Rob jones
Executive director

Rob (he/him) comes to Groundwork RVA with a background in consulting and non-profit management. He holds an undergraduate degree in Urban Studies and a Master’s in Psychology. Rob’s passions revolve around youth empowerment and voice as well as community engagement, racial equity, and inclusion.

Rob has lived in Richmond for over 20 years and is the proud parent of 2 RPS graduates. Rivers and green spaces have been very important in his life and he has seen their positive impact on young people and adults alike. He is honored to lead an amazing organization that respects the creativity and impact young people bring to the table when provided with tools, support, and a window onto how the world can be made better through their efforts. Rob’s goal is to deepen the set of opportunities Groundwork RVA provides so that they can impact more young people each year. He also thinks the Grand Canyon is a magical place and Big Horn Sheep are special.

Alexandra James-Okochi
DePUTY DIRECTOR

Alexandra (she/her) comes to Groundwork RVA with over 20 years of community engagement and community empowerment in the nonprofit and government sectors.

She was previously the Chief Program Officer at Be Strong Families, a national nonprofit with a focus on parent engagement for family-serving programs and systems improvement for child welfare organizations. Before that she was the CEO of Trinity Family Life Center in Richmond, Virginia— a nationally-recognized social enterprise model whose “Strengthening Families Uplifting Communities Initiative” served as a national model for the Casey Family Programs’ Faith-based Initiative. Alexandra brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in developing and implementing innovative programs for children, youth, and families along with nonprofit management expertise.

Alexandra is a product of the City of Richmond Public Schools and Howard University. She holds a Masters of Divinity from Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology of Virginia Union University. Alexandra is married and the mother to twin daughters, who are seniors at Huguenot High School.

Alexandra has a deep commitment to empowered engagement, equity, community wellness and liberation of black and brown communities. She strives to use her expertise to position Groundwork RVA for increased community impact.

Melissa Guevara
Youth ProgramS Director

Melissa (she/her) began her career as an urban environmentalist at Groundwork Hudson Valley’s Science Barge, serving as a weekend docent and member of the Green Team for over 6 years. She attended Bard College and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Urban Studies, focusing her thesis on public health issues surrounding water and air quality in urban settings. While attending Bard, she interned at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge and Wallkill Wildlife Complex. These experiences further solidified her commitment to conservation and the elimination of barriers to accessing natural areas and green spaces for historically marginalized people.

After graduation, Melissa served as the Youth Program Coordinator for Groundwork Dallas for over 2 years. During her tenure, she introduced youth from all walks of life and backgrounds to the wonder of outdoor recreation and the possibility of careers in the environmental field. In 2018, Melissa relocated to Richmond to serve as Groundwork Richmond’s Youth Program Coordinator. In 2022, Melissa became Groundwork Richmond’s Youth Program Director. Melissa strives to provide youth the opportunity to work within their natural environments, benefit from green spaces, and become advocates for themselves and their communities.

Alexa Santisteban
Bellemeade Community Bike Shop Manager

Alexa (they/them) joined the Groundwork RVA team as the Bicycle Program Manager in the summer of 2020. For many years prior, they were involved in various spaces of community organizing; specifically around the topics of queer, immigrant, and racial justice. In 2018, they joined the VCU RamBikes team, where they discovered their love for cycling and cycling education. While at RamBikes, they were able to combine both their passion for community organizing and newfound love for biking, into the work that they were doing. They spent this time working with youth at various organizations around the city, including but not limited to: Sacred Heart Center, Safe Routes to School, A Better Day Association, and even Groundwork RVA!

With Groundwork, Alexa hopes to continue expanding on the work that they’ve been doing, and the work that has already been done, to bring more access to cycling and cycling resources to Richmond’s Southside communities.

CELISTA MONEY
BIKE SHOP EDUCATOR

Celista (they/them) was a Camp Spokes volunteer in the summers of 2021 and 2022 before joining the Green Apprenticeship Program in April 2023. That summer, they were hired as a part-time bike shop mechanic and quickly expanded their role to full-time, and now works at both the Bellemeade Bike Shop and Hillside Mini-Farm.

Anah Johnson Farm Manager

Halito! Hachim achukma?

Anah (she/they) is someone who feels divinely guided by their ancestors and the natural world. Descending from Okla Hinnali (Chahta), Ambundu and Fulani farmers/ sharecroppers with deep cultural roots in agriculture, Anah finds strength in the ancestral teachings, practices, beliefs, and languages of those who came before her and make her who she is.

Anah grew up as a military brat who moved around considerably, but always found solace in the forest under the tall canopies of native deciduous and evergreens. While in 2nd grade Anah gained hands-on experience growing crops in the school garden space and traces that moment to the first spark that ignited her personal journey in agriculture.

