04/03/2024
We are excited to announce the newest addition to our Board of Directors: Mack McLellan Jr.!
Mack McLellan Jr. is a Baltimore native who moved to Charlottesville in 2016. Before moving to Charlottesville, Mack earned a B.A. in Sociology from the University of MD, College Park in 2004 and a Master’s of Social Work degree from the University of Maryland, School of Social Work in 2012. Mack has combined his knowledge of Social Work, Yoga and Mindfulness to serve the citizens of Charlottesville in a multitude of ways.
In 2018, Mack created Simunye (Zulu for “We Are One”), a nonprofit organization that facilitates a series of programs geared toward academic achievement and success, as well as character building and increasing self-esteem. Simunye programs include school and community Book Clubs for Children of Color and monthly Community Reading Events in Albemarle and Charlottesville neighborhoods. Children are provided culturally competent books for both the Book Clubs and Community Reading Events for grade levels K-12.
In 2019, he joined Common Ground Healing Arts as a meditation facilitator for the Meditation for People of Color group. Mr. McLellan, along with three Women of Color, provided guided meditations every Sunday for BIPOC in Charlottesville until the pandemic.
In 2021, Mack became Dean of Students, Diversity & Inclusion at Renaissance School. As part of his role as Dean of Students, Mack works with the Head of School to create a racially diverse student body, supports the social and emotional growth of the students, and builds partnerships with local organizations and the University of Virginia to provide enrichment activities for the students.
