Plenary Speakers
Keynote Plenary: Jamira Burley
As a native of West Philadelphia, Jamira Burley saw first-hand the disenfranchisement of marginalized communities. In 2005, sparked by the murder of her brother Andre, Jamira discovered her calling at the age of 15 years old. She organized an anti-violence program in her high school, which reduced the rate of violence by 30%. Gaining public recognition through her efforts, she received a $50,000 grant from the governor to implement the program in the city’s ten most persistently dangerous high schools.
She is the first of her 15 siblings to graduate high school and pursue higher education, obtaining a BA in International Business and Legal Studies from Temple University. For the past decade, Jamira has worked with corporations, nonprofits, and government leaders on better engaging impacted communities. Currently, she manages global strategic education initiatives for an international tech company. In 2018, she was the first United States citizen awarded the Global Leadership Award for Vital Voices and was selected as an MIT Media Lab Fellow.
Jamira previously worked as the Director of Social Impact at Adidas, Global Head of Youth Engagement and Skills at the Global Business Coalition for Education, National Deputy Millennial Vote Director at Hillary For America, and director of the gun violence and criminal justice portfolios at Amnesty International USA. Jamira’s work and passion sit at the intersection of policy, community, and social good; Jamira provides unique insight that will help actualize the change we all so desperately need. Lastly, Jamira consults with several public/private entities on how to authentically engage impacted communities and guest hosts on SiriusXM, where she and leading youth/young adult experts reexamine this country’s history and the reemerging of past conflicts (current events) to generate a fresh perspective and create REAL change through solution-driven dialogue.
As a native of West Philadelphia, Jamira Burley saw first-hand the disenfranchisement of marginalized communities. In 2005, sparked by the murder of her brother Andre, Jamira discovered her calling at the age of 15 years old. She organized an anti-violence program in her high school, which reduced the rate of violence by 30%. Gaining public recognition through her efforts, she received a $50,000 grant from the governor to implement the program in the city’s ten most persistently dangerous high schools.
She is the first of her 15 siblings to graduate high school and pursue higher education, obtaining a BA in International Business and Legal Studies from Temple University. For the past decade, Jamira has worked with corporations, nonprofits, and government leaders on better engaging impacted communities. Currently, she manages global strategic education initiatives for an international tech company. In 2018, she was the first United States citizen awarded the Global Leadership Award for Vital Voices and was selected as an MIT Media Lab Fellow.
Jamira previously worked as the Director of Social Impact at Adidas, Global Head of Youth Engagement and Skills at the Global Business Coalition for Education, National Deputy Millennial Vote Director at Hillary For America, and director of the gun violence and criminal justice portfolios at Amnesty International USA. Jamira’s work and passion sit at the intersection of policy, community, and social good; Jamira provides unique insight that will help actualize the change we all so desperately need. Lastly, Jamira consults with several public/private entities on how to authentically engage impacted communities and guest hosts on SiriusXM, where she and leading youth/young adult experts reexamine this country’s history and the reemerging of past conflicts (current events) to generate a fresh perspective and create REAL change through solution-driven dialogue.
Closing Plenary: Sonali Nijhawan
Sonali Nijhawan has committed her career to developing leaders and growing national service. Prior to becoming the Director of AmeriCorps State and National, she served as the executive director of Stockton Service Corps, a six-year, $12 million initiative to address local needs through AmeriCorps. Her professional background also includes extensive experience in education, beginning as an AmeriCorps member with City Year Chicago. Inspired by the students, families, and AmeriCorps community she met, she then went on to help found City Year Sacramento and launch the organization's 22nd site with 50 new AmeriCorps members.
