Our Board – EPiC

EPiC Board of Directors

Vickie Miller has 20+ years in the education and community economic development fields. She has served as a teacher, managing director of a grant development company, as executive director of a non-profit, as program director with the NC Department of Commerce, and currently as the Director of Learning and Development with a statewide membership association. She is the founder and former board officer of the IDA and Asset-Building Collaborative of NC, former board member of the Council of State Community Development Agencies, former secretary of the Durham School of the Arts PTSA. Vickie earned a B.A. and M.Ed. in Education at UNC-CH and is a Certified Public Manager, holds certifications from the National Development Council, and Municipal County Administration certification from the UNC School of Government.

Gina Chung is a 2nd-generation Korean-American, born and raised in Boston where she was one of only a few Asian Americans in the public schools she attended. She received her B.A. from Wellesley College and taught in Chicago for 2 years before working in a Nicaraguan orphanage. Upon returning to the U.S., Gina received her Ed.M. from Harvard Graduate School for Education with a focus in International Education. Gina moved to Durham in ’05 with her family and began work as a researcher with UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. She also worked with World Relief, helping refugees adjust to life in the U.S. Before joining EPiC, she served on the George Watts Montessori PTA Board and the DurhamCares Board. She was interviewed on NPR in a segment titled “Psychological Side Effects of the Coronavirus Pandemic” and on Spectrum News regarding anti-Asian bullying in her children’s schools.

Hallie Davis-Penders has been a member of the Parents of African American Children (PAAC) committees at Creekside Elementary and Githens Middle School, both Durham Public Schools attended by her son and foster son. She also served as secretary of the Githens Middle School PTA. Working alongside parents in these collectives strengthened her commitment to learning from and supporting organizations dedicated to racially equitable education. Specifically, as a mother to a Black son who is a neurodiverse learner, she has had to advocate for her child in order for him to meet his academic potential and remain whole through the process. PAAC has given her the community, tools, and strength needed to fight for her son’s success and wellbeing. She is grateful to work with EPiC to bring this collective power to other parents, so they can improve their children’s educational experience.

Vickie Miller

EPiC Chair

Gina Chung, Ed.M.

EPiC Vice-Chair

Hallie Davis-Penders

EPiC Secretary

Yolanda Brown is a business and community leader with 20 years of experience specializing in business and strategic planning, cross-functional leadership, and communicating to drive optimized results in marketing and technology. She has collaborated on projects with Luminas Strategies and U.S. Cellular and has worked for FedEx, Powertel (T-Mobile), Lucent Technologies, and the Institute of Minority Economic Development. A few of Yolanda’s past roles include former V.P of Central Park School for Children’s PTA, former Board Chair and Board Treasurer for Urban Ministries of Durham, and founding member of the Kenan-Flagler Business School Alumni Council. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Occoneechee Council of the Boy Scouts of America. She believes in families having the best information to make decisions and hold schools accountable for optimal and fair school experiences for their students.

Doug obtained his Master of Social Work in Public Policy Admin from Atlanta University and a Master’s in Public Health focusing on Hospital Admin from Emory University. These provided an opportunity to study and work with public and private policy, leadership, and organizational systems. He has been awarded in his fields of study and has presented at local, state, and national conferences. Throughout his career he volunteered on various non-profit boards and with churches, community organizations, and served 6 years as a member and co-clerk for the American
Friends Service Committee’s Southeastern Regional Office. As an Independent Contractor in Organizational and Leadership Development he worked with non-profit, private, and governmental entities ranging at the local, state, and regional levels to national and international work with CDC and UNICEF.

Valerie Miller is a founding member of the EPiC board and serves as vice-chair. Prior to joining the EPiC, she served as Chair for Parents of African American Children (PAAC) at Club Blvd Elementary School and board member of the PTA at Club. Through the leadership role with PAAC, she was recognized for outstanding PAAC leadership in 2019. Valerie is a Program Manager at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC, where she has been employed for 24 years. She has a Master’s degree in Organizational Management from Pfeiffer University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from NC Central University. She truly believes all children and families deserve to be heard; and will do everything within her power to make sure there is a platform to make it happen.

Yolanda Brown

EPiC Treasurer

Doug Joiner

Board Advisor

Valerie Miller

Board Member

Barbara Leach is a pioneer in the family advocacy movement has 30+ years of experience as a child and family advocate for families with children who have mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, and other special healthcare needs. She serves as a family advisor on multiple state and national committees that work collaboratively to transform systems so that they better meet the needs of children with disabilities. She presents extensively on topics relating to supporting families, family advocacy, family engagement, family/provider partnership, and systems change. Ms. Leach is passionate about lifting the voices of diverse families and to promoting families as partners to co-create and develop services and systems that improve outcomes so that individuals with disabilities can live their best lives – healthy, independent, and self-determined.

Latishia Futrell was born in Los Angeles, CA. She attended California State University Hayward, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Comm. focused on Business Admin. and Public Relations. Today, Futrell is in her last year in the Graduate Liberal Studies program at Duke. Tish is the mother of two DPS children, and she has a genuine heart for education and serving her community. Futrell has worked in Higher Education administration, including 8 years at Clark Atlanta University, and now at Duke in Graduate Student Affairs. Tish has a knack for curating special events and designing and developing programs for K-12, where she has served as a member of the PTA since 2011. She continues to volunteer her time and talent, working with non-profit organizations like Wailing Women Outreach Ministries, YOUnique Legacies, and BUMP The Triangle.

Attorney Talicia C. Neal is a native of North Carolina. Ms. Neal attended public schools in Franklin County, North Carolina, before graduating with a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Psychology with a minor in Communications; a Paralegal Certificate from Meredith College; a M.A. from Regent University in Government with a concentration in Public Administration; and a J.D. from Charlotte School of Law. Ms. Neal is licensed to practice law in the State of North Carolina. Ms. Neal has undertaken a successful career within the legal arena where she has explored various areas of the law. Ms. Neal is passionate about using her acquired skills to be a valuable asset to any organization for which she is a member. Ms. Neal is especially enthusiastic about the positive development of our youth because she knows that they are our future.

Barbara Leach

Board Member

Latishia Futrell

Board Member

Talicia Neal

Board Member

WHY I EPIC?

Check out our ‘Why I EPiC?’ playlist and learn more on why our board members choose to stand with us and serve on our board!

EPiC Board of Directors

WHY I EPIC?

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