Staff
The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities’ dedicated staff members bring years of experience to their work helping schools, businesses, and communities achieve success through inclusion. Meet our team below, and contact VCIC to be in touch with a member of the staff.
Executive

Jonathan Zur

Jonathan C. Zur is President & CEO of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC), an organization that works with schools, business, and communities to achieve success through inclusion. Under Jonathan’s leadership, VCIC has quadrupled the size of the budget and staff, and the number of programs the organization delivers annually increased by 3,000%. Additionally, VCIC has been recognized locally and nationally for its effectiveness.
An experienced facilitator and consultant on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Jonathan was appointed by the Governor of Virginia to the Commonwealth Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, formed in the aftermath of the tragedy in Charlottesville in August 2017. In 2016, Jonathan was a speaker at the inaugural White House Summit on Diversity and Inclusion in Government. His program work with VCIC is noted in the book No COLORS: 100 Ways to Stop Gangs from Taking Away Our Communities as “the best…in the nation for sowing the seeds of non-violence, inclusiveness and understanding in a high school.”
Active in the community, Jonathan has served in recent years as a member of the Virginia Commission on African American History Education, the Virginia Complete Count Commission, the Virginia Task Force on Culturally Inclusive School Meals and Calendars, the Leadership Metro Richmond Board of Directors, the Capital Area Partnership Uplifting People Board of Directors, and the Asian & Latino Solidarity Alliance of Central Virginia Advisory Council.
Jonathan earned his B.A. from the University of Richmond and he received a Certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership from the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. For his professional work and community involvement, he received a Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Justice Award, the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award, and the Leadership Metro Richmond Ukrop Community Vision Award, among other recognitions. Additionally, Jonathan was a finalist for the Richmond Times Dispatch’s 2015 Person of the Year, and he was named one of Richmond’s “Top 40 Under 40″ in 2009.
Programs

Paula Bazemore
Program Manager

Paula L. Bazemore is the Hampton Roads Program Manager at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC), an organization that works with schools, businesses, and communities to achieve success through inclusion. In her role, she serves as the link between VCIC and community partners in Hampton Roads through designing, facilitating, and convening diversity, equity, and inclusion workshops.
Paula has a diverse background that includes program development and implementation, partnership development, fund development, public event organizing, and curriculum development. Past employers include three different Girl Scout councils, the National Kidney Foundation, WHRO, and the American Cancer Society where she created an award-winning program concept. Prior to joining VCIC, Paula served as the Executive Director for Peninsula READS, an organization that provides literacy skills for adults.
Paula was among the first group of staff members trained to be Diversity Facilitators in the American Cancer Society’s Mid-Atlantic Division. She is a former commissioner for the Hampton Citizens’ Unity Commission, is the past President of the Southeastern Association of Volunteer Administrators and is currently on the board of the Professional Development Consortium of Hampton Roads.
Paula received her Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media Arts from Hampton University and has a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the TCC Academy of Nonprofit Excellence.

Charm Bullard
to the CEO

Charm Bullard is Senior Advisor to the CEO at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC), an organization that works with schools, businesses, and communities to achieve success through inclusion. In her role, she designs and facilitates educational programs on diversity, equity, and inclusion for institutions across Virginia. Charm particularly specializes in VCIC’s workplace and community programs.
Since joining the VCIC team in 2016, Charm has had the opportunity to conduct over 400 workshops across the Commonwealth of Virginia. She is particularly known for her warmth and humor as a facilitator. Prior to joining VCIC, Charm spent 11 years working in various student affairs roles on collegiate campuses throughout the Southeast. It was during that time that she found her passion for encouraging and supporting diversity and inclusion. One accomplishment she is particularly proud of is founding the Connecting Women of Color Conference at the University of Richmond, which was featured in Women in Higher Education and Essence magazines.
Charm received her Bachelor’s degree in English from Lander University and her Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis on College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia.

Jermini Cordor
Associate

Jermini Cordor is Program Associate at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC), an organization that works with schools, businesses, and communities to achieve success through inclusion. He serves as the primary logistics coordinator for VCIC programs, forums, and conferences.
Before joining VCIC, Jermini developed a personal brand of being a charismatic solution-oriented leader. He chaired the Programming and Planning Committee for VCU Residential Life and Housing. In that capacity, Jermini was responsible for building teams that planned and hosted bi-monthly fun, engaging, and informative events. As an Administrative Assistant for The Faces of Hope of Virginia, he supported managers and employees, assisting with daily office needs and managing the company’s general administrative activities.
In the community, Jermini has designed innovative animal welfare campaigns, planned back-to-school supply drives, and advocated for food desert reform and communal food sovereignty. He is a Virginia Commonwealth University Political Science graduate with a concentration in public policy and administration. His academic interests heavily focused on political violence, antisemitism, and Black queer politics.

Jessica Hawthorne
of Programs

Jessica M. Hawthorne is Vice President of Programs at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, an organization that works with schools, business, and communities to achieve success through inclusion. In her role, she designs and facilitates educational programs on diversity, equity, and inclusion for institutions across Virginia. Jessica particularly specializes in VCIC’s programs for K-12 schools and higher education. She also leads VCIC’s program evaluation efforts.
In the community, Jessica has served on the faculty of the Koinonia School for Race and Justice at Richmond Hill, and she was a member of both the Juvenile Justice Collaborative Youth Violence Prevention Workgroup and the Trauma-Informed Community Network. Jessica was also a community facilitator for the Unpacking the Census program.
Prior to her time with VCIC, Jessica worked for her family’s local small business as their office and social media manager. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia in Religious Studies, concentrating in African Religions and Islam. Jessica also earned a Master of Theological Studies from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University along with a Certificate in Religious Education.

