We are working with a terrific group of community advisors to develop our public programs for family, youth, and adult audiences. Learn more about them below.
Shannon Bauerle
Shannon Bauerle is an instructor in Women’s and Gender Studies at UNC Charlotte and the Director of Project Enough, an organization that creates educational opportunities and theatrical productions that center the stories of marginalized communities while raising funds for those in need. She currently volunteers as the Executive Director of the reproductive justice non-profit organization Charlotte for Choice.
Lariza Garzon
Lariza Garzon is the Director of NC and Midsouth Operations at Hispanic Federation (HF). Lariza was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, and has worked for 15 years with immigrant families and agricultural workers in the U.S. and Mexico. Lariza joined HF in March 2022 and is happy to lead the organization’s efforts to strengthen and support Latino organizations in North Carolina.
Angelique Gaines
Angelique Gaines is a Research Associate at the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute. In this role, she conducts various research and evaluation projects in the Charlotte region. Her work at the Institute has focused on social well-being, economic opportunity, education, civic engagement, and housing.
Ashton Glenn
Ashton Glenn works at Harding University High School in Charlotte as the MeckEd Career Pathways Advisor and is a committed youth advocate. Ashton is a North Carolina native from Raleigh and has served as an advocate for youth in the region for over a decade as an educator, coach, and mentor in Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Gaston County school systems. He enjoys working with students, helping them to see their full potential, and connecting with others who share the same passion. Ashton enjoys playing and watching sports, traveling, cooking, and spending time with his family. He proudly supports the mission of empowering today’s youth and continuously strives for equity and equality for all people in whatever role he takes on.
Manoj P. Kesavan
Manoj P. Kesavan is an architect/educator/organizer based in Charlotte. He is the Founder and Executive Director of BOOM Charlotte, a multidisciplinary artist collective and non-profit that addresses issues of equity, access, and opportunity in the community through innovative and collaborative cultural programming. They create open and inclusive platforms for creative professionals to engage and create social impact at a large scale. Their main program, the annual BOOM festival, was launched in 2016 and has grown into the largest, most diverse gathering of creatives in the city, showcasing the work of hundreds of regional and national artists and organizations. Their other initiatives range from the design of an off-the-grid free rural clinic in Haiti to running the Pecha Kucha Night series in Charlotte. Kesavan has been a visiting lecturer/panelist/juror at several universities and writes/speaks internationally. He also consults on urban design/planning, community engagement, and public art projects.
Mark Sanders
Dr. Mark Sanders is a Senior Lecturer and Undergraduate Coordinator in the Philosophy Department at UNC Charlotte. He is interested in community engagement and public philosophy and tries to incorporate these interests into his teaching and research. He has had the great fortune of working with many outstanding community partners in Charlotte including a long and rich relationship with the Levine Museum of the New South.
