Forum: September 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the CenterStage
Voting: September 6 – September 27 (until 5:00 p.m.)
Mail-in ballots must be received by 5:00 p.m. on September 26
For additional information, contact Lorna Campbell-Clarke, RCC Director of Communications, at Lorna.Campbell-Clarke@fairfaxcounty.gov.
William G. Bouie
What previous experience or participation in civic activities would you bring to the RCC Board?
• Current RCC Board Member
• Chairman Emeritus, Fairfax
• County Park Authority Board
• NACPRO 2021 Outstanding Public Official Award
• Best of Reston Award, 1993; 2001
• Robert E. Simon Fellows Award
• Katherine K. Hanley Leadership Award for Community Service
• Fairfax County Anthony H. Griffin Partnership Leader Award
• Wolf Trap Foundation Board of Directors
• Reston Hospital Center Board of Trustees
• Vice Chairman, Public Art Reston
• Reston Youth Baseball Chairman
• Past Board of Management, Reston YMCA
• First President, Friends of Reston
• Project Gold 2000, US Olympic Committee
• Lord Fairfax Award
How would your leadership enhance RCC’s efforts to bring the community together by providing opportunities for enriching leisure experiences and connections that reach out to all to foster inclusiveness and a sense of belonging?
The RCC Board of Governors presents an opportunity to contribute to my great community and to utilize my talents and skills. I have the experience and qualifications for the position in dealing with RCC activities, working in the business community, working with youth and athletics, and working with various organizations in Reston and throughout the County to help plot our future. Our diversity is a strength that is unique, embraced, cherished, and to be celebrated. I am a strong supporter of the Center, and the Reston community. I enjoy working with Restonians, to learn about their needs, and wants, and to strive to make RCC a place for all. I will continue to work with the residents and the County to ensure consistency of programming, and to engage the business community so that they receive the inherent value in working with the Community Center and its programs as Reston grows.
Lisa Sechrest-Ehrhardt
What previous experience or participation in civic activities would you bring to the RCC Board?
Reston has been my home for 49+ years. I have participated in numerous cultural, educational, and social events offered by RCC. Those experiences, coupled with various community forums, provide me with a strong understanding regarding what it takes to create a sense of belonging and to cultivate community. Prior to serving on RCC’s Board of Governors, I was an employee of Reston Community Center where I planned and implemented programs aimed at enhancing the social, cultural, and educational amenities of the Reston community. My experience includes connection, guidance, and leadership as a participant and as a board member.
How would your leadership enhance RCC’s efforts to bring the community together by providing opportunities for enriching leisure experiences and connections that reach out to all to foster inclusiveness and a sense of belonging?
As a professional social worker and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consultant, I always embraced a philosophy of collaboration and inclusion. My professional goal is to provide learning environments where people from diverse cultural, ethnic, racial, gender, and socio- economic backgrounds come together and learn from one another, with the goal of bridging connections toward a common ground. As a DEI consultant, I inform individuals, organizations, and communities about their strengths, and highlight the power of diversity.
Reston is a community rich in diversity! A community where many of its residents actually “live, work, and play” together. My professional and personal experience will contribute to the social, cultural, and educational environment provided by RCC. The goal of my community involvement and my desire to serve on the RCC Board of Governors is to ensure that all Reston residents are included in and benefit from the great programs and events RCC offers.
Mahnaz Weldy
What previous experience or participation in civic activities would you bring to the RCC Board?
With over 20 years as an analyst for the U.S. government and a decade of volunteer experience, I bring a wealth of expertise to the Board of Governors. At Moms Against Poverty (MAP), I led East Coast fundraising, managing volunteers and negotiating event logistics, successfully raising up to $60,000. As a volunteer with the Iranian-American Women Leadership Foundation, I coordinated with the art committee to feature diverse artists at fundraising events and leadership conferences in D.C. Additionally, as an artist with over 10 years of exhibitions and public art installations, I connect with diverse communities through art. My background in analysis, event management, and art equips me to contribute effectively to our organization’s strategic goals.
How would your leadership enhance RCC’s efforts to bring the community together by providing opportunities for enriching leisure experiences and connections that reach out to all to foster inclusiveness and a sense of belonging?
As an Iranian-American woman, I deeply understand the importance of inclusion and the positive impact of cultural diversity within our communities. My experiences as an analyst for the U.S. government and as an artist have given me a unique perspective on encourage inclusive environments. My work with Moms Against Poverty and the Iranian-American Women Leadership Foundation involved collaborating with diverse groups to achieve common goals. These roles, alongside my artistic strive, have taught me the value of diverse voices in enriching our community and driving progress. I am committed to bringing this understanding to the Board of Governors to ensure our organization reflects and embraces the diverse fabric of our community.
Malka Wickramatilake
What previous experience or participation in civic activities would you bring to the RCC Board?
As a bona fide Restonian (Terraset, Hughes, South Lakes) who moved here in 1988, my sister and I grew up in and with this community, and our parents still live here too. I used RCC facilities as a kid and still do as an adult, specifically the art classes. Civic duty is of immense importance to me and reflects in my work as a FCPS mentor, being a platelet donor, being on the board of the Lockwood Animal Rescue Center, and philanthropic fundraising. Creating a sense of community within my greater surroundings is one of my greatest joys.
How would your leadership enhance RCC’s efforts to bring the community together by providing opportunities for enriching leisure experiences and connections that reach out to all to foster inclusiveness and a sense of belonging?
As an executive at Tennis Channel and book editor, my expertise in organizing and communicating brings people together for projects globally and locally. Taking art classes at RCC provides a wealth of opportunities to connect with residents of all kinds. Our combined stories, knowledge, and experiences foster the community that people seek when participating in leisure activities. Being in the physical space of RCC multiple times a week provides me with a unique view of the opportunities and challenges that RCC staff and members face. As Reston continues to grow, it is important to hear both established and new voices, and further make RCC the heart of our community where everyone can explore activities, events, and interests of all kinds. We live and work in one of the most unique and diverse places in the world and RCC reflects that, and I want to help strengthen that even more.
