector, and local, state and national government entities. In addition to hosting and facilitating community forums and national convenings, Dr. Lamy has taught courses both in the College of Education at Michigan State University and the School of Public Affairs at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. With a passion for power building, she embraces a collective impact approach when creating transformational systems that center the community. Dr. Lamy received a B.A. in Psychology with a double minor in Childhood Studies and African American Studies from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. She also received a Ph.D. in Curriculum, Teaching & Educational Policy from Michigan State University.
Kelli Lemon
I am the Director of Digital Programming for Virginia Video Network/ Richmond Times Dispatch. I am also the Owner – Social Cafe , Urban Hang Suite, Owner – Like The Fruit, Co Owner – Virginia (Richmond) Black Restaurant Experience, Co Founder – JWC Foundation, Draw Show Host – Virginia Lottery. Food, sports, arts and education are my passions and I have been creating a culture through these passions over the last 25 years in Central Virginia. Waking up to see another day brings me joy! I celebrate life daily and find the positive and lessons in everything that comes my way!
Matt Lively
I am Matt Lively and I am a multi media artist. I previously was an an aspiring multi-media artist. I have been a full time artist for 31 years. Family, friends, movies and collaboration brings me joy.
Will Melton
CEO Xponent21, Founder AI Ready RVA
Will Melton is a marketing agency owner, community leader, and entrepreneur with interests in a variety of local initiatives from a grassroots health movement (America’s Healthiest City) and sustainable hydration (Richmond Water) to contributions in affordable housing (Housing Families First), leadership (Leadership Metro Richmond, ChamberRVA), and artificial intelligence (AI Ready RVA). Will builds and leverages his network to serve as a bridge for value to pass through the community and is a catalyst for progress and innovation in Greater Richmond.
Dominique Menefee
NextUp Richmond
Dominique Menefee is a visionary leader dedicated to expanding opportunities for youth and strengthening communities. As the Manager of Partnerships and Community Engagement at NextUp Richmond, she builds strategic collaborations that connect young people to transformative resources, mentorship, and leadership development.
With a background in education, Dominique has evolved beyond the classroom to drive systemic change, ensuring that young people have access to the tools they need to thrive. A recognized pillar in her community, she is a champion for equity, youth empowerment, and sustainable impact.
Kristoff T. Minus
I am Kristoff T. Minus, born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas. In 2012, I came to the United States, enrolling at the Illustrious North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. My Studies include Urban and Community Horticulture and Agricultural Education. I’ve always had a passion for the agricultural industry and always strived to help people understand its importance. I currently serve at the School and Community Garden Extension Associate at Virginia State University’s Cooperative Extension.
David Naff
Virginia Commonwealth University
Dr. David Naff is the Director of the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC), a research-practice partnership between the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University and five school divisions in metropolitan Richmond, Virginia. In this role, Dr. Naff leads collaborative research studies focused on a variety of topics in public, PK-12 education, including supporting mental health in schools. He also oversees research dissemination efforts for MERC, including podcast episodes, data dashboards, Zoom seminars, and the annual MERC Stakeholder Summit. Prior to coming to MERC, Dr. Naff was a high school counselor.
Izzy Nofsker
YMCA
Izzy Nofsker serves as the Association Director of Teens for the YMCA of Greater Richmond. Through her role, she is able to provide support to programs that serve teens throughout the Greater Richmond area. Izzy appreciates the opportunity to guide, inspire, and support teens as the go through the changes of middle School and High School. She hopes that through her work, teens learn how to advocate for themselves, their community and learn how to be the best leader they can be. Outside of the YMCA, Izzy enjoys trying new restaurants, going for walks outdoors, and spending time with her loved ones!
Oasis of Hope
Shriya Bandla, Ashna Sureshkumar, Manasvi Kannure, Anaya Kalore, Neha Pillai and Tanvi Nareddy
We are Oasis of Hope, a group of high schoolers from Richmond who desire to make an impact in our community. As high school students, we noticed how stressed we were without the resources to care for our mental health. This led us to creating Oasis of Hope.
We wanted to create and promote mental health resources that our peers of all backgrounds can use. So far, we have created a successful social media campaign with over 200 followers, sponsored outreach events at our school, and led activities at local middle schools to promote awareness for mental health issues for people of all backgrounds.
Dashia and Destiny Oliver
RVA Hot Wheelz
RVA Hot Wheelz is Richmond, VA’s premier Polaris Slingshot rental company and the only official Polaris partner in the area. Founded by 22-year-old sisters with a vision to bring a unique and thrilling driving experience to their city, RVA Hot Wheelz has grown to offer the largest fleet of Slingshot rentals in Virginia.
