About Our Team
Our Team
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Christine Edwards, MPA (she/her)
Founder and Principal Consultant
Christine is a civic innovator and former local government professional. She founded Civility Localized (formerly Amplify Charlotte) in 2018. Raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, Christine Edwards has a passion for empowering the community towards action by providing the right tools. Christine earned her Masters in Public Administration with a concentration in Urban Management and Policy from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, and a Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has been involved in numerous local volunteer organizations focused on advancing racial equity in government and civic life.
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Chiana Grant (she/her)
Program Manager
Known for her attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and ability to deliver results, Chiana has a proven track record of successfully implementing and managing complex projects for clients across industries. Chiana’s expertise in information management systems and risk management make her a valuable asset to organizations looking to streamline processes and mitigate risk. Chiana studied Management Information Systems and Services at the University of South Carolina Upstate. Chiana joined Civility Localized as a Program Manager at the inception of the Civic Impact Academy and spearheaded processes for the academy.
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Elizabeth Flemister (she/her)
Brand Manager
A lifelong learner, proofreader, and writer, Elizabeth earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from Iona College before later studying law at Seton Hall. She has spent a decade working to improve storytelling and information delivery in the fields of Education, Nonprofit, Real Estate, and Finance. She is passionate about immigrant and refugee rights, as well as racial and economic justice. Elizabeth lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with her family.
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Tiara Mahoney Paulino (she/her)
Bilingual Engagement Specialist
Tiara is the bilingual engagement specialist for Civility Localized and the founder of Dual Vida Enterprises which supports educators who are looking to create fertile ground for Latinx/Hispanic students and families to succeed. dualvidaenterprises.com
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Joel Quagraine (he/him)
Content Specialist
A pioneer in the design space, Joel Quagraine is the Content Specialist at Civility Localized. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture with a major in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ghana. Joel's passion for graphic design can be traced back to 2017 when he spent significant time working on logo and flyer design. As a graphic designer, he specializes in branding, marketing, and many other categories of design, including motion design. Joel lives in Ghana, West Africa.
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John Holmes (he/him)
Community Engagement Analyst
John is pursuing a Masters in Public Administration at UNC Charlotte and has experience as a Policy Analyst, Researcher, and Regional Facilitator.
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Avery Grice (she/her)
Community Ambassador
Avery is a UNCC student pursuing her Masters Degree in Public Administration. She is passionate about public service and community development.
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Wan Heo (he/him)
Community Ambassador
Wan is pursuing a Masters of Public Administration at UNCC and has extensive education and experience in Public Works. His experience spans specialties such as Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development.
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Martin Jackson (he/him)
Community Ambassador
Martin is an action-focused and innovative professional with a background in public administration and community development.
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Geraldine Ledezma (she/her)
Community Ambassador
Geraldine is a Charlotte-based education professional passionate about empowering young people and their communities. She has worked for years with Charlotte youth and young adults as they make their way to higher education and their big life goals.
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Rose Thomalen
Community Ambassador
Rose is a Public Administration student and Graduate Research Assistant interested in identifying and exploring emerging trends in the civic commons.