AALF Advisory Board

As a Tucson native, Shannon brings a wealth of leadership experience and a homegrown knowledge of our community. Shannon has over 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector, including 9 years in a leadership role.

When he is not at Boy Scouts of America, Shannon enjoys cycling, home improvement projects, spending time with family, and he definitely knows his way around the kitchen!

Ashley La Russa founded Roux Events in 2019, an event management company with a primary focus on supporting the growth of organizations and community leaders that foster equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. Ashley is the creator of the largest accessible directory of Black Businesses in Arizona. BlaxFriday.com She serves on the Local First Arizona Business Advisory Council, BIPOC Community Managed Loan Committee and the African American Legacy Fund Board. Ashley partners with organizations, hotels, and event venues to strategically plan how to serve the community as a whole.

Cydne Bolton has called Tucson home for over 40 years.  She is currently a Learning Center Coordinator for Literacy Connects, a non-profit organization with the mission of connecting people of all ages to a world of opportunities through literacy and creative expression.

Cydne considers herself to be a lifelong learner and educator. Her positions in elementary education, logistics, juvenile corrections, and adult basic education have all focused on teaching and training.  She is a graduate from the Tacheria Interfaith School of Spiritual Direction and the African American Leadership Institute of Southern Arizona.

Ms. Bolton also serves as Board Secretary for The Learning Community for Loss, Grief and Transition. She is the proud auntie of several nieces and nephews, some biological and some chosen.

Anthony Young has been the Executive Director at Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Inc., based in Tucson, Arizona, since 2007. He attended law school at the University of Nebraska College Law. Anthony has worked as a legal aid attorney since 1991, managing legal aid offices in Nebraska and Arizona. Anthony served as President of the NAACP Yuma Arizona Chapter and President of the Board of Directors for Child and Family Resources in Tucson. He currently serves as a member of the Pima County Library Foundation, African American Project Directors Association, and the Arizona Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice, and the National Legal Aid and Defender Association. Anthony was the recipient of the 2007 State Bar of Arizona, Sharon A. Fullmer Legal Aid Attorney of the Year Award. Anthony is married with two adult children.

John-Peter is the Director of Partner Engagement at Social Venture Partners Tucson and has over 40 years of non-profit experience, much of this time has been in positions of leadership.  He has both staff and board member experience with non-profits and has also help found two non-profits which are still thriving today.

John-Peter has lived in Tucson for 21 years and calls Tucson home. He gained his work experience and knowledge from living in Indianapolis, IN, New York City, San Francisco twice and Austin, TX before moving to Tucson.  He has a BFA in Fashion and Art from Pratt Institute and M.A. in Communication Studies from Texas State University.