Since opening its storefront in Spring 2024, the company has remained deeply committed to community engagement, partnering with local businesses, hosting events, and supporting nonprofit initiatives.
Amber Perez
YMCA
Amber Perez serves as the Teen Coordinator for the Northside Family YMCA. In her job, she run programs that allow her to give back to teens in the community. Amber’s passion is working with youth and getting them involved in the community. In her free time she also devotes herself to promoting the importance of Gen Z work and building a sustainable planet. Outside of the YMCA, she loves to focus on hobbies such as reading and cooking and exploring new ones such as hiking and sports.
Mason Plummer
Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens
Mason Plummer is the Work-Based Learning Coordinator at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. He has worked with youth in nature-based settings for over ten years including but not limited to outdoor education, horticulture/wilderness therapy, nature camps, and school gardening lessons. His passion is facilitating an understanding and connection between youth and the natural world.
SillyGenius
SillyGenius is an illustrator, graphic designer and street artist based in Richmond VA. A creative wearing many hats, he most often employs his artistic talents and knack for fusing layered ideas, to create cultural experiences as a way to build community and inspire rising artists.
Alexis Stokes
Alexis Stokes is an M.S./Ph.D. student and passionate advocate for positive youth development, particularly for marginalized youth. As Data Specialist at NextUp, Alexis collaborates to enhance youth outcomes by leveraging data alongside her academic and practical experience to drive impactful recommendations and build organizational capacity. Her work centers on improving social-emotional competence, fostering critical consciousness, and elevating youth as leaders and experts in their own experiences.
Lorena Suárez-Cabrera
MAPARLANTE, Cultural Consulting LLC
Lorena Suárez-Cabrera’s area of expertise include Mental Health in immigrant families, through CBT, Narrative Therapy, and Racial Trauma approach and tools; cultural identities and leadership with youth population; international migration with a concentration on Latin American countries; historical memory; processes of racialization; gender and childhood; qualitative methodologies for social and community interventions; development of workshops for different age groups.
Marcy Thornhill
Mrs Marcy’s Homemades
Christina Tillery
Virginia Commonwealth University
Christina A. Tillery, M.Ed. is a researcher, educator, and youth mental health advocate dedicated to creating supportive and equitable spaces for Black girls and marginalized youth. She is a doctoral candidate at Virginia Commonwealth University, where her research focuses on school-based mental health, culturally responsive counseling, and youth participatory action research. She is also an experienced school counselor and counselor educator, committed to training the next generation of school counselors to be data-driven, social justice-oriented practitioners.
Monica Van Arsdale
Virginia Credit Union
Monica brings a refreshing, honest, and relatable voice to money management. With over 15 years of personal financial education experience, Monica meets people wherever they are on their financial journey. As a former public school teacher and lifelong Virginia resident, Monica is committed to helping the Richmond community build a brighter tomorrow. She currently serves on the Virginia Board for JumpStart Financial Literacy Coalition and the Virginia Department of Education’s curriculum review committee. When she’s not helping people live more financially confidently, Monica enjoys spending time with her family and volunteering around town.
Chris Woodbury
Virginia Credit Union
Chris has 30 years of banking and financial experience and an impressive 25-year-long career with Virginia Credit Union. Always wearing a smile, Chris loves creating relationships with people and encouraging them to achieve and succeed in their goals. He’s excited to continue to empower our members, community, and local school systems, recognizing it’s never too early or late to achieve financial health.
Micah “Bam-Bamm” White
Metropolitan Business League
Wherever Micah White goes, his enthusiasm and energy are contagious. During his more than 25 years in the entertainment industry, he has worked as a stand-up comedian, host, keynote speaker, and philanthropist. White’s abilities have led to him performing for a variety of corporations, non-profit organizations, and colleges, doing everything from stand-up comedy to hosting and delivering the commencement address. Despite his enormous success, he has remained deeply rooted in Virginia and is the founder of RVA Has Talent, an organization that fosters collaborations between regional artists and nonprofit organizations in the Greater Richmond region.
Off the stage, he cares deeply about his community. White has spoken at TEDxRVA and worked with businesses to address issues of inclusion, growth, and diversity. He worked with the Boys and Girls Club as a coach and mentor. White also served as the girls’ volleyball team’s head coach at James River High School.
White’s goal in all of his endeavors is to use humor and entertainment to find common ground across racial, religious, socioeconomic, and generational divides.
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