Tony Lynn serves as one of IAWA’s board co-chairs, responsible for monitoring strategic planning and execution. Tony brings a broad range of public and private sector experiences to IAWA’s board. He is currently a Global Program Manager for Facebook’s Small and Medium Business division and previously held management positions at the Obama White House and Accenture, the global management consulting firm. Tony earned his MBA from Yale School of Management and his BA from Dillard University.

Ra Shád Frazier-Gaines has spent his career working to advance democratic values and progressivism throughout the United States. He is an advocacy professional specializing in bridging communities and political operations. He is sought out both nationally and internationally for his expertise on issues facing young people and the African-American community and his experience in organizing and leading political campaigns. Ra Shad's intersectional work on parity and inclusion most recently has taken him to lecture at Anyang University in South Korea. Ra Shad currently serves as Co-Chair of I Am, We Are Board of Directors and is also a Minister in the Church of God in Christ.

Atoy Strawder is a Finance professional with over 25 years of corporate Fortune 500 experience. She earned a bachelors degree in Accounting from the University of Louisiana Monroe, an MBA with emphasis in Corporate Finance from the University of Dallas and is a licensed CPA. She has held positions of increasing responsibility with companies such as PepsiCo and Campbell Soup Company and is currently with McKesson Corporation. In addition to her professional career, Atoy’s passion, fueled by her faith, is to serve others. She seeks to help others fulfill their dreams and realize their true purpose by serving on nonprofit boards, mentoring and coaching others and community volunteerism.

Christina Parrish is committed to working on behalf of the underrepresented and marginalized in her professional and personal life. At the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education, she oversees the implementation of the Federal School Improvement Grant program which funds intervention programs aimed at turning around the District's lowest performing public schools. As a mentor and advocate for young people, Christina hopes to be a positive support system, role model and confidant through her work with Girls Incorporated and I Am, We Are. She earned a Master's Degree in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park School of Public Policy and a Bachelor of Science in International Culture and Politics with a concentration in Youth and Education and a certificate in African Studies from Georgetown University.

Linda Masina holds a law degree from the University of Cape Town and studied International law and foreign direct investment at Cornell Law School. She is a lawyer in Sandton and has a particular passion for social justice and the empowerment of economically and socially disadvantaged and economically challenged youth.

She became involved in campus governance as a student at the University of Cape Town and served as the head of Human Rights Education for Amnesty International and Chairperson of the Dell Young Leaders Leadership Committee under the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. She was part of Students for Law and Social Justice and volunteered at high schools in vulnerable communities in Cape Town and facilitated talks on the promotion of constitutional rights and assisted indigent communities with various legal issues. She hopes to be an agent for positive social change and hopes to pursue a Masters in International Human Rights.

Jason E. Turner, a Washington, D.C. native. Professionally, Jason's focus is in the Information Technology, and "Green" Technology sectors, where his career has included the corporate, government, and non-profit sectors. He was appointed by former Washington, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty as Chief of Staff and Capital Projects at the Department of Parks and Recreation, following years of professional experience at corporations such as Procter & Gamble, and Verizon -- as well as additional entrepreneurial experience in the STEM education sector. Currently, Jason is a partner at Signature Technology Solutions, a D.C. based informational technology firm.

A 1991 graduate of The University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Jason is a father of two teen-agers, and counts travel (He has visited South Africa 10 times), Formula One racing and people among his hobbies. He is guided by a belief that anyone – given the tools, desire and opportunity – can change the world. This is why he is so passionate about the work of our organization, and most importantly, the youth of I Am We Are.

La Chenna Cromer brings 20 years’ experience in public health and business development in the United States, Africa and Asia development markets. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, La Chenna is the Business Development Director for mothers2mothers, an Africa-based, international NGO that believes in the power of women to eliminate pediatric AIDS and create health and hope in their families and communities. La Chenna brings experience in soliciting funds from US and European governments, pharmaceutical corporations, and private foundations. La Chenna also brings experience in health communication research to inform campaigns and materials for underserved populations. A passionate advocate for women’s rights, empowerment, and improved access to health care, La Chenna brings her enthusiasm to the I Am, We Are board with hopes to expand its national footprint. La Chenna has an MPH in Behavioral Science and Health Education from Saint Louis University School of Public Health and a Bachelor’s Degree in Women’s Studies from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

Chinonye Donna Egbulem is an Afrocentric social entrepreneur & seasoned research consultant with over 5 years of experience in global health and development policy research. She has worked collaboratively on national and international-level projects to contribute to capacity-building training and technical assistance projects. Along the way, she's managed to become business proficient in French, assist women and men on the African continent and in the US with successfully starting and operating businesses, and become a serial social entrepreneur herself with the recent launch of JOONAFRICA. In her spare time, she works to connect black diasporic communities together by sourcing content that will empower black creators to create, design, innovate, and advance in their endeavors all the while telling and sharing THEIR story.