The VIDA Fitness Diversity & Inclusion Board

Known for her tenacious energy, ambition, and commitment to physical fitness, Michaela Brown is a Regional Group Fitness Manager at VIDA Fitness, Inc. where she empowers the company’s culture, operations, and community impact. A veteran of the fitness industry with over 20 years of experience as an athlete, coach, personal trainer, and group exercise instructor, her success in the field comes as no surprise. Prior to joining VIDA’s team, Michaela was a successful entrepreneur, having run a popular women’s fitness studio for 12 years in Washington, DC. Her certifications include NASM-CPT, AFAA Group Exercise, Barre Fitness, Les Mills Advanced Bodypump Instructor, TRX and Pilates Mat, just to name a few. With a proven track record in driving organizational excellence and steering positive collaborative environments, she serves as Chairwoman of VIDA Fitness, Inc’s first Diversity and Inclusion Board, lending a wealth of vision and experience to the organization’s mission.

Michaela earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Georgetown University, with dual minor degrees in Japanese Language and Communications. She also takes great pride in being the first, Black, letter-winner and captain of the university’s Women’s Field Hockey team. Michaela served two terms as the President of Georgetown’s Collegiate NAACP Chapter, and one term as the Vice President of the Nu Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc; so, chairing VIDA’s Diversity and Inclusion Board feels like a return back to her true roots of public service, social justice and activism. It is with this energy and passion that Michaela seeks to use her knowledge, resources and platform to blaze trails for the next generation of diverse, fitness professionals.

Vice President of Sales at VIDA Fitness & Aura Spa
Tabitha L.C. Clarke Joined VIDA Fitness in January of 2020. Tabitha is a passionate, dynamic, and driven leader with over 18 years of proven success in developing sales teams across many industries. Her leadership abilities and strengths have achieved great results by boosting revenues for many tech companies and she has received many awards for launching innovative sales and business strategies.

While leading sales teams is Tabitha’s passion, she also gives back to her community by serving on the board for the Black Leadership Counsel at First Data Corporation in Hagerstown MD for over 5 years. Tabitha has touched many lives at Howard University by participating in many panel discussions and helping young students who are finding themselves in the workplace to serve as ambassadors for their employers to bring diversity, awareness, and opportunities to others. Tabitha has helped many local owned businesses increase revenues within their organization and helped bring awareness and diversity to the Western Maryland Community by attending LGBT community-based events. Her efforts has helped many organizations realize that to be successful, businesses need diverse, inclusive, and creative leaders with a strong understanding of the industry and the talent they have within their organization is what sets them apart from their competition and determines how their business succeeds

Francisco Durán serves as Superintendent of Arlington County Public Schools. Dr. Durán has a diverse background in education of twenty-seven years, beginning as a special education paraprofessional, and teaching Spanish, social studies, language arts. He’s also served in a variety of other positions such as an activities director, athletics director, assistant principal, principal, regional superintendent, a superintendent and Chief Equity Officer. He has served as an adjunct professor for 15 years teaching courses in diversity, equity, and Inclusion.

Dr. Durán is a member of the Virginia State Board of Education, President of the Board of Directors of the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS), and is the former Chair of the Human Rights Commission for the City of Alexandria.
Dr. Durán earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of New Mexico, a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from San Francisco State University, and a Master of Education and a Doctorate in Organization and Leadership from Teacher’s College, Columbia University.

Lisa Kizina is the Chief Human Resources and Administrative Officer at National Real Estate Advisors, a real estate investment management firm based in Washington, DC. Colleagues describe her as a committed business leader, a critical thinker, and a change catalyst who underpins people operations and policy as the corporate nucleus. With forward-thinking business acumen and unparalleled success in influencing policy, she champions practical employee-centered programs that drive growth, increase profitability, strengthen employee well-being, and simplify processes.

Having started two successful businesses in the real estate and construction industry, capitalizing on employee and client engagement she maximized people power, data, training, partnerships, technology tools, and risk management while challenging status-quo thinking to usher in change. My due diligence as a principal enabled my companies, Property Detailing and Quality Contracting, to thrive and outpace competitors.

In addition to holding the Senior Professional Human Resources designation, she completed 2 degrees from the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)—a master’s degree in International Financial Management and a BS in Business Administration. She resides in the outskirts of Washington D.C. and recharge with high impact health and fitness training, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.

Jennifer Krystopowicz is an educator who has been teaching in the District of Columbia public schools for 15 years. Jennifer has dedicated her career to serving the district’s youth since being placed as a 2007 Teach for America Corp member in south east DC. Jennifer leads initiatives to reshape district curriculum using a DEI framework; facilitates educator workshops on family engagement; trains international educators on culturally responsive and equitable practices; and co-founded the non profit Art 4 the Sole to support the health and well being of DC community members.

