OUR TEAM

Conversations. Ideas. Community.

We are a multigenerational community of students, parents, educators, artivists, activists, community advocates, and other professionals, each committed to racial healing, justice, and education as liberation. Click on the Bios below to learn more about the women leading change for justice with Code Switch.

Conversations. Ideas. Community.

Our Leadership Team

Shakala Alvaranga
Communications Director

Bio

Shakala Alvaranga

Shakala Alvaranga received her Bachelor of Science degree in broadcast journalism at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. She served as a television news anchor in Massachusetts and worked as a television news reporter at CBS in Las Vegas, Nevada. Over the years, she has covered a wide array of issues affecting girls of color. She invests in Black Girls because their voices deserve to be heard. Through her work with Code Switch, she hopes to empower and uplift other Black girls.

Naika Belizaire
Co-Executive Director

Bio

Naika Belizaire

Naika Belizaire is currently studying Political Science and Community Development as an undergraduate student at Howard University in Washington, DC. Raised in the West Side of Las Vegas, they graduated from Advanced Technologies Academy. Within Code Switch, they serve as the Co-Executive Director and are a member of the Youth Advisory Board. They stan Black Girls and gender expansive youth because they are revolutionary and deserve to be protected, supported, and loved. Through their work with Code Switch, they hope to create a community and space that loves on our youth, uplifts our youth, and provides our youth with the resources, mentorship, and tools needed to tap into their fullest potential and achieve their revolutionary dreams.

Alicia Johnson
Youth Development Director

Bio

Alicia Johnson

I am a special education teacher and youth mentor that has a strong passion for Black Girls and Womxn having a voice and a space to be authentically themselves.

Tonya Walls
Founder and Co-Executive Director

Bio

Tonya Walls

I began my teaching career in the same community that I grew up in. I walked the same hallways as a teacher that my own elementary teachers once walked when I was a wide-eyed student at Lockwood Elementary in Oakland, California. Those beautiful Black and Asian Womxn – Ms. Lim, Ms. Atkins, Ms. Perry, Ms. Skillern, Ms. Adams – modeled for me what culturally responsive teaching looks and feels like. I was a little Black girl who was never supposed to BECOME, but their Warm Demander ways, combined with the radical love of the village that raised me, loved me into my life purpose, and now I get to serve as a Teacher Educator and fierce co-conspirator of education for liberation! In this work, I dream of a world where Black Girls are free to be and become whomever they want to be; one where they are free to dream, and create, and tap into the power and majic already living inside of them. This is why I teach. It’s also why I am committed to the work of advancing girl’s rights through Code Switch. I can only hope that I am using the gifts gifted to me, to leave the world just a little bit better and a whole lot brighter than when I was born into it.

Youth Advisory Board

Naika Belizaire
Student, Howard University

Bio

Naika Belizaire

Danae Dunlap
Student, Howard University

Bio

Danae Dunlap

As a young black woman, I stand for Black Girls because I don’t want things to be as hard for the next generation of black women. I don’t want my little sister to have to deal with the same level of colorism, sexism, misogynoir, etc. that I have to deal with. I don’t want young black girls putting themselves into boxes of what they can and can’t do. I don’t want young black girls to feel inferior to their nonblack peers. And I believe that Code Switch gives me the opportunity to do so.

Deja Dunlap
Student, Yale University

Bio

Deja Dunlap

Deja Dunlap is a current student at Yale University, studying Applied Mathematics. She currently serves as the Founding Manager of the Overachievers Education Fund as well as the Youth Grant-Writing Liaison. She invests in Black girls because they deserve the same love and attention that the rest of the world receives. Through her work with Code Switch she hopes to make a tangible impact on her community.

Layla Juniel
Student, University of Nevada, Reno

Bio

Layla Juniel

I am attending the University of Nevada, Reno studying Veterinary Science and Biochemistry. I graduated from Nevada State High School and I hold a role as a Youth Justice Fellow and member of the Youth Advisory Board. I am proud to be graduating with my second collegiate degree at the young age of 19 years young. I stand for Black youth and gender expansive individuals because I would love to provide opportunities for them since I wish I had this kind of experience earlier growing up and because I want to pour back into my community as I wouldn’t be here without them. I would love to spread more of Code Switch’s work and mission across many communities and bring restorative justice to many other Black girls and gender expansive youth.

