OUR TEAM

Elizabeth (Betsy) Allen

Creative Writing

Elizabeth (Betsy) Allen is a native of Defiance, Ohio, and holds a BA in journalism from The Ohio State University, and an MA in English and MFA in fiction writing from George Mason University. Over the years, she has worked as a corporate communications specialist, public relations manager, creative writing workshop leader, and freelance writer and editor. Allen currently teaches Advanced Composition at George Mason. Her short stories have been published in several dark fiction anthologies, and she also is the co-author (with Ben Small) of The End of Gath, a Steampunk graphic novel trilogy. Allen lives in Alexandria with her husband and a noisy Corgi. In her spare time, she indulges a crossword puzzle obsession and frets about her children and grandson. She believes in the power of stories—to transport us, to show us what has been and what could be, to help us recognize our shared humanity.

Fannie Allen

Etiquette

Fannie Allen is an entrepreneur, retired federal manager, retired Army Reserve Officer and community service volunteer. She is a graduate of the Protocol School of Washington, a certified Etiquette and International Protocol Consultant, and Director of The Allen Protocol and Leadership Institute with offices in Virginia and Georgia.

Ms. Allen has been a small business owner for over twenty years, providing consulting services as an etiquette and protocol consultant. She also has over twenty-five years of public service experience including assignments in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

Her seminars focus on business etiquette, protocol and dining to corporate and government personnel, colleges, universities, and non-profit organizations. Ms. Allen has extensive experience preparing college and graduate students for careers in International Affairs by providing etiquette, protocol, and communication training. She also specializes in professional sessions on relationship-building. Her organization has successfully convened leadership and social grace camps for young people in various locales in the United States.

She is a member of the American Association of University Women, a Life Member of the Coalition of 100 Black Women, and a member of numerous other community-based groups.

Solveig Eggerz

Creative Writing 

A native of Iceland, Solveig Eggerz, has authored two novels, Seal Woman and Sigga of Reykjavik. She holds a PhD in comparative literature from Catholic University. Solveig was a reporter for the Alexandria Gazette Packet and has worked as a journalist, a professor of writing and research, and as a teacher at the Writer’s Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Her writing has appeared in such places as The Northern Virginia Review, Delmarva Review, and Palo Alto Review. Through creating and teaching her writing classes for Heard, Solveig has learned that everyone has a story to tell or write..

Alexandra Fleming

Creative Writing 

Alexandra Fleming has been a print and TV journalist for 25+ years. Her clients are People magazine, the Washington Post, and Swedish Broadcasting. She has a BA in journalism/news-editorial from San Diego State University. In 2012 she co-wrote “Full of Heart,” Iraq War vet JR Martinez’s memoir, which became a NYT best-seller.

She leads a Heard class called “Journalist for a Day,” which teaches students that the skills journalists practice in their trade — curiosity, precision, and objectivity — are powerful assets that can be applied by everybody in everyday life.  

Her favorite thing about being a part of Heard is having the privilege to share ideas with people who are interesting, inquisitive, expressive, and open to considering divergent viewpoints — and to see in real life how important it is for everyone to be heard.

In her spare time, Alexandra fosters kittens and teaches Life Skills ESL to immigrants and refugees. Read more about Alexa (and hire her!) here.

Sharmila Karamchandani

Visual Arts 

Sharmila Karamchandani is a freelance graphic designer, art educator, and an entrepreneur coach has a passion for design and working in arts education and community non-profits. She is a multidisciplinary artist and works in mediums such as painting, jewelry design, photography, calligraphy, henna painting, mixed media collages, and fiber arts. Sharmila acquired her MFA in Graphic Design from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and has been teaching graphic design for more than a decade in several local colleges and universities. Recently, what gives her the most joy is to facilitate weekly art workshops through Heard and to work with marginalized groups.

Sharmila displays and sells her creative work through Khush Designs.

Keely Kirk

Improvisation 

Keely Kirk teaches improvisation as a life skill for Heard. She is an improvisation performer and the founder of Playing Outside the Lines, where she provides team building workshops for Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, law firms, accounting firms, nonprofit organizations, and schools. She trained and performed with Mental Floss and Laughing Gas Comedy Improv of Miami, Florida, as well iO (formerly Improv Olympics) and Second City of Chicago. Since 2010, Keely has also taught, developed and marketed an improv curriculum at The Little Theatre of Alexandria.

Alison McHugh

Visual Arts 

Alison McHugh is an art therapist, using her talents as an art teacher for the HEARD team. She has taught for almost 20 years in private and public special education as an art therapist, working with students on the autism spectrum or with emotional disabilities. She currently teaches at Cedar Lane High School in Fairfax County Public Schools.  She received her master’s degree in art therapy from the George Washington University. She loves being a part of Heard because she can share her love of scrapbooking and paper-crafting with women who most need the artistic outlet. When she’s not scrapbooking, she’s cheering on her World Champion Washington Capitals or planning her next Disney trip for her family—her husband of 15 years and her 12-year-old and 9-year-old boys. 

Phallon Perry 

Creative Writing 

Since the age of nine, Phallon has found writing to be her refuge. After attending Indiana University and Northwestern University where she honed in on her craft, Phallon began to write stories for children, young adults, and adults young at heart. She is the author of three books: Dream to be from A to Zzz, Austin’s Pansies, and her most recent book, Like a Butterfly was co-authored with her five year old daughter, Autumn. Today, you can find Phallon traveling back and forth between her hometown of Baltimore, MD and her new home in Alexandria, VA. You can also learn more about Phallon here.