Jennifer holds a BA in Communication from George Washington University, MA in Special Education from George Mason University, and is Nationally Board Certified as an Exceptional Needs Specialist.

ChrisParkison is Group Fitness Manager at VIDA Fitness at the Yards, Gallery Place and City Vista locations. He practiced law for 10 years in the District of Columbia before becoming a full-time fitness instructor and Personal Trainer and has worked at VIDA Fitness since 2013.

Samuel Tatum, Jr., is a multi-media marketing professional that has worked to help companies develop diverse, effective media campaigns, and brand strategies, that target Black and Minority populations for over two decades. Driven by the passion to strengthen resources and representation for underserved communities in and around the DMV, Samuel works daily to find innovative ways to fulfill that through corporate relationships in various industries. Samuel has various hobbies, including working out at VIDA Fitness. A few of them are fitness, travel, cooking, live music events, and family time.

Jeremy is a Vice President of Digital Public Affairs, where he helps clients tell their stories on digital platforms across the world. A life long storyteller, Jeremy enjoys working in several arenas, including politics, pop culture, advocacy and social justice. Jeremy most recently served as Kamala Harris’ social media director where he led social media content creation on the campaign trail during the vice president’s historical presidential run. While at Under Armour, Jeremy worked closely with global teams to not only create content celebrating the impact the brand has on the world, but to tell the story of athlete activism on and off the field. In his spare time, Jeremy enjoys weightlifting and petting very cute dogs. Jeremy earned his B.A. in history and political science from the University of Mary Washington and his master’s degree in strategic communication from American University.

pride in leading diversity and inclusion efforts during her time at Harvard, including being the Director of the Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment Program and Founder of the Harvard Society of Hispanic and Professional Engineers. She is currently working at Bergmann & Moore, LLC (Veteran Law) as a Case Manager and is working towards applying to law school in the near future. Daisy aims to become a public interest lawyer and serve underrepresented communities in her work.

During her free time, Daisy enjoys rock climbing, strengthening her yoga and pilates practice, running, and walking her dogs. She is working towards running her first marathon in May 2023.

Kendra Lee is the Social Media Manager at Urban Adventures Companies and manages the social media accounts for all six brands under the UAC umbrella. Kendra is also responsible for reputation management, community partnerships, brand creators and influencer relationships, and manages the company’s charity events and heritage celebrations.

Prior to joining UAC Kendra was the Marketing Manager at the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) dedicated to diversifying audiences outdoors in fishing and boating. There she managed marketing strategy and execution for RBFF’s award winning national consumer campaign, Take Me Fishing™, their Hispanic focused campaign, Vamos A Pescar, and female focused campaign, Women Making Waves, to increase participation of women in the outdoors. Kendra has previously held positions in sales, PR and graphic design in both San Francisco and London and has spoken at industry events and podcasts on topics ranging from influencer management to brand creative strategy.

Kendra earned her Bachelor’s degree in Media Arts & Design from James Madison University, with a minor in Spanish. She also has a Masters degree in Communications from George Mason University and is a member of the American Marketing Association. Outside of VIDA, you’ll find her at a soccer field cheering on one – or both – of her son’s soccer teams.

Radiance Basden is a trailblazing well-being consultant, professional life coach, NASM certified personal trainer, yoga instructor (RYT-200), and lululemon ambassador. As a champion of human development, she enlightens others about the mental, spiritual, and physical benefits of internal wellness and body movement. Radiance’s mission includes creating channels to amplify underrepresented voices, service marginalized communities and champion DE&I, health, and well-being topics.

She is a former D1 track and field athlete with her roots tracing back to high school where she was inducted into her HS hall of fame as the school’s most decorated athlete. Radiance has medaled many races, overcome two ACL/MCL reconstructive surgeries and continues to be one of the most decorated fitness professionals in the Washington DC running community with over 20 years of training experience.

Radiance holds a BA in B.A.,Journalism and Mass Communication from The University of South Carolina, Master of Professional Studies – Sports Industry Management from Georgetown University, and a Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University. She is also the founder of a Rooted in Radiance (RINR), a consulting firm providing professional development and workshops highlighting well-being, body movement and mental resilience.

In her free time, Radiance enjoys traveling the world, teaching Yoga at VIDA and spending time with friends and family.

Larry Brown is a Senior Membership Advisor at VIDA Fitness Logan Circle and has been a member of the VIDA staff since 2011. Larry has more than 25 years of management, communications and sales experience and has a passion for leadership, community and building connections among people.

Larry is a native of Roanoke, Virginia and earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from Howard University. He began his career as an award winning breaking news and criminal justice newspaper reporter before moving into local government communications and marketing. Along with membership sales, Larry has also worked fitness facility operations as part of the opening team of VIDA’s flagship location on U Street. He enjoys travel, music, writing and baking.