Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook
Executive Director
Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook has more than two decades of experience leading advocacy and faith–based work in nonprofits, government, education, and the African American church. She leads VICPP’s advocacy, outreach, development, and coalition-building. As a faith-based practitioner and racial equity leader, LaKeisha has expertise in program administration with a policy focus on criminal justice reform initiatives. She has spearheaded several successful legislative campaigns for VICPP, including helping to lead the coalition that passed a historic bill that abolished the death penalty in Virginia in 2021, making Virginia the first state in the South to end capital punishment. Before coming to Virginia, LaKeisha worked at the First Institutional Baptist Church and for the Kyrene School District in Phoenix, Arizona. She moved back to Richmond in 2011, where she held a variety of leadership roles at St. Paul’s Baptist Church. LaKeisha is a summa cum laude graduate of Virginia Union University (VUU) and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Religious Studies as well as a Master of Divinity from VUU. She also earned a master’s in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University. In 2012, LaKeisha completed her studies at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, where she earned her Doctor of Ministry degree as a Gardner C. Taylor Fellow.

Tania Doles (She/Her)
Development Manager
Tania grew up in Newport News and returned to her home-state of Virginia in 2022. She joined VICPP in 2024 bringing about a decade of business development experience. She is a student in the view and practices of Trika Shaivism (a.k.a. Kashmir Shaivism or Shaiva Tantra) and the Dzogchen tradition of Tibet. Her spiritual tradition emphasizes direct encounters with the wisdom of the heart through explicitly devotional teachings and practices. Since 2017, she served her spiritual organization, a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. She now serves on their board. Tania has a B.A. from Swarthmore College and a Master’s in Sociology from the University of California, San Diego. In her free time, she volunteers at a local hospice and enjoys nature and the arts.

Terri Erwin, PhD  (She/Her)
Director of the Virginia Consensus for Higher Education in Prison, a VICPP Initiative
New Leadership Engagement Organizer
Terri is currently leading the Virginia Consensus for Higher Ed in Prison, an initiative that engages stakeholders from a variety of sectors: corrections, higher education, justice-impacted, faith, business/employers, and public officials in a process of consensus-building and strategic planning to expand access to college degree programs for incarcerated individuals in Virginia prisons. The initiative is generously funded by a $750,000 award from the Ascendium Education Group, a national leader in support for higher education in prison (HEP) initiatives. Terri also serves on the steering committee of the Southern Collective for Higher Education in Prison, which encourages and facilitates the exchange of best practices among HEP practitioners in the South. Her background as an academic, researcher, small business owner and faith-based community organizer contributes to her base-building work as Virginia Interfaith’s staff Organizer for New Leadership, in large part, focused on building relationships across Virginia’s higher education landscape. In Hawaii, Connecticut, West Virginia, and Michigan, she directed faith-based coalitions in high impact policy advocacy as part of the Gamaliel Network. Her doctorate was awarded by the University of Connecticut in Experimental Psychology, and she was a postdoctoral fellow at Texas A&M University in the College of Architecture. Twice, she has been a family caregiver with primary responsibility for loved ones with terminal and degenerative illnesses.

Kathryn Haines  (She/Her)
Health Equity Manager
Kathryn began her career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali, West Africa, gaining a deep appreciation for community organizing and the Muslim faith tradition. After pursuing a master’s degree in urban planning and policy, she did interfaith organizing with the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs in Chicago. After the birth of her first child, she became a doula and later, a Certified Professional Midwife. She practiced as a rural midwife in West Virginia for two years. A life-long Catholic, Kathryn has been an active member of her faith and the school community. With four kids spread across the elementary, middle and high school level in Chesterfield County Public Schools, Kathryn became a fierce advocate for equity in education. Kathryn joined the Chesterfield County Public Schools School Board in 2019. During her term, Kathryn has been the Board Liaison to the School Health Advisory Board. Navigating the return to in-person learning as a Board Member during the COVID-19 pandemic made Kathryn deeply aware of the consequences of underfunding public health and she is passionate about creating a Virginia where your zip code doesn’t determine your health. Kathryn joined VICPP in 2023.

Sheila Herlihy Hennessee  (She/Her)
Director of Faith Organizing
Sheila is a professed Secular Franciscan who values dignity, simplicity, and peacebuilding. Before moving to Richmond, she served as the Coordinator of Justice and Charity at a bilingual Catholic parish in Charlottesville for eight years where she coordinated advocacy and community organizing efforts. Sheila has a B.A. in Spanish and Sociology of Religion from Wittenberg University in Ohio, and she has spoken at retreats and conferences in both English and Spanish on welcoming immigrants, affordable housing, and justice as integral to faith. She is passionate about building bridges with diverse communities, whether among diverse language groups, faith traditions, or political persuasions. In addition to her role at VICPP, she serves on the board of an immigrant nonprofit, and enjoys swing dancing and making music in her free time.