Bharati Soman

Singing

Bharati Soman has been an active performer and voice teacher for almost 20 years. Past credits include leading roles in opera companies throughout Northern California, including Cinnabar Theater, Pocket Opera, Livermore Valley Opera and Sacramento Opera.  Currently, she can be seen performing with Sopranessence, a vocal ensemble dedicated to “rebooting classical music,” for which she also serves as Co-Artistic Director.
As a voice teacher, Bharati has worked with students ranging in age and ability, from beginners to professionals, including singer/songwriters. Although her own background is steeped in classical music, Bharati teaches a variety of styles from choral and congregational music to Indie Rock and R&B. Bharati’s greatest joy is watching her students’ self-confidence blossom as they learn to access their authentic voice.  She holds a Master of Music and Performer Diploma from Indiana University, Bloomington and a Bachelor of Music from James Madison University.

Christopher “C.” Thomas

Spoken Word Poetry

Christopher “C.” Thomas began their career as a serial open mic attendee in 2004. They are a Darkness to Light’s Authorized Stewards of Children® Facilitator and a 2019 Finalist for Poet Laureate of Alexandria. They were named a Pioneer of Poetry by NUSPA (National Underground Spoken Word Poetry Awards) in 2015. C. Thomas has performed at Studio 2001Art Gallery, Busboys and Poets, Angelina College, Howard University, Prince George’s Community College, Thomas Jefferson University, Old Dominion University, Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Glen Forest Elementary School, Carlos Rosario International Charter School, and Journey of Faith United Methodist Church. Their work has appeared in Swerv Magazine, Reflections: Prince Georges Community College Fine Arts Magazine, Stoked Words: An Anthology of Queer Poetry from The Capturing Fire Slam and Summit, and Imagoes: A Queer Anthology along with several of their own publications: Moodz’ Ring, Voices Carry, Coloring Outside The Lines, and Bernard’s Bedroom. C. Thomas is also involved in Child Abuse Prevention Awareness, Black Lives Matter, Mental Health, SGL (Same Gender Loving) and the LGBTQ+ community. They joined Heard in full excitement because they believe everyone deserves to have a voice.

Michael Collins

Collins Consulting Group/Board Chair

Mike Collins grew up in Brownsville, Pennsylvania. He retired from the United States Navy as a civilian program manager, and is currently a consultant with them, with expertise in research, development, and acquisition programs. Mike has been an active volunteer throughout his life. He coached youth sports for many years in Manassas, Virginia, and held several leadership positions with Manassas Presbyterian Church. He attended Virginia Tech on a basketball scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He earned a master’s degree in engineering management from Old Dominion University. As the Heard board chair, Mike is excited about working with the new board members who have so much talent and energy and to see what new ways the wonderful artists and clients will continue to express themselves. In his free time Mike likes to take long and short tours, travel with his wife (and Heard’s executive director), and play with their five grandchildren.

Julie Cupp

Chief Operating Officer and Executive Assistant for Marie Force/Treasurer

Julie Cupp was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia. Julie plans reader events for Marie Force/HTJB, Inc., oversees Ms. Force’s self-publishing ventures and manages the E-book Formatting Fairies. Julie has over 15 years of meeting planning experience and is a Certified Meeting Professional where she worked with executive committees and boards of directors to align education and event goals with the organizational budget, membership support and industry enrichment. She attended Virginia Tech and received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. As a Heard board member, Julie looks forward to providing an artistic outlet for marginalized populations and sharing the art of Heard’s programs participants with the community to foster a better understanding of the populations we support. Her passions include live music and theater, yoga, books, local sports teams, travel, art history and finding a piece of art that reminds her of how beautiful this world can be.

Patricia Washington

Patricia is President & CEO of Visit Alexandria where she is responsible for Visit Alexandria’s vision, culture, and data-driven content-first marketing strategy. Under her leadership, Visit Alexandria launched three brand campaigns; developed a robust national media relations effort; expanded video, photo, itinerary and blog content; and increased digital and social media marketing. Patricia led Visit Alexandria’s expanded marketing to diverse audiences with a new “Drop In” campaign targeting Black travelers and featuring iconic and new travel experiences, a Spanish-language campaign, new content supporting AAPI-owned businesses, Latino-and Latina-owned businesses, Indigenous history and experiences and more. All of this has led to increased revenues and national accolades including the city being named as Travel + Leisure’s Best Cities in the U.S. 2022 and one of Condé Nast Traveler’s Top 5 Best Small Cities in the U.S. 2022 . Before coming to Alexandria in 2012, Patricia lived in Philadelphia where she held previous positions in cultural tourism, performing arts, and philanthropy. Patricia is a passionate arts advocate. She serves on the board of the Alexandria Arts Alliance and loves opportunities to attend and participate in music, art, and theater. She is also an avid practitioner of yoga. In addition to the Arts Alliance board, Patricia serves on the U.S. Travel Association’s Destination Advisory Council, and the Northern Virginia Tourism Partnership. Past boards include Alexandria Historic Resources Commission and the Torpedo Factory Art Center Board. Patricia has a JD and BFA from Howard University.

Joanne Marie Clark

Volunteer Development Director

Joanne Clark recently retired from a 33 year career in international relations, designing study programs for mid-level professionals invited to this country by the U.S. Department of State. An important recent topic of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) has been the impact of the arts on marginalized communities, whether the incarcerated, disadvantaged youth, and victims of abuse and trauma. During her tenure at Meridian International Center, Ms. Clark was responsible for the design and implementation for a number of these projects. She is excited to join the Heard team as a research volunteer with the goal of uncovering information and statistical data relevant to the organization’s community outreach and engagement initiatives.

Ms. Clark grew up in Connecticut, earned a B.A. in French from Manhattanville College in Westchester County, New York, and a Masters in International Transactions from George Mason University in Virginia. She is the owner of Late Bloomers Designs, specializing in original jewelry and photographic products.