About
Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Initiatives of Change USA (IofC) works with individuals, organizations and communities in the Central Virginia region. We offer a wide variety of programs, events, and other inclusive opportunities that forge deep partnerships between community leaders, activists, organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofits, the business sector and individuals.
The IofC USA Team
Amanda Barnes
Creative Media & Brand Ambassador
amanda.barnes@iofc.org
Artist. Storyteller. Visualizer.
At 25, Amanda Barnes, is in a good flow, crafting her multimedia capacities into a comprehensive portfolio. The Washington, D.C. native is also a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a bachelors degree in Painting and Print Making. She is a visual artist, graphic designer and photographer who creates original artwork as compelling forms of communication that audiences can experience. Amanda also serves as the Communications Resident with Initiatives of Change USA where she is committed to engaging audiences in innovative ways in order to reflect their own activation for change.
In her position with IofC USA, Amanda designs work to communicate the different narratives driving organizational programs and events. In her spare time, Amanda loves to research and learn new techniques and tools of art, design and narrative construction. She enjoys being in creative and passionate communities creating change and she also loves to dance.
Allan-Charles Chipman
Executive Director
allan-charles.chipman@iofc.org
Organizer. Mentor. Healer.
Allan is a lifelong faith community activist, having started his work at the ripe age of six in his hometown of Baltimore, when he was inspired by a group of pastors working to connect their congregations to their communities through service. Previously serving as IofC’s Faith-Rooted Organizer, Allan runs programming for faith communities, equipping them with the tools to think theologically and logically about race and the history of Richmond and America as a whole. With unanimous support from our board and staff Allan-Charles has been elected as our new Executive Director. We know that he will do amazing work.
During college, Allan engaged with faith communities to change society through mentorship programs and helped to establish a faculty/student collaborative organization called Reconciliation and Conversation for Everyone (R.A.C.E.). Allan has also worked in the corporate world, where he advocated to build an African-American network to strive for racial equity at one of Richmond’s Fortune 500 companies. He also acted as liaison between minority employees and the human resources department when issues involving race arose.
Allan earned his bachelor’s degree in human development and family science from Messiah College. In his free time, Allan enjoys creating music and recording for his podcast dedicated to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called A Difference in Thought.
Rohit Valecha
Director of International Programs
rohit.valecha@iofc.org
Filmmaker. Artist. Activist.
Rohit Valecha is a versatile media and motion pictures professional based in Mumbai, India. He is passionate about cinema, music, and performing arts. He spends most of his time developing innovative works and producing freelance creative projects. He has worked on a number of short films, documentaries, and music videos in various capacities. After his film studies at Whistling Woods International, he assisted director Nandita Das in her critically acclaimed feature film ‘Manto’ which premiered at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.
An intersectional activist and advocate of the UN SDGs, Rohit has started Meri Kahaani, an initiative that represents the stories of the lived experiences of women. The platform has been documenting stories across India since 2018 and is now expanding internationally. The stories have reached thousands of people online on social media platforms, created safe spaces for women, and sparked conversations on positive masculinity among men.
He is also the founder of Roobaroo, an organisation that strives to blur the boundaries between India and Pakistan, using the power of art and music. The initiative currently is creating original art and music that challenges hegemonic ideas of the system.
Rohit has been associated with IofC India since 2014. As the Director of International Program, he manages the Caux Scholars Program and the Global Alumni Initiative Network.
In his free time, he reads Urdu poetry and loves playing music.
LaDora Carter
HR & Operations Director
ladora.carter@iofc.org
Generator. Womanist. Spiritual Warrior.
LaDora is the HR & Operations Director for Initiatives of Change USA. She has a deep passion, capacity, and commitment to organizational management, human resources and capital, IT management, logistics coordination, hospitality services, and facilitation training. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in Political Science and a minor in Non-Profit Management from Virginia Commonwealth University.
LaDora has a decade of expertise in the nonprofit sector. Having experienced and witnessed frequent practices of racial inequality and injustice has led her to creating space for women of color who are often siloed and underrepresented in non-profit management. LaDora is resiliently dedicated to identifying ways to shift the narrative in this regard by working with women of color in a range of sectors (including education, faith based communities, and grassroots organizations) to share solidarity, lessons, resources, and strategies.
LaDora is an alumna the Community Trustbuilding Fellowship. She is a womanist and a woman of faith who avidly supports all things created, curated and interpreted by women of color, particularly work exploring the intersectionality of faith, gender, justice and action across the African Diaspora.
LaDora enjoys reading, traveling, martial arts and creating memorable life experiences with her family. In her free time, LaDora roasts single origin coffee from Africa and the African diaspora at Coffee Liberated, a woman owned coffee roasting company in Richmond, VA. She works to reclaim the Black history of coffee and amplify and connect Black-owned coffee roasters, businesses and coffee growing communities across the African Diaspora.
“I think it’s imperative that we amplify our collective experiences and ancestral knowledge throughout the African Diaspora. Coffee can provide the pathway towards our collective liberation.” -LaDora
Pearl Wise-Crawley
Faith-Rooted Strategist pearl.wisecrawley@iofc.org
Bridge Builder. Team Builder. Communications Pioneer.
After years of working in the arts, Pearl Wise-Crawley brings her experiences and talent to Initiatives of Change USA. Pearl's successful work in audience development and deepening community networks will further relationship investments with community organizations and the media to increase institutional awareness and broaden the organization's ability to realize optimum success. Pearl works to have active engagement with spiritual communities; cultural institutions as well as the media to brand the organization as a value asset to all community partners.