PHAR Board:
We are governed by a Board of Directors made up entirely of low-income residents, and we work with other community partners through our Advisory Council. PHAR’s most recent election was completed in February 2021.
Members for the Board of Directors for the Charlottesville Public Housing Association of Residents (PHAR) for 2023 – 2024 are:
- Chair: Joy Johnson
- Vice-Chair: Katrena Cooper
- Treasurer: Audrey Oliver
- Secretary: Tina Washington
- Harriet Carter
- Alice Washington
- Brandon Ertel
- LaToya Lewis
- Michael Moore
- Earl Hicks
The Board meets on a monthly basis and the agenda includes “hot topics,” action plans and opportunities for involvement. PHAR is seeking to fill vacant at-large seats on the Board of Directors! Please contact us if interested!
PHAR Staff:
Interim Executive Director, Emily Dreyfus
Emily Dreyfus joined PHAR as Interim Executive Director in May 2023. However, her work with PHAR extends for many years prior. Emily met Joy Johnson, co-founder of PHAR, in 1990 as a reporter for the now-defunct weekly newspaper, “The Charlottesville Observer.” Emily wrote about Ms. Joy’s work in the community and began providing support for public housing organizing soon after. Emily has been a Community Organizer with the Legal Aid Justice Center for over 20 years and has served on the PHAR Advisory Council for almost as long. Prior to moving to Charlottesville, Emily began her career as a community organizer with a national non-profit organization and later became a housing organizer for a statewide group in Massachusetts. She served as the Executive Director of the AIDS Support Group in its early years, and brings decades of experience with community organizing and non-profit administration to this role with PHAR.
Resident for Respectful Research Coordinator, Camaran Gaillard (He,Him,His). Camaran graduated from the University of Virginia in 2022 with a degree in Religious Studies with a concentration in Islam and a minor in Foreign Affairs. He is excited to be working with PHAR as the Residents for Respectful Research Coordinator and looks forward to engage with residents of the Charlottesville community! During his free time Camaran enjoys going to the gym and spending time with friends and family. cam@pharcville.org
Resident Assistant Organizer and Internship Coordinator, Asia Green (she/her/hers). Asia is a 2022 PHAR Internship Alumni graduate. She is always happy to lend a helping hand to others and spends her time working on PHAR’s youth outreach. Asia is committed to ensuring that every Public Housing resident has a voice and strives to make our Community a more kid-friendly environment! Asia@pharcville.org
Executive Assistant, Jo Blount (she/her/hers). Jo joined PHAR in summer of 2022 in a new role created to support the Executive Director and the organization’s overall development. She grew up in Charlottesville and went on to study Ethnic Studies in New York and Sociology and Urban Planning in Paris. After years of organizing and research around anti-gentrification work and community-led redevelopment, Jo is excited to build roots back in her hometown. She will be studying Architecture at UVA and hopes to see the university more committed to transparent and collaborative relationships with the Charlottesville community. In her free time, she enjoys dog sitting, watching French TV series, farming, and coming up with new smoothie recipes. admin@pharcville.org
