Lead Facilitators
Rev Laverne March
Laverne is the pastor at Living Waters Ministries in St. Augustine. She grew up in St. Augustine, graduating from St. Augustine High School and holding a degree in Social Psychology from St Leo’s University. Rev. March is known for her dedicated love for her community, leading multicultural education efforts one-on-one and in group settings with St Augustine and St John’s County government leaders and concerned residents. She is the founder of a beautification and empowerment project in West St Augustine called “Pride in the West Side.” She has been using and coaching others to use the VISIONS model for building communities of belonging since the summer of 2018. laverne@belonging-inc.org
Rev David Williamson
David is an Elder in the Florida Conference United Methodist Church appointed to extension ministry with Belonging, Inc. He is a skilled facilitator providing education, support and leader development services for clergy, congregations and communities who want to build communities of belonging where cultural differences are recognized, understood, appreciated and utilized as strength for God’s mission in the world. David has 30 years of experience as a pastor in the UMC and 8 years of experience facilitating effective cross-cultural dialogue where diverse groups of people can address and transform conflict at personal, interpersonal and system levels.
david@belonging-inc.org 407-415-7850
Belonging, Inc Board of Directors
Vicki Pepper, Chair
Rev. Dr. Simon Osulana, Director
Jenny Smalls, Secretary
Vicki Pepper is a retired federal employee who serves as the Chair of Belonging, Inc.’s board of directors. A native Midwesterner, when she retired from Northern Virginia several years ago Vicki moved to St. Augustine, FL, where her late parents had settled. She taught part-time for five years before embarking full-time on her third caree
Vicki Pepper is a retired federal employee who serves as the Chair of Belonging, Inc.’s board of directors. A native Midwesterner, when she retired from Northern Virginia several years ago Vicki moved to St. Augustine, FL, where her late parents had settled. She taught part-time for five years before embarking full-time on her third career (in retirement) as a volunteer community advocate. Among her many activities in the community, Vicki leads a small informal, independent local civic action group she co-founded called Community Advocates for Racial Equity (C.A.R.E.).* She had joined Community Conversation (CC) before the Covid pandemic, and C.A.R.E. naturally grew out of CC during the pandemic. Vicki has found the work of Belonging, Inc. to be life-changing, and she continues to support it in her volunteer career as one important way to build the “Beloved Community” that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had envisioned for her community and our nation.
*C.A.R.E.’s purpose is to serve Black and other underserved communities in St. Johns County by identifying resources, including funding sources, and linking them with community needs as identified by community leaders.
Jenny Smalls, Secretary
Rev. Dr. Simon Osulana, Director
Jenny Smalls, Secretary
Jennifer Smalls is a seasoned Human Resources professional with more than 20 years of experience in public sector human resources, specializing in compensation, organizational development, and employee relations. She currently serves as a Compensation Analyst with the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners.
As Secretary of Belongin
Jennifer Smalls is a seasoned Human Resources professional with more than 20 years of experience in public sector human resources, specializing in compensation, organizational development, and employee relations. She currently serves as a Compensation Analyst with the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners.
As Secretary of Belonging, Inc., Jennifer is passionate about fostering communities where everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered to thrive. She also serves as Third Vice President of the NAACP St. Johns County Branch and is the Founder of From Tweens 2 Queens, a mentoring program that equips young girls with leadership, confidence, and life skills.
Jennifer believes lasting change begins with service, collaboration, and creating spaces where every voice belongs.
Rev. Dr. Simon Osulana, Director
Rev. Dr. Simon Osulana, Director
Rev. Dr. Simon Osulana, Director
Rev. Dr. Simon Osunlana is the Superintendent of the North East District of the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. The District is comprised of 70 Churches in the Jacksonville, Ocala and Daytona Beach areas.
Prior to this appointment, he served as the Superintendent in the South East District; Senior Pastor of St Paul Unite
Rev. Dr. Simon Osunlana is the Superintendent of the North East District of the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. The District is comprised of 70 Churches in the Jacksonville, Ocala and Daytona Beach areas.
Prior to this appointment, he served as the Superintendent in the South East District; Senior Pastor of St Paul United Methodist Church in Jacksonville; and, St. John UMC in Fort Lauderdale. He is a graduate of University of Ibadan, Nigeria with Bachelor and Masters degrees, Wake Forest University with a Master of Divinity and from Drew University with a DMin.
Simon, originally from Nigeria, was greatly shaped and nurtured by the
Methodist Church and has a deep understanding and appreciation for
Wesleyan Theology. He says this about his faith: “I was born and raised Methodist because my parents were ardent members of The Methodist Church in Nigeria. However, it was on December 15, 1985 when I had a personal encounter with Christ and I became born again. Church for me, is the body of Christ and supposed to be a miniature kingdom of God on earth where everybody is somebody, love is our watchword, transformation of the world is our purpose and eternal life in the Kingdom of God is our goal.
Simon is married to Temitope (Tammie) Osunlana, a registered nurse. They have three adult children.
Brian Pepper, Treasurer
Rev. Dr. Simon Osulana, Director
Rev. Dr. Simon Osulana, Director
Brian graduated in 1983 from UC Davis with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and the Thunderbird school of Global Management with a master’s degree in International Management.
Brian worked in the federal government as a finance budget officer for 22 years, then retired in 2010. Since then he has had various government contractor
Brian graduated in 1983 from UC Davis with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and the Thunderbird school of Global Management with a master’s degree in International Management.
Brian worked in the federal government as a finance budget officer for 22 years, then retired in 2010. Since then he has had various government contractor jobs. His last job in the 3 years before retirement from paid employment was the CFO for a mom & pop IT training company.
He served as volunteer treasurer for his church in DC for more than 12 years and I am also currently serving as volunteer treasurer for the Florida nonprofit Compassionate St. Augustine. Brian volunteers as Treasurer for Belonging Inc. because he believes in its mission and the difference it makes.