Anaya Wilson
Student, Howard University

Bio

Anaya Wilson

Anaya-Amara Wilson is currently a sophomore attending Howard University studying Elementary Education. She graduated from Monterey Trail High School in Elk Grove, California. In Code Switch, she is a Youth Justice Fellow and a part of the Youth Advisory Board. Her proudest accomplishment is moving across the country to pursue higher education. She stans for Black girls and gender expansive youth because they deserve to be valued like any of their peers. In her work with Code Switch, she hopes to make everyone she comes into contact with feel like they are valued.

G’Yanna Perry
HS Student, ATECH, CCSD

Bio

G'Yanna Perry

Hello! I am G’Yanna Perry! I attend high school at Advanced Technologies Academy, double majoring in Biomedical Engineering and Engineering, hoping to pursue Biomedical Engineering as I progress and develop as a young woman in society! While I have a passion for the medical field and hope to venture into other fields of science I have a great passion for advocacy primarily for girls of color and various gender-expansive youth! With my time in Code Switch I’ve been able to not only expand my knowledge of the black community but also expand my advocacy for black girls and youth who look like me and that has been the greatest reward of all. I will strive and make it my mission to incorporate lessons of Restorative Justice that I have learned in my first year of Code Switch into my personal passion project aimed to help young girls affected by the school to prison nexus! As well as echoing the love, support, grace and unity that has been given to me by my fellow sisters in Code Switch! With my time outside of Code Switch I’ve been able to instill grace and poise into my life from experiences I’ve had in Code Switch, which in total has allowed me to unlock a whole new realm of solidarity for myself! I also enjoy all forms of literature, art and music to find that solidarity, with my favorite book being Not Without Laughter by Langston Hughes!

Executive Advisory Board

Khalila Lomax
PhD Student, University of Illinois

Bio

Khalila Lomax

I attended the #BlackGirl Magic, Code-Switchin’, & Walking Back In! How Black Girls ‘Pushed Out’ Push Back workshop in 2017 at the Free Minds Free People Conference. Since then I have followed the work of Code Switch. I want to participate in setting long-term priorities to ensure long-lasting change, development, and growth for Code Switch. I am a student, educator, and researcher. I am involved in education on multiple fronts. I use my professional and personal experiences to build meaningful relationships, solve critical issues, and implement racial equity within non-profit and educational institutions. I will do the same as a Code Switch Board Member.

Shanice Stevens
Director of Community Engagement, Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada

Bio

Shanice Stevens

I’m a Las Vegas native, graduated from UNLV with an undergraduate degree in journalism and media studies with a concentration in integrated marketing communications. I received my graduate degree in organizational leadership from National University. When I’m not working, I enjoy traveling, mentoring youth, community service, and spending time with family and friends. My current volunteer activity positions include executive board member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Las Vegas Alumnae Chapter; collegiate advisor and educational development committee chair for the Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy; charter member of the Southwest Las Vegas Chapter of Kiwanis International; Nevada Promise Scholarship mentor for the College of Southern Nevada; and COLA Connections – volunteer mentor with the UNLV College of Liberal Arts. I joined the Code Switch Board because I believe that a strong leader is not born overnight; it takes time to cultivate leadership skills. I want to be the community advocate and leader that inspires Black girls and young women to fulfill the vision that they see for themselves. I want to ignite passion in community partnerships, students and teachers, to go beyond their own self-doubt, and encourage them to see their own potential to do the same for the girls they serve.

Freedom Dream & Build With Us!

Are you looking to join a joyful community committed to being the change they wish to see in the world? If so, then Code Switch is the space for you! We have board, internship, and other volunteer opportunities available throughout the year. Click on the button below and let’s start our joyful journey to justice together!

VIEW OPPORTUNITIES

OUR TEAM

OUR TEAM

Conversations. Ideas. Community.

Conversations. Ideas. Community.

Our Leadership Team

Youth Advisory Board

Executive Advisory Board

Freedom Dream & Build With Us!

OUR WORK

FOLLOW US

SUPPORT CODE SWITCH

OUR WORK

FOLLOW US

SUPPORT CODE SWITCH

OUR TEAM

OUR TEAM

Conversations. Ideas. Community.

Conversations. Ideas. Community.

Our Leadership Team

Youth Advisory Board

Executive Advisory Board

Freedom Dream & Build With Us!

OUR WORK

FOLLOW US

SUPPORT CODE SWITCH

OUR WORK

FOLLOW US

SUPPORT CODE SWITCH

Good Things Come To Those WhoFREEDOM DREAM

Good Things Come To Those Who
FREEDOM DREAM