Forward 40 Podcast

Greetings everyone! It has been quite the journey. The journey cannot fully be captured in one episode. This is a whole book *wink wink*. I wanted to provide an opportunity for supporters to hear some tidbits of what has been at work behind the scenes and what is underway. Very much aligned with the charge to highlight the voices of 40 women, this episode is entitled "Tested, Tried & True".  Some of the tests and trials I share include: starting, time, "culture" and purpose. I also speak to the wisdom I have gained in the face of those tests and trials; #Message. Tune in for the illustration of each. Starting: Hebrews 11:1 Time: Ecclesiastes 3:1 Culture: Proverbs 14:12 Purpose: 1 Peter 4:10 What is true? What has remained true? The Big Homie, GOD. No surprises there! As a Madeline Holder, Vice President, Development at New York Women's Foundation shared with me recently, "God is FAITHFUL". You’ve been blessed, inspired and changed through this platform and community. I truly thank you for journeying with us. Here's what you can expect next:  Mark your calendars for: April 27th 7pm EST for our 2-year anniversary event *subscribe to our email list and/or follow us on social media (Twitter & IG) for updates and details May 14-May 22nd: Fruit of the Spirit + Faith Walk Challenge *follow me on IG and subscribe to The Forward Academy for more details Lastly, 1. please leave us a review on whatever platform you tune in on and 2. share our collective with your network. If you are a faith-increasing, altruistic professional and/or leader who is struggling to embrace their higher calling and seeking more accountability, I invite you to work with me directly on your respective personal and professional development journey. You can reach me directly here. Sip Sis, Selah, Share & Continue to Serve. ☕️

Nicole Lynn Lewis is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Generation Hope, a nonprofit that provides direct service support to young parents earning their college degrees, advocates nationally for the unique needs of student parents and their families, and partners with colleges and universities to provide technical assistance in order to advance student parent success in higher ed. A former teen mother who put herself through William & Mary with her young daughter in tow, Nicole now works to change the statistic that fewer than 2 percent of teen mothers will earn their degrees before age 30. Her book, “Pregnant Girl,” will be released May 2021. We have made it to our 40th guest☕️

Latanya Devaughn is a mother of 3 and the Founder of Bronx Bound Books - a bookstore on wheels & community hub that aims to leave no community behind as it travels throughout the borough--especially to neighborhoods where access and transportation pose barriers . A lifelong resident of the Bronx, Latanya is shunning the brick-and-mortar model and taking her bookstore to the people. Latanya has a background in human resources, business management and community arts and engagement. Combining her love for community, the Bronx, and her skills in management, Latanya is actualizing her dream. As she puts it, “Every neighborhood in The Bronx deserves a bookstore, even if it’s just for one day”.This episode is such a gift. For one, it's Black History Month and me and this guest are #WellReadBlackGirls✊

Jessica Huang was trained as an environmental engineer, and then moved into environmental and health education, before finding her current path as a public health professional. While her journey wasn't the most straightforward, in hindsight, she's grateful for what she learned along the way because of the many interconnections between this work. Fun fact: In the field of public health, some of the earliest work in epidemiology (which is the study of distributions, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in populations) was done around cholera outbreaks from contaminated water supplies. In today's world, health information and health education are more important than ever so that we can take better care of ourselves and each other during this COVID-19 global pandemic. It's all connected!Jessica received her doctorate in public health from Harvard University, and an M.A. in learning, design and technology from Stanford University. She did her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley for a B.S. in civil and environmental engineering along with a second B.S. in business administration - the combination of which enabled her to co-found a social enterprise to provide disinfected drinking water in India, Nepal and Bangladesh.In this episode shares the role humanitarianism played in the evolution of her work in public health and why she loves the field. We also hear her "why" for looking at health equity more broadly and her views on the importance of centering community in changemaking. Reflecting on her work as a cofounder of a social enterprise, Jessica recalls a time when a shift in operations gifted the team and community with innovation. Currently working in COVID-19 recovery efforts, we hear about Jessica's growth in perspective as it relates to codesigning policy, capacity building, inclusion and ableism. Trust, time, empathy and relationship are key to recovery. Jessica challenges us to be more intentional about including diverse stakeholder voices in policy design and community well-being. We aim to codesign a better future with inclusion, empathy and equity as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected to Jessica on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn.Links to projects mentioned in the podcast:https://inventingheron.com/http://zimbawater.com/https://www.cityleadership.harvard.edu/Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here. 

