Advancing Economic Mobility through the Amandla Fund

Jovan Burton is the Executive Director for the Partnership for Housing Affordability. He serves on the board of directors for Housing Families First, Area Congregations Together in Service and ChamberRVA. He is Chair of the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care and a member of the Virginia Commonwealth University’s Real Estate Circle of Excellence. A graduate of Hampden-Sydney College, Jovan holds an M.P.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University and a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from the Boston College Carroll School of Management. Jovan joined the Amandla Fund Advisory Committee because he believes Richmond can close its homeownership gap and achieving that would be a defining step toward realizing the goal of equity and justice for all. 

Jill C. Coleman is a retired Philanthropic leader, experienced in international development and nonprofit management. Recently certified in Building Construction and Construction Supervision, housing renovation and restoration is her “why,“ linked to decent, sustainable housing meeting industry standards. The commitment to housing and homeownership is what drew her to the Amandla Fund. Jill currently serves as the Endowment Chair of SisterFund and as a board member of the Richard Bland College Foundation, Boys and Girls Club of Metro Richmond and the Black Family Land Trust. 

Greta J. Harris is President & CEO of the Better Housing Coalition, leading transformative growth of the Richmond, VA region’s largest nonprofit housing developer. An Independent Director for Fortune 300 Markel Group, she has 30+ years’ experience in real estate, finance, and community development; having been involved in $1.0B+ in affordable housing and community development investments. A values-driven leader, Greta is recognized for strategic vision, sustainable growth, and fostering equitable, thriving communities. She agreed to serve on the Amandla Fund Advisory Committee to create a long-term, perpetual asset for Black RVA citizens that will promote economic prosperity for our shared futures.  

Dionne Henderson, a native of Richmond, VA, is a graduate of the University of Virginia, where she majored in English and African & African American Studies. She currently serves as President & CEO of Partnership for the Future. Dionne is an active member of SisterFund, the African American Nonprofit Leaders Collective, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Jack and Jill of America, Inc. 

Dionne has dedicated her career to serving under-resourced and historically marginalized communities in Richmond. Her deep understanding of collective impact inspired her to join the Amandla Fund Advisory Committee and work alongside other leaders in our community to achieve racial and economic justice. 

Derrick Johnson is retired from Philip Morris. He currently serves on the board of Partnership for the Future and chair the Amandla Fund Advisory Committee for Economic and Racial justice. Both are consistent with his life-long commitment to make a difference in the lives of the marginalized. He has held leadership and service roles throughout his career, including charter president of the U of L NAACP chapter, president of the Black American Law Student Association, pro bono counsel for abused women in Louisville, member of United Way boards in both Louisville and Richmond, and more than a dozen other boards across the two cities. The Amandla Fund provides the opportunity to be a part of facilitating systemic change and begin to dismantle 400 years of oppression in the capital of the confederacy. 

Dr. Cynthia I. Newbille has served as Council representative for Richmond’s East End 7th Voter District since 2010 and is the current President of Richmond City Council. 

A servant leader, Cynthia has more than 25 years of experience managing and administering local, regional, and national non-profit organizations; working in local government, academia, and philanthropy. She holds Bachelor and Masters degrees from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and Ph.D.in Public Policy and Administration From Virginia Commonwealth University. 

Cynthia is a founding member of the Sister Fund Giving Circle. She joined the Amandla Advisory Committee because of its strategic intentionality and commitment to increase economic mobility and wealth building for Black communities through homeownership.   

Joeffrey's passion for equity-focused philanthropy stems from his experiences growing up, living and studying in several parts of the world. He has experienced firsthand the power of removing systemic barriers when combined with both individual and collective efforts of support and encouragement, and he's committed to supporting organizations that share this vision. 

Joeffrey’s background includes working in design, IT, entrepreneurship, and non-profit spaces. A member of the Amandla Fund Advisory Committee since 2021, he is focused on providing long-term support for initiatives that prioritize equity and community development. He also currently serves as the chair of Ujima Legacy Fund. 

Albert R. Walker, III, Th.M., M.Div. is Lead Program and Strategy Officer at Richmond Memorial Health Foundation (RMHF), where he co-leads efforts to strengthen organizations and movements advancing health and racial equity. With 20+ years in philanthropy and social justice, he helps transform bold ideas into collective action and deepen RMHF’s impact. He serves on the Amandla Fund Advisory Committee and the Virginia Interfaith Power & Light Board. His commitment to the Amandla Fund is rooted in lived experience and a mission to ensure Black-led organizations and historically marginalized communities have the resources, power, and influence to create lasting, systemic change.