Walking Partners: New Directors Circle Members

We are excited to share that the 2021 IAWA Directors Circle has convened this spring, starting off the year strong. We have 12 members that span three countries Canada, South Africa, and the United States and have expertise in nonprofit management to marketing and business development to social justice. Koffi Assouan and Dyan Bullock are returning as Co-Chairs, Robert Adams is returning as Secretary, and James Chavis and Amir Mesarwi are returning as Treasurers.

We’d like to welcome our newest Directors Circle members joining in 2021, Shaneka Thurman, Layla Nielsen, and Melissa Wippenaar! 

Shaneka is an international development and public health professional, based in North Carolina, USA, who has worked throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Asia; focusing on improving the lives of youth and children. Shaneka shared that she is thrilled to join the IAWA team to “continue to usher in a different wave of support to youth that arms them with life skills, demonstrates opportunity, fosters psychosocial support and wraps them in resilience.” 

Layla is the Founder of Layla Nielsen & Co., an international marketing firm and a mastermind delivering over 15 years of bankable integrated marketing campaigns. Layla shared that, “With strong relationships in media and with influencers in entertainment, my goal is to leverage those relationships to expand I Am, We Are’s reach to larger and more influential circles.” Layla lives in Maryland, USA. 

Based in Pretoria, South Africa, Melissa is the Fundraising Communications Manager at Feenix, where she helps the organisation to realise its mission of debt-free tertiary education for all South African youth. Melissa shared that she identifies personally with the youth Ambassadors in IAWA, and that “As a lover of life and fearless dreamer, I am trying to change the world, one child at a time.” 

We’re excited to welcome these talented and brilliant new members to the IAWA Community!