Janeen Brown is the Executive Director and Founder of EmpowHERto, a Toronto-based nonprofit dedicated to helping 14 to 21 year-old women and girls reach their fullest potential through three pillars: Independence, Leadership, and Confidence. Previously, Janeen spent time managing a team for an entertainment company, but felt she had a greater purpose to help improve the prospects for female leaders. She became an entrepreneur in 2018, and has started and scaled three other companies in the hospitality, events and professional services industries. Janeen is an advocate for the well-being of women, building self-confidence, and female entrepreneurship. This episode is rightly positioned in recognition of National Mentoring Month. Janeen speaks about the role mentorship played in her entrepreneurial journey. Having experience with mostly male mentors, Janeen shares how that influenced the launch of EmpowHERto. Acknowledging generational trauma, Janeen also shares intentionality of EmpowHERto programming especially at a time where race and class disparities are impacting the self-esteem and confidence of young girls. We also hear what skills she leveraged from being an employee in the for profit sector to aid in her pivot to entrepreneurship. Similarly, Janeen speaks to what she thought she knew about nonprofit operations and what resources have been beneficial to growth as a leader in the space. Entrepreneurship can feel like a lonely journey. Janeen offers up advice on how one can persist and fail forward. We jumpstart the year in gratitude for those that have paved the way for us to grow better and do better as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected with Janeen on Instagram & LinkedIn.Follow the work of EmpowHERto on Instagram and Twitter .  Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here. 

Sam Johnson was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington and spent her childhood exploring and kayaking along the Puget Sound. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology and minor in Chemistry from the University of Portland where she fostered her love of all artisanal ice cream and baked goods Oregon had to offer. She then did a year of post-graduate service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps NQ/AmeriCorps where she was placed with the American Red Cross of Alaska and served as the Preparedness and Casework Specialist. This was her first introduction into disaster response and preparedness education, working with and supporting various local and Alaska Native communities across the state. After a year of convincing herself there was no way should could make a career out of educating people on how to stay safe during emergencies, she moved to New Orleans and received her Master of Science from Tulane University in Disaster Resilience Leadership. She then began working with the American Red Cross of the US Virgin Islands, supporting their preparedness education programs as part of their Long Term Recovery efforts from Hurricanes Irma and Maria. She is now the Program Lead for Youth Preparedness for National Headquarters, supporting regions across the country as they implement youth emergency preparedness programs across the country and abroad.In this episode Sam gives us a much needed dose of joy and inspiration. We hear about her journey to service and more specifically her career soul-matching of sorts at the American Red Cross. Though a career in service was not what she planned, Sam shares the literal and metaphorical message behind "must be able to fly in small planes". If you have a fear of heights like me, you'll feel more at ease with Sam's insight. Sam also speaks to the ways she has been able to navigate racial ambiguity in building relationships with community members; ultimately leveraging preparedness education as a community engagement tool.  Additionally, we hear her perspective on the power of representation in the sector. Inspired by Gail McGovern's pillars of leadership, Sam reminds us that should prepare as best as we can and embrace change in our growth.We close out the year embracing our respective and collective lessons learned and course correcting as necessary as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected with Sam on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter .  Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here. 

