During Black History Month, we’re proud to highlight our African American Leadership Society Cabinet members.
The AALS Cabinet is a group of committed leaders from across South Hampton Roads who bring diverse perspectives, lived experience, and professional expertise to advance our mission. They ensure community voices are heard, leadership is representative, and solutions are informed by those closest to the work.
Thank you to the following members for helping us drive meaningful, lasting impact:
Jimmy Anderson
Stephanie Cuffee
Jamila Downs
Jamila Downs is a Community Intervention Supervisor with the Virginia Beach Court Service Unit, where she leads community-based interventions supporting youth and families involved in the juvenile justice system. With more than 20 years of experience in mental health, substance use, and youth services, she is passionate about prevention, family engagement, and creating opportunities that help young people thrive.
A committed philanthropist and community advocate, Jamila is an active member of United Way’s African American Leadership Society and Women United Leadership Society, and a dedicated member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®. She is also an active member of Gethsemane Community Fellowship Church. Through her professional and community work, Jamila remains dedicated to advancing equity, strengthening families, and building healthier communities across Hampton Roads.
Thomas L. Hasty, III
Tom, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Regulatory Risk Officer at TowneBank, was part of the founding management team at TowneBank in 1999. The bank has now grown to be the largest bank headquartered in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, with banking offices in Virginia, nearby outer banks of North Carolina, Charlotte, and the Triangle area of North Carolina. The bank now has assets approaching $20 Billion dollars. The bank offers a full range of financial services through controlled divisions and subsidiaries that include Investments, Insurance Brokerage, Benefits brokerage, Commercial Real Estate Brokerage, Residential Real Estate Brokerage and Mortgage Services. Tom serves on the bank’s Senior Leadership Team, Audit Committee, Asset Protection Committee, Enterprise Risk Committee, Regulatory Compliance Committee, and Credit Policy Committee.
Tom is responsible for implementation and management of regulatory risk objectives, the Regulatory Compliance Division, Examination Management, Insurance Review and Purchase, and participates in the Management Loan and Credit Policy Committees.
Prior to TowneBank, Tom served as Senior Vice President and Senior Credit Officer at BB&T of Virginia and immediately prior to leaving as Senior Vice President and Corporate Banker (1995-1998). Tom also served as Senior Vice President and Senior Credit Officer at Commerce Bank in Virginia (1987 to 1995) and prior to that served in various capacities with the FDIC culminating as a Review Examiner/Failing Bank Specialist in Dallas, Texas (1976 to 1987). Tom joined the FDIC after being a student intern while attending Hampton Institute (now University in Hampton, VA). Tom also attended the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Delaware and holds the Certified Risk Professional designation.
Tom is married to a fellow Hamptonian and has four children and five grandchildren and participates in the community and his church. He serves on various boards, including the Urban League of Hampton Roads serving as former Chair, Chesapeake Bay Academy, the Hampton University Boosters Club, the United Way of South Hampton Roads serving as past Treasurer , member of the Tocqueville Society and Co-Chair of the African American Leadership Society, the Food Bank of Southeastern Virginia, and the Wesley Westminster Foundation at Norfolk State University. Tom has also been appointed by several Governors to the Virginia Resources Authority and just completed 16 years of service, the last few as it’s chair and has also been active in Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Incorporated since 1974.
Christina Hughes
Christina Hughes is a Finance Business Partner at Maersk Line Limited with over 20 years of experience in financial reporting and accounting. She brings a strong background in financial stewardship, compliance, and strategic planning in support of mission-driven organizations. Recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 leader, Christina currently serves on the Samaritan House Board of Directors, is a Cabinet Member with United Way’s African American Leadership Society, and co-leads Maersk North America’s charitable partnerships. Her board service reflects a deep commitment to fiscal responsibility, organizational sustainability, and community impact. Originally from Arkansas, Christina lives with her husband, Chris, and their dance-loving daughter, Elizabeth, and remains deeply committed to service and family.
Mark Johnson
Mark is the Senior Vice President, Director of CRA Community Development at Truist. In this role, Mr. Johnson is responsible for overseeing the Community Development and Reinvestment activities in the Virginia Region.
