PHAR Board:
We are governed by a Board of Directors made up entirely of low-income residents, and we work with other community partners through our Advisory Council. PHAR’s most recent election was completed in August 2024.
Members for the Board of Directors for the Charlottesville Public Housing Association of Residents (PHAR) for 2023 – 2024 are:
- Chair: Joy Johnson
- Vice-Chair:
- Treasurer: Audrey Oliver
- Secretary: Tina Washington
- Harriet Carter
- Earl Hicks
- Donna Dean
- Wade Lewis
- Angie Carr
The Board meets on a monthly basis and the agenda includes “hot topics,” action plans and opportunities for involvement. PHAR is seeking to fill vacant at-large seats on the Board of Directors! Please contact us if interested!
PHAR Staff:
Executive Director, Latricia Giles (she/her).
Latricia is an advocate for justice deeply committed to uplifting communities and championing the rights of all individuals. With a deep-seated belief in the power of collective liberation, she has committed her career to addressing, elevating, and advancing critical issues such as economic inequity, housing justice, and climate justice. At the heart of Latricia’s work is a profound commitment to community. Recognizing the strength that comes from collective effort, Latricia has cultivated strong relationships and partnerships to foster a more just and compassionate society. Latricia’s approach is centered on listening, understanding, and amplifying the voices of those often unheard. Outside of her professional endeavors, Latricia cherishes her time with her family, travel, a good game of pick-up basketball, and live music.
Resident for Respectful Research Coordinator, Wendy Gao (she/they)
Wendy is deeply passionate about collective organizing for collective liberation and finding the interconnectedness of struggles against systemic injustice and oppression. They are a Class of 2024 graduate of the University of Virginia, where they studied Political & Social Thought and American Studies. Recognizing the privilege and complicity of being a UVA graduate, she is committed to building genuine connections, relationships, and roots with longtime residents and community members in Charlottesville to work toward anti-displacement and resident-led redevelopment. In their free time, Wendy enjoys reading Asian speculative fiction, hanging out with her dog, being a homebody, and attempting to recreate Chinese dishes from their childhood.
Community Organizer/Youth Program Coordinator, Asia Green (she/her/hers).
Asia is a 2022 PHAR Internship Alumni graduate. She is always happy to lend a helping hand to others and spends her time working on PHAR’s youth outreach. Asia is committed to ensuring that every Public Housing resident has a voice and strives to make our Community a more kid-friendly environment!
Internship Coordinator, Davonte “Vonzz” Long (he/him/his)
Vonzz is a collaborative leader with a vision to foster environments where residents feel empowered and connected, promoting a strong sense of belonging and collaboration. Vonzz leverages his youth work experience to develop programs to enhance quality of life, provide opportunities for growth and development, and create inclusive and sustainable public housing solutions. During his tenure as Teen Program Director at the Boys & Girls Club of Central VA, he successfully launched initiatives that increased youth engagement and implemented a mentorship program that connected over 100 teens with community leaders. These achievements underscore his commitment to addressing the diverse needs of the community and creating meaningful opportunities for young people to thrive.
davonte@pharcville.org
Executive Assistant, Jo Blount (she/her).
Jo joined PHAR in summer of 2022 in a new role created to support the Executive Director and the organization’s overall development. She grew up in Charlottesville and went on to study Ethnic Studies in New York and Sociology and Urban Planning in Paris. After years of organizing and research around anti-gentrification work and community-led redevelopment, Jo is excited to build roots back in her hometown. She will be studying Architecture at UVA and hopes to see the university more committed to transparent and collaborative relationships with the Charlottesville community. In her free time, she enjoys dog sitting, watching French TV series, farming, and coming up with new smoothie recipes.
Administrative Operations Coordinator, Maia Adolphs (she/her).
Maia, who hails from Galveston, Texas, is passionate about social justice and building community through the arts. Maia is a 2024 graduate of Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, VA, where she studied music, and completed training in the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership. Maia strongly believes that improvement, advancement, and support comes from within one’s community, and seeks to empower people to unite and work together. Outside of her work at PHAR, Maia enjoys participating in the collaborative art of theater at Charlottesville’s local Live Arts. Maia lives in Charlottesville with her best friend, Nikolas, and the pair love cooking, music, musical theater, and exploring the community.
Oral History Intern, Simone Marijic Buljubasic (she/her)
Simone is a third year undergraduate student at the University of Virginia studying History, Music, and Public Policy. She is committed to oral history as a rich historical and storytelling resource, one that can amplify the experiences of public housing residents and support resident-led initiatives. Simone hopes to use her historical skills and background in marketing and media to improve digital accessibility to PHAR oral histories, both past and present. Outside of PHAR, Simone is interested in AI policy and ethics, digital design, and performing and writing music.
pry9ag@virginia.edu