Meenakshi Menon is Groundswell Fund’s Chief Development Officer. The daughter of immigrants from India and Malaysia, over the last 14 years, she has worked in 30 countries across 5 continents, advancing sexual health and reproductive rights, peace and security, and racial justice.Meenakshi began her career as a community organizer and health and human rights field researcher, working with diverse organizations and stakeholders in the US and abroad, including MassPIRG, Physicians for Human Rights, the Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights, and the Center for Khmer Studies. In 2011, she was appointed the Executive Director of GHETS, a US-based NGO that works to improve global health systems through grantmaking, technical support, and advocacy. Her work with GHETS involved directing the grantmaking, capacity building, and fundraising programs, as well as leading programmatic initiatives in East and Southern Africa and South and Southeast Asia in community health, sexual health and reproductive rights, food security, and water and sanitation.As a fundraising and philanthropy professional, Meenakshi is passionate about strengthening the capacity of mission-driven organizations, and creating greater equity in philanthropy, particularly for womxn, people of color, and LGBTQIA+ communities. As the Coalition for the International Criminal Court's Director of Development, from 2015-2016 she worked with staff around the world, as well as local, national, and regional Coalition affiliates on institutional advancement initiatives, including mobilizing resources from European Governments, International Development Agencies, Foundations, and high-net worth Individuals on behalf of international justice. Most recently, Meenakshi served as the Head of Government & Foundation Relations for North America at International Crisis Group, where she managed the organization's relationships with high-level institutional donors, as well as developed, executed, and expanded the organization’s U.S. institutional giving strategy.Meenakshi holds a BA in Anthropology from Smith College, and serves on the Leadership Council of Powerbitches. She lives in Brooklyn, and in addition to her native Malayalam, speaks English, Hindi, Khmer, and Spanish.In this episode Meenakshi tells us her story of "someone who is pretty ordinary with the chance to do extraordinary things". With roots in India and Malaysia, Meenakshi reflects and pays homage to her familial roots, including her father's arrival to the US 50 years ago. We learn about the impact grassroots organizing had on her approach to development and philanthropy; more specifically progressive philanthropy. Meenakshi also reflects on the time she assumed the role as Executive Director early on in her career. We hear of the sacrifices she made at the helm of leadership and what she offers up for emerging leaders in the work. "A Brown woman with a Western education", Meenakshi also shares the parallels she sees between the movements for peace in India and racial justice. Pull up a chair and take in this beautifully woven cross-cultural narrative. Meenakshi's vast international work, ever-evolving reflection and activation of the personal and the political is very much affirming for our present and future.We reflect on the blueprint of our journeys and amplify the value we bring to the sector as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected with Meenakshi on LinkedIn, and Twitter . Check out Groundswell Fund's latest Blueprint here. Follow the work of Groundswell Fund on Twitter and Instagram. Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.  

