April 29, 2025 Chapter Meeting

Overview:

Moderated by Vivian Oden, Vice President for Equity and Inclusion at the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, this dynamic panel of nonprofit and corporate leaders will explore how organizations and governing boards can authentically and meaningfully advance diversity and inclusion in leadership and community engagement.

Panelists: 

Yvonne Toms Allmond is an Executive Vice President & Community Financial Engagement Officer with TowneBank.   She was previously a Senior Vice President in the Private Banking Group in TowneBank’s Norfolk Corporate Offices for more than 15 years.  She has over 30 years of financial experience, primarily in banking but also to include serving as an Investment Associate with the Economic Development Finance Corporation and an assessment auditor with the FDIC. She is a recipient of the 2014 NAACP Presidential Award; 2014 YWCA Women of Distinction award; the 2019 Inside Business’ Women in Business Achievement award; 2021 recipient of the Humanitarian Award presented by Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities; and a 2024 Virginia Women in Leadership Award presented by Virginia Business magazine.  She is involved in many civic activities, community initiatives and organizations to include Board Chair of WHRO Public Media, Vice Chair of the Board of the Barry Art Museum, Vice Chair of the Board of YMCA South Hampton Roads, Board Chair of the Norfolk Employees Retirement System, and many other organizations in the community. 

Patricia Lerma Bracknell is a visionary leader, passionate advocate, and accomplished professional with over 28 years of experience in government service, commercial operations, and social entrepreneurship. As the Founder and CEO of the Chamber for Hispanic Progress, she has dedicated her career to empowering underserved and immigrant communities, creating pathways for economic growth, education, and cultural integration in the United States. Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, and raised in California, Patricia brings a unique bicultural perspective to her work. Having completed part of her education in Mexico, she possesses a deep understanding of the challenges and resilience of immigrant communities. This background, combined with her professional expertise, has driven her commitment to fostering sustainable and equitable communities.

Patricia’s dedication and impact have earned her multiple accolades, including the prestigious Heart Association Award, recognizing her outstanding contributions to community health and advocacy. Her work continues to be acknowledged at both regional and national levels for her commitment to economic empowerment, diversity, and sustainable development. 

Maurice Jones is the Vice President of News at WHRO Public Media, where he oversees the strategic growth and operations of the newsroom, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence across multiple platforms.  With a diverse background spanning the public and private sectors, as well as extensive experience in the news industry, Maurice brings a wealth of knowledge to his role. Previously, he held positions such as president and publisher of Pilot Media, deputy secretary of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Obama administration, and Secretary of Commerce and Trade under the McAuliffe administration.  Before joining WHRO, Maurice served as the President and CEO of OneTen, a coalition committed to upskilling and employing one million Black individuals without four-year degrees in sustainable careers. Prior to his tenure at OneTen, Maurice led the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), where he substantially increased the organization's annual investment and diversified its partnerships across various industries.  Maurice also serves as the CEO of the Center for First-generation Student Success and has held leadership positions on several non-profit boards and committees, including the Virginia Arts Festival and the Board of the Virginia Community College System. 

Jeff Ryder is the Managing Director of Virginia Stage Company since March 2022. In addition to his work at VSC, Jeff is proud to serve as the president of the board for Hampton Roads Pride. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Norfolk, for which he serves as the Director of Fundraising and is a member of the Civic Leadership Institute’s Executive Class of 2025 (best class ever!). Prior to coming to VSC, Jeff served in several roles at Cleveland Play House from 2013 to 2022. Jeff holds a Master of Public Administration Degree from the Levin College at Cleveland State University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Tufts University. At Levin, Jeff was inducted into Nu Lambda Mu, the international honor society for the study of nonprofit management and philanthropy. Jeff also holds a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion for HR Professionals from Cornell University. He has served on the boards of the Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank, Theatre Forward, the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Cleveland, and the Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club. In Cleveland, Jeff was honored to be a part of the Cleveland Leadership Center’s Advanced Leadership Institute and the Cleveland Foundation’s Foundations for Philanthropy Program. 

Moderator: 

Vivian Oden is the vice president for equity and inclusion at the Hampton Roads Community Foundation where she leads the foundation in its racial equity work. Oden was the co-creator of Unmasking Hampton Roads, a three-part learning series designed to examine the historic and contemporary impact of racism in Hampton Roads in 2019. Most recently, she co-created Community Peacemaking Circles to bring the Hampton Roads community together around truth-telling, reconciliation and racial healing. She facilitates conversations on race, unconscious bias, stereotypes and racial equity.

Parking:

When parking in the WHRO lot, be sure to park in a space that is marked WHRO (on the asphalt)

Thank you to our Chapter Meeting Sponsor: