ABOUT US
The Neighborliness Center (TNC) works to create equal access to opportunity for every neighbor in every neighborhood. TNC is headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and specializes in customized strategic planning for holistic community development initiatives that lead to sustainable & measurable impact.
Board of Directors
Jenni Wong Clayville
Jenni Wong Clayville was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She is wife to Brian and boy-mom to Chance & Paxton. Jenni is an unpretentious foodie, more pretentious coffee lover, mediocre CrossFitter, and a self-proclaimed comedienne.
Her educational background is in Psychology (Social and Behavioral Sciences) and Theology, and how they connect holistically. Jenni has been in full-time ministry since 2001, serving as a Pastor in churches in Portland, OR., El Paso, TX., Oklahoma City, OK., and Fort Worth, TX. She has a wide variety of ministry experience in positions such as Worship Pastor to First Impressions to Executive Pastor. Now, she and her family have planted roots in Fairfax, VA.
In her spare time, you can find Jenni reading in her favorite chair at home, sitting in a soccer field cheering on her sons, scrolling through social media, avoiding shopping malls, finding the funny in just about anything and avoiding clowns. Mostly the scary ones. Which are all of them.
Dr. Ariel D. Smith
Ariel D. Smith is an entrepreneur and academic professor whose work has been centered in Black community and economic advancement for the past decade. She has been a consultant for municipalities, nonprofits, small businesses, tech, and higher ed institutions. Ariel joins Wake Forest after 4 years of serving as the Scholar-in-Residence of the Purdue University Black Cultural Center.
Currently, Ariel’s research examines the experiences and representation of African Americans within the food truck industry. Her flagship company The Food Truck Scholar and book Before You Launch a Food Truck have been recognized by local, national, and international platforms including Museum of Food and Drink, Whetstone Magazine, the Coalition for Food and Health Equity, ESPN’s Landscape, and many others.
Ariel holds a PhD in American Studies from Purdue University and a Master of Education in Learning, Diversity, and Urban Studies from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a Human Resource concentration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Collat School of Business with distinction in Global and Community Leadership
Leah Douglas
Leah has dedicated her entire professional career to assisting business owners and commercial real estate investors in navigating the intricacies of SBA and commercial real estate lending. Graduating from UCF with a degree in Business Administration and Finance, Leah was selected for an elite commercial training program with one of the nation’s top 10 banks. There, she gained deep knowledge of commercial lending, SBA lending, and business cash flow cycles, laying the foundation for her career.
With over 15 years of expertise in commercial lending, Leah prides herself on her ability to think creatively and outside the box. Leveraging her expertise, she structures custom loans to meet the unique needs of each business. Leah understands the intricacies of SBA and commercial real estate lending, excelling at identifying and overcoming potential obstacles. Her goal is to simplify and expedite the process of securing commercial real estate loans for her clients.