An exemplary steward of community service and champion of philanthropic efforts in the Hampton Roads community, he is consistently working to align the bank with charitable organizations and initiatives that promote positive change within the community. Mark’s continued efforts have been recognized through a number of awards, such as the Hampton Roads Inside Business Top 75 Power List (recognizes the people who shape and influence Hampton Roads); the Urban League of Hampton Roads Silver Star and MLK Community Leader Awards, (recognizes leaders who have made a difference in their communities); the SunTrust Bank Performance Excellence Award (recognizes the outstanding performance of teammates in both sales and non-sales roles who demonstrate exceptional achievements in support of the bank’s guiding principles, the first professional in his position to receive the award); the National Association of Leadership Program’s Distinguished Leadership Award, (recognizes exemplary service and commitment to the community, only 1 of 15 professionals that received the award across the country in 2015); the Hampton Roads Community Action Program’s Community Builder’s Award (given to recipients based upon their proven track record of outstanding leadership, exemplary service and advocacy for positive change); the 2025 Virginia Black Business Leaders Award (recognizing 28 standout executives from across the Commonwealth of Virginia); the Virginia Beach Human Rights Award (honoring individuals, organizations, and businesses that promote human rights and cultural diversity in the community), the UNCF 2022 Masked Award (given to an individual for their commitment to UNCF and to other organizations and individuals with the Commonwealth of VA) and a recipient of the 2025 Canisius University Distinguished Alumni Award (for outstanding leadership and achievement) Mark was also the lead visionary in the creation, planning, and organization of SunTrust Bank, Hampton Roads first annual of Diversity and Inclusion Awards Celebration in the Greater Hampton Roads Community in 2011 and led the effort that brought the cast members of the hit nineties TV show A Different World, which emphasized the value of higher education and the value of HBCUs – Historically Black Colleges and Universities to Norfolk State University in April of 2015.
Prior to his arrival to the Hampton Roads area, Mark made significant inroads in the Buffalo, New York, and Washington, DC, metro areas. He received the 40 under 40 Award from Business First Magazine in his role at United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, the Trailblazer Award from the Buffalo Educational Alliance, and the John H. Garber, Jr., Award from United Way of Worldwide (formerly United Way of America) – one of the youngest United Way Professionals to ever receive this honor.
As the former Vice President of Community Funding & Special Initiatives for the United Way of South Hampton Roads (Norfolk, VA), he was the first African American to hold this position in the company’s 87 year history.
In a 2017 and 2018 leadership endeavor, Mark was a Co-Chair of the Hampton Roads UNCF Mayors’ Masked Ball in Norfolk, VA. More than 800 people attended both events that raised over $200,000 to support scholarship efforts within the Hampton Roads community.
Mark serves on a number of boards and committees, including, Life Enrichment Center of Norfolk, LISC Richmond Advisory Board (former Chair of the LISC Hampton Roads Board), Tidewater Community College Education Foundation Board (Chair of the Board), Hampton Roads Workforce Council (former Chair of the Board), the VA UNCF Advisory Council, the Green Run Collegiate Foundation Board, United Way of South Hampton Roads (2024 Chair of the Campaign Cabinet and 2025 Chair of the Board of Directors), former Commissioner of Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission, Go VA Region 5 Council member, HumanKind Board Member, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc (Norfolk, VA Alumni Chapter) and a 2022 Virginia Beach Neptune Festival Triton.
Mark resides in Virginia Beach with his wife, Shonder, and his two children Imajae’ and Mark II. He is a graduate of Canisius College (now Canisius University), in Buffalo, NY, the ExecuStep Program, United Way Worldwide, formerly United Way of America and LEAD Hampton Roads 2004.
Ciara Jones MHA, BSN, RN
Alvean Lyons, Ph.D.
Kelvin Turner II
Kelvin Turner II is a philanthropic leader committed to strengthening health, equity, and opportunity. As a Program Officer at the Obici Healthcare Foundation (OHF), he manages grant portfolios in healthy behaviors, education, and community development—prioritizing partnership, measurable outcomes, and support for organizations serving vulnerable communities.
Before joining OHF, Kelvin served as a Regional Director with Operation Smile, championing country-led sustainability by supporting medical volunteer education and capacity-building, primarily in West Africa. His work focused on expanding access to safe surgery and strengthening systems of care, deepening his commitment to equity and long-term impact.
Kelvin also directs the Audio-Visual Ministry at Zion Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Virginia, where he leads livestream production and media training to strengthen worship accessibility. He further extends his influence as a member of the Community Investment Committee at the United Way of South Hampton Roads and as a 2025–2026 Gladys K. Washington Connecting Leaders Fellow. Kelvin also serves as Co-Founder of Kulture Adventures Travel, designing cultural immersion experiences that reinvest in local communities.