Tabitha Mpamira is a therapist, activist, motivational speaker, and consultant on sexual and gender-based violence with a long working history in the mental healthcare industry. In 2015, Tabitha founded EDJA to provide free medical, legal, and mental health services to survivors of sexual assault in East Africa. EDJA, now a program offered by an organization in Uganda, has sparked rapid change in rural Uganda by supporting hundreds of survivors and bringing perpetrators to justice.Tabitha’s work in this area has been widely recognized and vividly depicted in the documentary Victors: Singing to the Lions, which has been screened globally, including at the United Nations Association of New York. She was recognized by Global Citizen in 2018 when she won the People’s Choice Waislitz Award. Tabitha has been invited to speak across the globe; recent examples include her speech at the Vatican about the urgency of working to end sexual violence and her widely viewed TEDx Talk on the transforming or transferring of trauma. Tabitha is currently pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology with a specialization in sexual trauma.In this episode Tabitha journeys us through how she came to be the work while also doing the work. This work as she notes was far greater than being a student and clinician; it also included being real about her own pain and healing. Drawn to psychology in high school and a fan of Law & Order SVU (like myself), Tabitha came to a pivotal awakening in her work in 2015. We learn about the moments that inspired the development of EDJA and what sparked her to be more intentional about engaging with clients with the heart in mind. In her ever-evolving journey towards healing, Tabitha notes importance and value of representative mental health professionals. As we share, the go-to's need a go-to as well. Tabitha also offers up her thoughts on how we can move to more action against sexual assault, what's needed to break intergenerational trauma while also maintaining our individual peace. We show up for ourselves and commit to healing as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected to Tabitha on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Follow the work of EDJA on Twitter and the Nyaka website. Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Colleen Echohawk is the Executive Director of the Chief Seattle Club. She is an enrolled member of the Kithehaki Band of the Pawnee Nation and a member of the Upper Athabascan people of Mentasta Lake.As the founder of the Coalition to End Urban Indigenous Homelessness, Echohawk is committed to homeless advocacy and changing the trajectory of Native American and Alaska Native people living away from reservations in urban places and experiencing homelessness. Recognizing a lack of equity in housing design and development, and the profound impact that this can have on the well-being of people of color, Echohawk has turned her focus to equitable low-income housing development and indigenous-led design. Under Echohawk’s leadership, Chief Seattle Club received the Puget Sound Sage Visionary for Justice Award (2019), Seattle Community Law Center’s Equity Award (2018), the Neighborhood Builder Award (2017), and Municipal League of King County’s Organization of the Year (2016).Echohawk’s education has been focused on organizational development and leadership; helping brilliant people do better work for the greater good. She is the co-founder and principal at Headwater People Consulting Group. Some of her recent recognitions include: recipient of King County’s Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service (2020), one of Seattle’s most influential people by Seattle Magazine (November 2019) and one of Seattle Met Magazine’s 50 most influential women (2018). Colleen Echohawk serves on many local boards, including a Mayoral appointment to the Community Police Commission. Other board affiliations include Seattle Foundation, KUOW (National Public Radio member station,) Downtown Seattle Association, and All-Home Coordinating Board. In this episode Colleen shares what led her to answer the call to lead the Chief Seattle Club and her love for the people she serves. Reflecting on her studies in public health, Colleen speaks about the trauma the pandemic has unearthed and exacerbated for the Native community. She calls out the impact of white supremacy and systemic racism continues to have on housing, economic development and beyond. Alongside leaders in the greater Seattle area, Colleen continues to ensure that Native people have a place to connect with their respective tribal community. We also learn about the work that she is currently engaged in with the Equitable Recovery & Reconciliation Alliance. Colleen also shares her thoughts on what an emerging Native leader should consider in their professional journey.We are humbled in our leadership and name the truth of our experiences as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected to Colleen on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Follow the work of the Chief Seattle Club on Twitter and Instagram. Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

JoRee LaFrance is Apsáalooke and comes from the Greasy Mouth clan and is a child of Ties in the Bundle clan. Her Apsáalooke name is Iichiinmáatchilash/Fortunate with Horses and she is a seventh generation direct descendant from Chief Pretty Eagle, the last principle chief of the Apsáalooke Nation. She comes from the Crow Reservation located in southcentral Montana but currently resides in Tucson, AZ. She graduated in June 2017 from Dartmouth College with a B.A. in Earth Sciences and Native American Studies and is now a doctoral student at the University of Arizona in the Department of Environmental Sciences. JoRee is dedicated to protecting the Apsáalooke way of life, the right to clean water, and the right to safe, nourishing spaces for Apsáalooke youth. Although she is away from home, JoRee continues to find ways to work with and empower her people.In this episode JoRee reflects on her upbringing on the Crow Reservation while painting the picture of the heart of the land, culture and history of the Apsáalooke. She shares what inspires her studies and future work alongside and on behalf of her community while also speaking to the unique sovereignty of Native nations. JoRee also elevates the interconnectedness of the destruction of the land with the violence against women; she encourages us to view laws and policies through a holistic lens. She also shares an intimate reflection on the evolution of her identity as a Native woman in mainstream society and how she has navigated tensions of cultural appropriation and ignorance. In addition to her work with the environment she's an agent of change for the community with previous projects with Bethany Yellowtail a fashion designer and fellow member of the Crow (Apsaalooke) & Northern Cheyenne (Tsetsehestahese & So'taeo'o) Nations. JoRee continues to inspire, lead and build an intergenerational legacy we all should take note of.We are encouraged to heal and be kind to ourselves for the greater good of the next generation as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected to JoRee on LinkedIn and Instagram.  Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here. 

