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City Year Jacksonville

Our executive director, staff, alumni, board members and partners are committed to building a stronger Jacksonville by supporting and developing our AmeriCorps members as leaders in their schools and community.

Allishia Bauman

Senior Vice President and Executive Director

Allishia Bauman is passionate about people and positions human resources as a strategic, organizational partner. A builder of deep collaboration, inclusivity, and equity; she has held many positions professionally and as a volunteer where she has deeply contributed to these aspects of work. One of the values she holds nearest is the African proverb, “Ubuntu”- I am because you are, my humanity is tied to yours. Whether it’s the work we do in our communities, in our companies, or in our homes, she believes the humanity of people is foundational. A SHRM Certified Professional through the Society for Human Resource Management, Allishia currently serves as the Executive Director and Senior Vice President at City Year Jacksonville where she has been for almost 10 years. In her role, she plays an integral role in advocating for young people and advancing educational equity in Jacksonville. She is responsible for ensuring CYJax meets its impact with students, revenue, district partnership, and external relations goals. Allishia is a leader and collaborator who is a natural coalition-builder, people developer, and influencer who leads with humility and tenacity. As Senior Vice President, she is as a vital link between the local Jacksonville market, the City Year Market Group, and the City Year national office. Site supervision includes the functional areas of student impact and school partnerships, revenue generation, expense management, management and retention of AmeriCorps members and staff, and site board development and relations.
A proud Jacksonville native and product of Duval County Public Schools, Allishia earned her Associates Degree from Florida State College of Jacksonville and later earned her Bachelors Degree in Leadership and Organizational Studies from The American Women’s College at Bay Path University. She has also been an engaged community steward supporting organizations and groups such as the Jacksonville Public Education Fund, TEDxJacksonville, and the Jacksonville Womens Network.
Allishia is also a former TEDxFSCJ speaker, a Jacksonville Public Education Fund ONEbyONE alum, a One Young World Ambassador, a graduate of LEAD City Year, a Leadership Jacksonville alum, an alum of the Delores Barr Weaver Fellowship with the Women’s Giving Alliance, a 2018 Unsung Shero Honoree from the Women’s Center of Jacksonville, a current Hightower Fellow through the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and a former Star in the 2019 First Coast Dancing with the Stars initiative. Most importantly, she is happily married to her husband Joshua, and is a proud bonus mom to her bonus daughter, Esperanza.

Veronika McDougald

Managing Director of Impact

Veronika McDougald’s core values include being present for others through relationship-building; leading on behalf of those who will come after her; and driving impact for all who have experienced marginalized gaps beyond their control.

McDougald has served with City Year in many capacities over the last 11 years, beginning with her AmeriCorps service year in 2011 at City Year Columbia, where she served a Senior AmeriCorps year as well. Since then, she has served with City Year Jacksonville as an Impact Manager at Northwestern Middle School; Impact Director of both Primary and Secondary School Partnerships; Corps Experience Director; and now, Managing Director of Impact. Throughout her tenure, she has ensured that the organization’s AmeriCorps members felt supported as they propel student success in Duval County Public Schools.

After earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia in German and TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) in 2011, she earned her master’s degree in nonprofit management with a human services concentration from Northeastern University in 2018. She is also a graduate of LEAD (City Year’s executive leadership program) and is a Leadership Jacksonville Next Generation (formerly known as the Collegiate Leadership Experience) alumna.

This Georgia native moved to Jacksonville in 2013, where she now lives with her husband, Lacy and their daughter, little Miss Marley.

Alexis Holton

Managing Director of People, Operations, and Strategy

Alexis Holton has led City Year Jacksonville’s AmeriCorps members and impact teams since joining the organization during the summer of 2016. Her years of experience in the community impact arena provided her with the tools necessary to succeed in her new role with City Year. Previously, she managed programs with the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation, Inter-Tribal Sports and the Police Athletic League’s Eastside campus.

Holton is a first-generation college graduate and is proud to have earned two bachelor’s degrees in psychology and criminal justice with minors in social work and American Sign Language from the University of North Florida. Most recently, she completed her master’s degree from the University of Southern California in public administration with a concentration in nonprofit management leadership.

Over the years, she has served the Northeast Florida community in many different capacities. She was President of the Youth Leadership club at the Deland YMCA; led philanthropic events supporting Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA); and organized Dance Marathon events supporting the Children’s Miracle Network. In 2013, she served in the inaugural class of the Weaver Scholars Philanthropic Initiative through The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida. From 2012 through 2016, she served as a Take Stock in Children mentor, helping local youth achieve academic success.

When Alexis is not busy helping our community’s youth succeed, this Florida native is spending her free time being a mom and wife to her loving husband, Aaron, and their three beautiful sons, William, Michael and Matthew.

More leaders in Jacksonville

Our alumni board is dedicated to civic leadership and advancing City Year Jacksonville's work in our community.

Read more about Alumni Board | Jacksonville

Our board brings to City Year Jacksonville their expertise and commitment to local communities and schools.

Read more about Board | Jacksonville

City Year depends on committed public and private sector partners in Jacksonville to support our work.

Read more about Partnerships | Jacksonville

Students who work with City Year report better academic outcomes than similar students who don't.

Read more about Impact | Jacksonville
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