Nijhawan also served as the California Director of Education Pioneers where she recruited, placed, and supported managers in urban school systems and education nonprofits, empowering people to challenge the status quo of our public education system. She holds a bachelor’s in education and psychology from Marquette University and a master’s in social work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
Sonali Nijhawan has committed her career to developing leaders and growing national service. Prior to becoming the Director of AmeriCorps State and National, she served as the executive director of Stockton Service Corps, a six-year, $12 million initiative to address local needs through AmeriCorps. Her professional background also includes extensive experience in education, beginning as an AmeriCorps member with City Year Chicago. Inspired by the students, families, and AmeriCorps community she met, she then went on to help found City Year Sacramento and launch the organization's 22nd site with 50 new AmeriCorps members.
Nijhawan also served as the California Director of Education Pioneers where she recruited, placed, and supported managers in urban school systems and education nonprofits, empowering people to challenge the status quo of our public education system. She holds a bachelor’s in education and psychology from Marquette University and a master’s in social work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
Opening Plenary
West (San Diego, CA): Josh Fryday
Josh Fryday serves as California’s Chief Service Officer within the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom to lead service, volunteer, and civic engagement efforts throughout California.
As a member of the Governor’s Cabinet, Fryday leads California Volunteers, Office of the Governor. He led the COVID-19 Task Force to support food insecure communities and food banks across the state. Since appointed, California Volunteers has launched the nation’s first statewide Climate Action Corps, #CaliforniansForAll volunteer initiative, a statewide Neighbor-to-Neighbor campaign, the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps to help thousands of Californians who commit to serving for a year pay for college, and #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps, a program to employ underserved youth across the state in critical issue areas.
Fryday is the former Mayor of Novato, his hometown. He also served as President of Golden State Opportunity (GSO), leading the expansion and implementation of the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC). Prior to GSO, he served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for NextGen Climate, a leading national organization focused on climate change.
Fryday served in the military as an Officer in the United States Navy (‘09-‘13) as a member of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG). Fryday received his law degree from UC Berkeley School of Law.
He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Demos, a national think-tank focused on issues of economic, racial, and political inequality, and is a founding Board Member of Amazon Frontlines, a leading organization to protect indigenous communities and territories in the Amazon. He is married to Mollye Fryday, an educator, and they have three energetic young boys: Shay, Calvin, and Tam.
West (San Diego, CA): Josh Fryday
Josh Fryday serves as California’s Chief Service Officer within the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom to lead service, volunteer, and civic engagement efforts throughout California.
As a member of the Governor’s Cabinet, Fryday leads California Volunteers, Office of the Governor. He led the COVID-19 Task Force to support food insecure communities and food banks across the state. Since appointed, California Volunteers has launched the nation’s first statewide Climate Action Corps, #CaliforniansForAll volunteer initiative, a statewide Neighbor-to-Neighbor campaign, the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps to help thousands of Californians who commit to serving for a year pay for college, and #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps, a program to employ underserved youth across the state in critical issue areas.
Fryday is the former Mayor of Novato, his hometown. He also served as President of Golden State Opportunity (GSO), leading the expansion and implementation of the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC). Prior to GSO, he served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for NextGen Climate, a leading national organization focused on climate change.
Fryday served in the military as an Officer in the United States Navy (‘09-‘13) as a member of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG). Fryday received his law degree from UC Berkeley School of Law.
He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Demos, a national think-tank focused on issues of economic, racial, and political inequality, and is a founding Board Member of Amazon Frontlines, a leading organization to protect indigenous communities and territories in the Amazon. He is married to Mollye Fryday, an educator, and they have three energetic young boys: Shay, Calvin, and Tam.
Central (New Orleans, LA): Billy Nungesser
Billy Nungesser is Louisiana’s 54th Lieutenant Governor. Lt. Governor Nungesser returned to work as a public servant from retirement as a successful business owner to serve two terms as Plaquemines Parish President. People remember Lt. Governor Nungesser as the voice of Louisiana when Hurricane Katrina devastated the region in 2005. He again became a national spokesperson for the unmet needs of the Gulf Coast in 2010 after the BP Deepwater Horizon explosion occurred, one of the worst man-made disasters in U.S. history.
