The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Continuum of Care (CoC) announces eight new members to its CoC Governing Board. The new Board members are Kaedon Grinnell (Permanent Housing), Jane Shutt (Towns of Mecklenburg County), Kenneth Robinson (Legal/Systemic Advocacy) Brian Kovaleski (Landlord/Affordable Housing), Tchernavia Montgomery (Healthcare Provider), James Lee (Individuals with Lived Experience), James Searcy (Individuals with Lived Experience), Anna London (Workforce Development). We are excited to have Kaedon, Jane, Kenneth, Brian, Tchernavia, James Lee, James Searcy and Anna serve on the Board and look forward to their knowledge and expertise. Please see below more information about each Governing Board member.
Kaedon Grinnell has worked in homeless services for over a decade, taking on leadership roles in supportive housing and shelter programming. He previously served as Vice President of Programs at Project Renewal – a non-profit located in New York City whose mission is to end the cycle of homelessness by empowering individuals and families to renew their lives with health, homes, and jobs. Kaedon joined Roof Above as the Chief Program Officer in October of this year and oversees Shelter, Supportive Housing & Outreach/Day Services programming. He strongly believes in the fight to end homelessness and hopes to bring his passion and experience to support the CoC as we continue the critical work of providing thoughtful, well designed, and scalable housing solutions for our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
Jane Shutt serves as the Executive Director and co-founder of Pineville Neighbors Place, a nonprofit that works with those affected by poverty and homelessness in the Pineville community. Since 2016, Pineville Neighbors Place has provided financial assistance with rent and utilities, furniture, and food to those in need. Jane was born in Elon, NC and graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in Business and Math. She and her husband Mark have lived in the Pineville area for the past 40 years and have 3 adult sons.
As Founder and President of Freedom Fighting Missionaries, Kenneth Robinson assists the formerly incarcerated in obtaining identification, providing job readiness courses, healthcare referrals, counseling and mental health services, financial literacy, credit coaching classes, voter registration, and community advocacy. Mr. Robinson’s dedication to abolitionism and Black liberation has gained him community wide support. Each $25-$50 contribution from his supporters help to sustain the services provided to hundreds of formerly incarcerated individuals. Mr. Robinson is a walking testimony for formerly incarcerated people everywhere who share in his belief that perseverance, advocacy, and fighting towards freedom for all leaves a lasting impact not only for oneself, but whoever desires to successfully regain their rights and freedoms upon release.
Brian Kovaleski is a private landlord/investor in the greater Charlotte area and in Florida. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and by day has been in the residential mortgage industry for 20 years. In the past several years he has seen great strides in being able to offer affordable housing for women, veterans, and the public at large. He enjoys reading on the beach and exercising on Charlotte’s greenway.
Tchernavia Montgomery began serving as the Executive Director of Care Ring in March of 2021. Previously with Crisis Assistance Ministry, Tchernavia, has 2 decades of health & human services experience. A servant leader at heart and a licensed clinical social worker, she holds a BSW and MSW from UNCC where she is adjunct faculty and chairs the School of Social Work’s Community Advisory Board. Tchernavia also serves on the boards of The Greater Charlotte Region’s American Red Cross, MedLink (Vice-Chair) and North Carolina Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. In 2021, she was recognized with the City of Charlotte/Atrium Health’s MLK Growing the Dream Award and UNC-Charlotte Black Alumni Association’s Excellence in Leadership Award. She is a proud member of the Charlotte Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta where she was the 2019 recipient of the Chapter’s “Dynamic Delta” award. She and her husband William have 3 sons and have both been a member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community for over 20 years.
James Lee is a Charlotte native and military veteran. He has been employed with The Stan Greenspon Holocaust and Social Justice Education Center for three years. James is an active member on several CoC committees: Lived Experience, Coordinated Entry Oversight Committee, Membership/Nominating Committee and Ranking Committee. James is involved in local and national efforts all with a focus to end and prevent homelessness.
James Searcy, listener, advocate, community partner for proactive reentry, currently serves as a Peer Support Specialist employed by Promise Resource Network. Since 2014, James has provided Peer Support to homeless neighbors and incarcerated neighbors. In March 2020 when the pandemic caused shelter in place, James returned to Street Outreach. During 2021 until January 2022, James has engaged with over 40 neighbors experiencing different levels of being sheltered and unsheltered in real time. James is grateful for the Charlotte community that embraced him and offered him opportunities; today he encourages communities nationwide to see the potential in others just like him.
Anna London, workforce champion and advocate for individuals in need, currently serves as Chief Operating Officer for Charlotte Works. Charlotte Works, Mecklenburg County’s workforce development board, ensures the growing region has a skilled workforce that meets the current and future needs of employers through collaborations with business, government, education and training, and community partners. In her role, London manages performance, compliance, and continuous improvement, and ensuring that programming aligns with the organization’s strategic workforce plan. London, a Charlotte native, has been with Charlotte Works for over six years.
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Branden Lewis is a Management Analyst for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Continuum of Care (CoC). Branden serves as the community staff lead for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg CoC. Branden’s role is to coordinate program activities outlined in the HUD CoC Program Interim Rule with a primary focus on the HUD COC Notice of Funding Availability, ESG Grant Application process and CoC Governance.
