I’m Chris.

I’ve been working with children since I was a kid myself. My sister is 5 years younger than me, so I was caring for her and her friends before I was in 6th grade. During undergrad at Virginia Commonwealth University, I discovered that study groups I lead had a powerful impact on other students and myself. After graduating, I moved to the Bay Area in California and worked as an intern with 826 Valencia (an incredible non-profit started by the author Dave Eggers). Here is where I realized that my calling was to work with young people.

I ran a family assistant business after that, and while child care was fulfilling, I wanted to make a bigger impact on the community. I studied the Montessori Method at Saint Mary’s College of California. For 3 years, I worked as a teacher at an incredible public elementary school, Golden Oak Montessori of Hayward. Despite loving the community of staff and families, I moved back home to Virginia to be closer to my family.

Now that I’m home, I am working to increase access to the natural, cultural, and historical wonders that Virginia has to offer. I want to support students, educators, and families to connect with their local community.

I believe that if we can build creativity, curiosity, and compassion in our neighborhoods than we can build a better world. It all starts with igniting the spark of discovery in our young people.