Jacquie Johnson

Jacqueline “Jacquie” Johnson is Director of Professional Development at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC), an organization that works with schools, businesses, and communities to achieve success through inclusion. In her role, she designs, coordinates, delivers and evaluates diversity, equity, and inclusion programs conducted for VCIC’s workplace clients across Virginia.
Jacquie has a diverse background that includes workplace diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) strategy, instructional design, and underrepresented community outreach and engagement. Jacquie is especially interested in how DEI practices, adult learning, and inner self-work help organizations recognize the full humanity of its workforce and foster communities where everyone thrives. Jacquie currently serves as a board member for The Fund for Leadership, Equity, Access, and Diversity (The LEAD Fund).
Before joining VCIC, she managed special projects and training programs for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity, and Morgan Lewis, a global law firm. Jacquie received her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Old Dominion University, and her Master’s degree in Anthropology from George Washington University.

Alejandro Prince

Alejandro Prince is an Educational Programs Coordinator at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC), an organization that works with schools, businesses, and communities to achieve success through inclusion. In his role, Alejandro designs, coordinates, and facilitates programs, events, and conferences on diversity, equity, and inclusion primarily for educators and students across the Commonwealth.
Prior to joining VCIC, Alejandro worked with a Community Action Agency delivering programs centered on violence prevention, trauma-informed education, healthy relationships, and college and career readiness for youth. His research and experience with curricula development center on the connections of moral philosophy, racial justice, gender & sexuality, history, and psychology. He is especially interested in the role that educators play in positive human development for peaceful communities and just societies.
In the community, Alejandro serves on the Governing Body of the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance. Before moving to Virginia, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies from Azusa Pacific University and his Master’s in Theological Studies with a Certificate in African American and Diaspora Studies from Vanderbilt University.

Emma Yackso

Emma Yackso is Community Programs Coordinator at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC), an organization that works with schools, businesses, and communities to achieve success through inclusion. In her role, she designs, coordinates, delivers, and evaluates diversity, equity, and inclusion programs for non-profit organizations, community groups, and government agencies across the Commonwealth.
Emma comes to VCIC with a strong background in justice-oriented work, including a decade of experience in LGBTQ+ advocacy and support, community organizing, and southern-focused racial equity work. Most recently the Director of Programs at Side by Side, Emma is a clinical social worker who has worked in communities in Washington, D.C., New Orleans, LA, and Richmond and Charlottesville, VA. She is passionate about fostering spaces for authentic conversations that are genuinely led by and empower folks in and of their communities. She has worked with folks to build their voices around LGBTQ+ (specifically trans/gender non-conforming) equity and inclusion, community policing, non-profit equity, and more.
Emma received her Masters of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University, and she is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Virginia. She earned her undergraduate degree from George Washington University.
Administration & Fund Development

Katie Hathaway

Katie Hathaway is Director of Events & Marketing for the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC), an organization that works with schools, business, and communities to achieve success through inclusion. In her role, she is responsible for planning and executing the organization’s Humanitarian Awards Dinner events and conferences across the Commonwealth. She also supports VCIC’s marketing efforts through graphic design and online media management.
Prior to joining VCIC, Katie was Operations Manager at Initiatives of Change/Hope in the Cities, where she planned and organized events, supported the organization’s communications efforts, and oversaw office operations. During her tenure, Katie managed the “Unpacking the 2010 Census” program, “The Trust Factor” Conference in Washington DC, and served as head of the Conference Operations department at an annual international conference near Montreux, Switzerland.
Katie holds an M.A. in Intercultural Relations from Lesley University, with a focus on intercultural/diversity training and consulting. She earned her B.A. in International Relations from Franklin University Switzerland in Lugano, Switzerland.

LaTina Pitts

LaTina Pitts is Events & Operations Coordinator with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC), an organization that works with schools, businesses, and communities to achieve success through inclusion. In her role, LaTina supports the planning and execution of organizational events and ensures the smooth and efficient operation of the VCIC State Office.
Prior to joining the VCIC staff, LaTina provided 10 years of administrative support to Virginia Commonwealth University. While at VCU, she became a certified facilitator through the Building Inclusive Communities Train-the-Trainer Initiative, and also served on the VCU Task Force for Individual, Institutional & Systemic Bias, the VCU Leveraging Diversity Task Force, and the VCU School of Nursing Committee for Cultural Action.

Angelica Yankauskas
Vice President

Angelica Yankauskas is Executive Vice President at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC), an organization that works with schools, business, and communities to achieve success through inclusion. In her role, Angelica particularly focuses on the organization’s administration, human resources, financial management, and fund development.
With a background in nonprofit leadership and advocacy, Angelica has spent most of her career in the field of geriatrics, with a specialization in direct care for seniors with advanced stage dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Before coming to VCIC, Angelica was the Executive Director of Meals on Wheels of Suffolk & Isle of Wight, located in Suffolk, Virginia. Previously, she was the Wellness Department Supervisor for Hampton Roads’ and Western Tidewater’s Area Agency on Aging (AAA), Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia. It was in this role that she found a passion for furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and in her community.
Angelica is graduate of Old Dominion University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation. She received her Master of Science in Leadership from Norwich University, with a specialization in Organizational Leadership and Strategic Organizational Behavior. In her community, she serves on the Young Professionals Board of Special Olympics Virginia (Tidewater Chapter), and is a founding Board Member of Skilled Foundations, Inc., a 501C3 foundation that provides training and workshops to women affected by domestic violence and assists them in acquiring experience in trades and construction. Angelica also dedicates her time to HACE (Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement) as a skills coach, mentoring Latinx, Chicago-area high school students to encourage the furthering of Latinx representation in the corporate, education, government, non-profit, and military sectors.