Meet Our Board of Directors
Channing Bias Smith, ESQ
Channing Bias Smith, Esq. is a Los Angeles-based entertainment attorney with nearly 20 years of industry experience, currently serving Of Counsel at Ravyn Neal & Associates, APC. After losing her publishing rights at 19 as a young singer-songwriter without legal counsel, she pivoted to entertainment law, later working with companies like RCA Records, Universal Music Enterprises, BMG, Red Bull Media House, Columbia Records, and Fifth Season. She now structures and negotiates music and TV deals — from recording and licensing agreements to producer, actor, and director contracts — helping musicians, filmmakers, and artists navigate the industry with confidence.
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She holds a B.A. from Dillard University, a Master's from USC, and a J.D. from Southwestern Law School, and is licensed in New York and California. Her honors include Dillard's 40 Under 40 Award, and she's active in organizations like the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association and The Recording Academy, plus board service with the R.E.A.C.H. Foundation.​ A South Central L.A. native, first-generation attorney, and mother of two, Channing mentors students, speaks on industry panels, and — full circle — released her own debut EP, "RETURN TO ME," in October 2025 under the name "Channing B."
Channing now brings her legal expertise and heart for empowerment to I AM 1112 as a proud member of our Board of Directors, lending her entertainment and business law background to help guide our growth and protect the communities we serve.
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Rev. Dr. Vionela Vaughn Austin
Rev. Dr. Vionela Vaughn-Austin brings a uniquely powerful integration of spiritual leadership, corporate organizational development, and high-level technology expertise to the Board of Directors at I AM 1112. Driven by a profound commitment to human dignity, consciousness, and compassion, she serves as an essential anchor for the organization's mission. Dr. Vionela plays a pivotal role in shaping the internal culture and outward-facing programs of I AM 1112, ensuring they remain deeply aligned with a high spiritual vision while maintaining absolute operational excellence.
As a visionary entrepreneur and spiritual guide, Dr. Vionela is the Founder and Chief Transformational Officer of Namaste Ministries. She is also the architect of Conscious Conversationz™, a groundbreaking educational platform rooted in the Science of Conscious Awareness (SOCA). Through this innovative framework, she successfully bridges the gap between scientific inquiry and spiritual practice, creating transformative tools that empower individuals and communities to navigate their own profound journeys of healing and self-discovery.
Her academic and professional background reflects this rare mastery of both the analytical and the intuitive.
Dr. Vionela holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, a Master’s degree in Spiritual Science and Transpersonal Counseling, and a Doctorate of Religious Studies. This multidisciplinary foundation was further forged across more than three decades of corporate IT leadership, during which she spearheaded complex technological initiatives for global enterprises such as IBM, The Walt Disney Company, and AT&T.
On the board of I AM 1112, Dr. Vionela seamlessly leverages this corporate acumen to architect strategic partnerships, optimize digital infrastructure, and guide long-term organizational scaling. Crucially, she provides expert oversight for the organization's integrative wellness and community care initiatives. By ensuring that grassroots, holistic care models are structurally and legally aligned with institutional healthcare frameworks and sustainable reimbursement models, Dr. Vionela is instrumental in expanding the capacity, reach, and permanent systemic impact
of I AM 1112.
Natasha Finister, Entrepreneur
Natasha Finister is an entrepreneur, licensed childcare provider, mentor, speaker, and community advocate dedicated to strengthening families and advancing early childhood education. With more than 30 years of service in the childcare field, Natasha was honored with a Proclamation from the City of Hawthorne in 2025 recognizing her three decades of service to the community.
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Natasha serves as a 2026 Beauty Justice Ambassador with Black Women for Wellness and is an active leader with Child Care Providers United (CCPU) Local 99, where she mentors licensed and unlicensed childcare providers, facilitates trainings, and advocates for the childcare workforce in Sacramento and Washington, DC. She was also selected for the state-level Whole Child Community Equity Workgroup, contributing to conversations that support equitable outcomes for children and families.
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She partners with a wide network of organizations to uplift providers and strengthen communities — including Crystal Stairs, where she mentors and speaks as a Community Voices advocate; Blacks in Early Childhood Education, supporting family advocacy; Reading Is Fundamental, helping children build home libraries; and the Child Care Food Program, advocating for nutritious meals in childcare settings.
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Natasha also serves on the board of "Let Girls Be Great," supporting programs that empower young girls to grow into confident leaders. On the I AM 1112 board, Natasha draws on her deep network of partnerships to help connect the organization with allied groups and resources that support the whole-body experience of pregnancy — from prenatal care to postpartum wellbeing.
Dr. Ifeanyi Ufondu, Ph.d.
Dr. Ifeanyi Ufondu is a highly respected clinical psychologist, speaker, advocate, and cultural thought leader recognized as a premier voice in culturally competent mental healthcare for Black and Latino communities across the United States. He has dedicated his career to bridging the critical gaps between psychology, culture, education, and emotional healing for underserved populations.
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As a member of the Board of Directors for I AM 1112, Dr. Ufondu aligns his extensive clinical expertise with the organization’s commitment to community empowerment, structural support frameworks, and human dignity. A native of Los Angeles, his therapeutic approach combines clinical excellence with cultural authenticity, compassion, and direct communication to support adolescents, athletes, veterans, couples, and families navigating complex trauma, identity struggles, and generational pain.
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Through his groundbreaking platform, BroKin.Org Mental Health Solutions, Dr. Ufondu addresses critical topics often avoided in traditional therapeutic spaces, including masculinity, emotional suppression, and PTSD. Additionally, as the founder of Beautiful Minds Incorporated, he champions educational advocacy and dedicated behavioral solutions for children and families navigating developmental disabilities and special needs.
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Dr. Ufondu holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Howard University, completed advanced clinical training at California State University, Long Beach, and earned his Doctor of Psychology degree with First Honors from King’s College London. Deeply committed to faith, service, and purpose-driven leadership, he leverages his rich academic and clinical background to help I AM 1112 break cycles of trauma, champion mental wellness, and build sustainable, resilient community systems that empower individuals toward true emotional and structural flourishing.
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.