Robert Lester
Civic Engagement Coordinator
Robert is originally from Philadelphia, PA, and a graduate of Rutger’s University, where he majored in Political Science. Before joining VICPP, Robert managed support services in most of Virginia’s largest law firms. In his current role as Civic Engagement Coordinator, his primary focus is voter education, mobilization, and protection with civic and faith-based organizations. Robert is very civic-minded and volunteers with several organizations, not limited to RRHA, Historic Jackson Ward Association, Club 533, Thebans Beneficial Club, and the YMCA, where he coached youth basketball for 18 consecutive years. Robert is married 34 years to Denise DeShields Lester and has two college graduate sons, Robert II and Richard Lester.

Janay Moniz
Administrator
Janay is a dedicated community health worker with a love for social justice and advocacy. After earning her B.A. in sociology from Christopher Newport University, she worked with underserved communities conducting public health research for The College of William & Mary. Seeing the positive impact community-centered services had on health outcomes inspired her to advocate for other CHWs and pursue her state certification along the way. Prior to joining VICPP, she held various community engagement and database management roles in non-profits such as The Virginia Community Health Worker Association (VACHWA). Growing up in an interracial and immigrant family, Janay’s lived experiences also contributed to her desire to empower others and raise awareness around the importance of cultural humility in social services and decision-making spaces. Janay joined VICPP with the intention to learn, to serve, and to gain valuable insight into the legislative processes and advocacy efforts shaping Virginia.

Roberta Oster (She/Her)
Director of Communications and Strategy
Roberta is an award-winning journalist and communications professional who leads VICPP’s strategic communications, media relations, and marketing. Most recently, she was the Senior Producer of VPM News Focal Point, a weekly PBS TV broadcast covering news and culture across Virginia. The program won multiple awards including three Capital Emmys. Previously, Roberta was an Associate Dean and Interim Vice President for University Communications at the University of Richmond. Before moving to Virginia, she was a network news producer at NBC Dateline, ABC, and CBS in NY. Roberta has an M.A. in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School and a B.S. from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. Roberta was a member of Leadership Metro Richmond’s Class of 2021.

Ramón Zepeda Ramos (He/Him)
Economic Justice Organizer
Ramón joined the staff in 2024 bringing his organizing experience and skills to support VICPP’s economic justice programs. Born in Jalisco, Mexico, Ramón moved to the U.S. with his family in the late 90s. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Spanish. For over two decades Ramón has been an organizer and advocate for workers’ rights, fair wages, and improved child labor laws. His first experience with organizing was in 2005 when he interned at the Western North Carolina Workers Center through a summer internship provided by Student Action with Farmworkers. As former union organizer and program director, Ramón has contributed to campaigns that aim to improve living and working conditions for farmworkers, meat and poultry processing workers, and other food industry workers. Ramón has also served as a mentor for migrant youth and has directed leadership development programs for students providing services and outreach to farmworkers in the Southeast. During his free time, Ramón enjoys biking, gardening, and playing soccer. He loves spending time with his wife and two kids as they travel, visit museums and explore theme parks.

Ron Alpern
Ron is a volunteer of long-standing who helped launch the Richmond Living Wage Certification campaign and he assists with special events logistics. His background includes work as a grant and special projects consultant for non-profit arts, educational, and community organizations. Before moving to Virginia, Ron was a grant officer at the University of Kentucky. Previously he served in the Detroit Recreation Department unit responsible for concerts, special events, and public art installations at two riverfront parks. His wife, Pamela Knapp, is a professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Medicine.  ron@virginiainterfaithcenter.org

Kay Frances Dolan
Kay Frances is an Ignatian Volunteer who collaborates with VICPP in Northern Virginia. She helps lead the living wage work in her region, and co-chairs the NoVA chapter. Kay Frances is a retired Federal Human Resource Executive having served as Assistant Administrator for Human Resource Management at the Federal Aviation Administration, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources at the Department of Treasury, and Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer at the Department of Homeland Security.

Louise Hermine Werner
A native of Boston and retired special education teacher,  Louise first connected with the VICPP over 12 years ago at a Day for All People. A strong believer in the power of civic engagement, she began her journey as a dedicated volunteer with VICPP. Louise is also an active member of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond, she lives with her daughter and two grandchildren. Louise finds joy in being part of an organization where her efforts are deeply appreciated and draws inspiration from John Lewis, embracing the opportunity to make “good trouble” for the greater Commonwealth.