Anah joined the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman studying and practicing both clinical and combat medicine. Anah then shifted into birth work and newborn care —working in Labor & Delivery, Postpartum Maternity, and NICU departments— at a Naval Medical Center. While in the U.S. Navy Anah began organizing for LGBTQIA2S+ rights for service members and their dependents, providing advocacy & sensitivity training, and co-facilitating a transgender support group.
After serving 5 years in the U.S. Navy Anah began studying Gender/Sexuality & African American Studies in Phoenix, AZ. They then moved to Northwest Germany to study German.

During the 2019 winter solstice Anah moved to Richmond, VA and continued their journey of environmentalism, community building, reconnection, agriculture, and land stewardship. They began studying with and later became a team member of the nonprofit Happily Natural Day as a Farm Manager and Educator operating within three grow sites and contributing to the success of a Black CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) subscription program.
Anah enjoys hiking mountains, building earthen structures, swimming in natural hot springs, and playing Choctaw Stickball “Ishtaboli”.

Ome!

DA’VANTAE BALLOU (BLUE) Farm coordinator

Da’Vantae Ballou (he/him), aka Blue, started out as a Green Team member during the summer of his 11th grade year of high school. Blue then returned for a couple more Green Team sessions and had the chance to experience different things in green spaces and get closer to nature. Blue learned about the environmental problems that effect his community and how to come up with solutions to fix or lessen the effects. After graduation, Blue came back and helped out from time to time until I got the opportunity to work through the AmeriCorps program where he got the chance to learn and work on our Mini-Farm where he now works, learning and teaching people in the community how to start their own produce and provide free produce to the people in the community.

RYAN OTT
GREEN TEAM Program MANAGER

Ryan (he/him) is a Richmond native coming to Groundwork RVA after working as an outdoor educator for Peter Paul, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, and the Neighborhood Resource Center. He loves connecting people with the outdoors and exposing them to all the opportunities for personal and professional growth that a connection with nature can provide. Ryan is excited to join Groundwork RVA to continue our work of equipping the youth in our city with new skills and empowering them to use their voice to enact change. In his free time, Ryan enjoys practicing his nature photography skills, playing basketball, and exploring Richmond's nature trails with his wife and their dog.

Ii’Jeana James
YOUTH EDUCATOR

Ii’Jeana (she/her) started out as a Green Team member at Groundwork RVA and now serves as our Youth Educator. Ii’Jeana is a jack of all trades with most things Groundwork RVA, but her focus areas are our Hillside Mini-Farm and Youth Programming. Helping others is what she looks forward to every single day. She has fallen in love with being able to give back and serve the community she grew up around. Working at the Hillside Mini-Farm and serving fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs to individuals/families makes her feel whole because she knows that others are being supported the way she was when her family had hardships. Ii’Jeana says that working with the youth of Green Team is a wonderful full circle of giving back the time and effort that helped her to be the bold, passionate adult she is today. Ii’Jeana loves to read manga and participate in paint and sips in her spare time!

Darquan robertson
Green Workforce Crew Chief

Darquan (he/him) serves as the Green Workforce Crew Chief of Groundwork RVA. Darquan is a 2018 graduate of Huguenot High School and worked with Groundwork RVA in our Green Workforce Program over the course of 2017.

darrell atkins
Green Workforce crew lead

Coming soon!

tevin Moore
Green Workforce crew lead

Tevin (he/him) has been working with Groundwork RVA for about 10 years. He’s not sure if he discovered Groundwork or if Groundwork discovered him, but his encounter and growth with Groundwork began in high school. As a student, Tevin has the opportunity to partake in creating a functional gardening site next to his high school. Ever since then, he has discovered much more of the world, developed invaluable connections, and learned trade skills unique to the idea of building a better future. Tevin says that Groundwork has taught him a lot about how to be the change he wants to see the world, and he believes that itself is gold.

Will mcquate
PROJECTS CONSULTANT

Will (he/him) serves as Projects Consultant of Groundwork RVA. Will has lived in Richmond since graduating from Virginia Tech in 2006. He began working with youth shortly after at Elk Hill Farm, a group home focusing on education for employment and workforce training. Will comes to Groundwork RVA after spending the past 6 years on the James River Park System’s Trail Crew working with community partners (Richmond MORE, JROC, JRA, etc..) on conservation efforts in the park.

As project consultant Will’s objective is to continue community based conservation efforts though Groundwork RVA’s Green Workforce.

Jennifer johnson
communications Consultant

Jennifer (she/her) holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Mills College and a Master’s in Cognitive Science and Language from the University of Barcelona. Bringing over a decade of experience in the non-profit sector, her expertise includes process improvement, communications, stakeholder relations, event and project management, and evaluation and data analysis. Jennifer’s deep commitment to racial equity and environmental sustainability steers much of her activity both within and outside of work. Jennifer likes to spend time in the woods with her family, around a table of great food with friends, or reading a good book with her cats on her lap.