Since taking office in 2016, he and his team have guided the state to record-breaking tourism numbers, revitalized the State Park system, and been an advocate for national service and volunteerism, especially in times of disaster. In 2020-21, in addition to the global pandemic, Louisiana was impacted by eight named storms, three making landfall with devastating effects. Despite these seemingly insurmountable challenges, Louisiana still welcomed over 41 million visitors in 2021.
Lt. Governor Nungesser continues to strategize and build bi-partisan relationships to solve short and long-term solutions benefiting every citizen in Louisiana. He is a friend and bold champion for entrepreneurs, veterans, law enforcement, special needs children and adults, the elderly, and of course, national service.
He truly is a Lieutenant Governor for ALL of Louisiana.
Billy Nungesser is Louisiana’s 54th Lieutenant Governor. Lt. Governor Nungesser returned to work as a public servant from retirement as a successful business owner to serve two terms as Plaquemines Parish President. People remember Lt. Governor Nungesser as the voice of Louisiana when Hurricane Katrina devastated the region in 2005. He again became a national spokesperson for the unmet needs of the Gulf Coast in 2010 after the BP Deepwater Horizon explosion occurred, one of the worst man-made disasters in U.S. history.
Since taking office in 2016, he and his team have guided the state to record-breaking tourism numbers, revitalized the State Park system, and been an advocate for national service and volunteerism, especially in times of disaster. In 2020-21, in addition to the global pandemic, Louisiana was impacted by eight named storms, three making landfall with devastating effects. Despite these seemingly insurmountable challenges, Louisiana still welcomed over 41 million visitors in 2021.
Lt. Governor Nungesser continues to strategize and build bi-partisan relationships to solve short and long-term solutions benefiting every citizen in Louisiana. He is a friend and bold champion for entrepreneurs, veterans, law enforcement, special needs children and adults, the elderly, and of course, national service.
He truly is a Lieutenant Governor for ALL of Louisiana.
East (Charleston, WV): Bill Lynch
Bill Lynch is the host of West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Inside Appalachia. Inside Appalachia tells the stories of Appalachian people, and how they live today. The show is an audio tour of the region’s rich history, food, music, and culture. You can listen to new episodes of Inside Appalachia every Monday wherever you get your podcasts.
Bill has been loitering somewhere in the West Virginia media scene for over 20 years. He’s been a DJ, a copywriter, a features reporter, and a columnist for the Charleston Gazette-Mail. While he was born in Michigan (and spent less than a year living there), Bill grew up in the heart of Appalachia, in Pearisburg, Virginia, right on the border with southern West Virginia. Pearisburg is still a regular stop for hikers on the Appalachian Trail. Bill spent more evenings than he can count serving the hikers pizza at Papa’s Pizzeria, and listening to their stories, as they passed through town on their way to stay at the local hostel. Bill went to college in West Virginia and then never really left. He currently lives outside of Charleston in a place called Pinch where he attempts to fend off the local deer, while trying to grow tomatoes worth eating.
Bill Lynch is the host of West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Inside Appalachia. Inside Appalachia tells the stories of Appalachian people, and how they live today. The show is an audio tour of the region’s rich history, food, music, and culture. You can listen to new episodes of Inside Appalachia every Monday wherever you get your podcasts.
Bill has been loitering somewhere in the West Virginia media scene for over 20 years. He’s been a DJ, a copywriter, a features reporter, and a columnist for the Charleston Gazette-Mail. While he was born in Michigan (and spent less than a year living there), Bill grew up in the heart of Appalachia, in Pearisburg, Virginia, right on the border with southern West Virginia. Pearisburg is still a regular stop for hikers on the Appalachian Trail. Bill spent more evenings than he can count serving the hikers pizza at Papa’s Pizzeria, and listening to their stories, as they passed through town on their way to stay at the local hostel. Bill went to college in West Virginia and then never really left. He currently lives outside of Charleston in a place called Pinch where he attempts to fend off the local deer, while trying to grow tomatoes worth eating.
