CHARIS
CIRCLE
MEET THE CHARIS CIRCLE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ruby-Beth Buitekant (Board Chair) was raised by Charis. Since the days of the young writers group led by Linda Bryant, Ruby-Beth has been encouraged to speak loudly and listen sharply by her experiences at Charis. Ruby-Beth is Beth-Ann's daughter and Lazuli's mama. She works at Movement Law Lab as the Associate Director of Movement Partnerships and spends her time helping liberatory social movements build legal infrastructure. Before her legal education, Ruby-Beth worked as an organizer with the anti-gun violence program Youth Organizing to Save Our Streets in Brooklyn. She has been a featured speaker on panels and publications relating to racism within the criminal legal system, Black Lives Matter, and prison abolition. Buitekant holds a JD from The City University of New York School of Law and a BA from Wesleyan University. She is from and in love with Atlanta, GA.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Zanetta Byers-Harris (pronouns: they/them) grew up with a deep love and respect for the written word. However it wasn’t until they returned to Atlanta in their adult years, that they found the Charis Books & Circle community. After years of working in youth-serving and youth justice spaces, they transitioned to a job with the Midwest Academy as their Operations Manager. They currently live on the East side of Atlanta with their partner, kiddo, and pup. They believe in the empowerment of all marginalized peoples and enjoy retreating to all things fantasy/sci-fi & anime when the world becomes too much.
Susan Landrum (pronouns: she/her) (Board Secretary) first stepped into Charis as a senior in high school to be a part of the Young Writers Group led by Linda Bryant. This transformative experience forever shaped her understanding of intersectional feminism and planted the seeds of a lifelong love for community building. Susan is currently studying the divine at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA and is working towards ordination as a pastor in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). She is fueled by plenty of coffee, books, friendship, family, and an extended family of pups. Susan is honored to be a part of the Charis community and looks forward to supporting and furthering its vital mission!
Nora Lewis is a native Texan who only works in Corporate America for the health insurance and to pay her student loans. Her life's work has always been in providing inclusive spaces for and support to marginalized communities. She has chaired the People of Color Hospitality Suite for the Creating Change Conference and served as an officer in several of her university's queer and community service organizations. Nora loves art, books, serial killer shows, podcasts, NPR, and smiling at babies and small animals. You'll probably see her walking around Atlanta in a pair of Chucks while quietly laughing at her own jokes.
Ellen Rapier (Treasurer) has been an avid supporter of Charis Books and Charis Circle since first coming to the bookstore as a freshman at Agnes Scott College in 1998. She has worked for over 10 years in finance. During that time, she has offered financial literacy workshops to youth and adults in Atlanta, including through Charis Circle. She brings her passion for financial health, especially in social justice circles, to her work as Treasurer for the Circle. Ellen lives in Roswell with her husband and two children, who have grown up coming to Charis. Please see www.theoaktreegroup.net for her credentials.
Coming soon: Annisah Um'rani