Christine Edwards is a civic firebrand that has immersed herself in the art of helping urban communities reach their highest levels of growth, empowerment, and success. A speaker by profession, leader by vocation and entrepreneur by passion, Christine’s work involves using her voice to foster civically engaged communities through collaboration, partnership and digital communication. Embodying the essence of her core message she founded Amplify Community Consulting, that delivers community engagement outreach services, civic education workshops and resources for small businesses pursuing local government contracts. Amplify was founded in 2018 in Charlotte, NC. In her spare time, Christine volunteers, travels, enjoys good southern food and loves seeing urban policy theory play out in everyday life. Public service is her jam.In this episode Christine shares the importance of staying civically connected and strategies for doing so while also protecting ourselves and the future of our communities. Tapping into her experience and expertise in local city government, she shares the genesis of Amplify. Studies have shown that women tend to ruminate over their qualifications for a role way more than men. Accounting for the racialized experience in the workplace, Christine shares what factors spurred her decision to leap into full-time entrepreneurship. With the election season well underway and the window of early voting becoming ever more narrow, we explore what people need to do to get schooled on their local engagements. As YelloPain, a Ohio rapper, highlights in his song, "My Vote Will Count" there is so much value in our local and state elections. Christine rallies us to stay informed, make micro-connections in our neighborhoods and ultimately see ourselves as local change agents.We amplify our voices, representation and change for the betterment of our communities as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected to Christine on YouTube, Instagram and Twitter. You can also follow the work of Amplify on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter. Lastly, stay tuned for updates on the launch of her contract academy here! Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here. 

Brandy Grant was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She holds a  Masters from the University of Oklahoma in Human Relations and Organizational Development with an emphasis in Counseling and Pre-Law certification from the University of Tulsa. Brandy and her family moved to Seattle to bring 20 years of mental health and community programming to Washington. She was sworn in, in April 2019 for the Seattle Community Police Commission (CPC) and recently became the Interim Executive Director of the Commission.  Brandy has spent the last 6 years in Washington applying her mental health analysis to her work in policy and programming while strengthening community engagement and partnerships.  In her work, Brandy continues to amplify voices, create policy and programming for further impact and awareness around civic engagement, police reform, and gun violence prevention.In this episode, we pay homage to our excellence and adorn our crowns; even in the face of atrocities. Brandy's journey from Tulsa to Seattle is a great story that speaks to an inedible faith and resilience. She uncovers the "progressive veil" and shares how summers with her grandmother as a child, prepared and shielded her from what she has encountered in her move to Seattle. Additionally, as this year marks the 99th anniversary of the Tulsa massacre, Brandy reflects on the richness of her hometown and the generational trauma economic terrorism breeds as as a result of racism.As the newly appointed Interim Executive Director for the Seattle Community Police Commission, Brandy also shares more about her work with police reform efforts and her unfiltered reflections on what's needed for true equity in leadership.  While the nation continues grapple with the newly released verdict in the state sanctioned murder of Breonna Taylor, Brandy speaks truth to power, "Our pain is not taken as seriously" as Black women. "Yet we are the shoulders and milk and honey to keep things together". Her duality as a mental health professional and working in a space of advocacy that is tied to lived experience, reminds us of how important it is to take care of ourselves and ensure our colleagues are holistically safe.We champion community oversight in police reform and remove the veil of faux allyship and safety in our workplaces and beyond as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected to Brandy on LinkedIn and Twitter. You can also follow the work of the Seattle Community Police Commission on their website and Twitter.Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here. 

Amina is an African-Caribbean feminist and women’s rights activist, her work is centered around raising awareness for social justice through movement-building, and innovative approaches to philanthropy. Through actively supporting transformational work – from artists, dreamers, activists and organizations that strengthen social change – Amina is focused on helping to build a more colorful, equal and just world.  Amina is currently the Program Director for the Caribbean Women’s Voice and Leadership Program at The Equality Fund.  She is also a founding member and the first coordinator of FRIDA | The Young Feminist Fund, an organization that aims to strengthen the capacity of young feminist organizations around the world through small grants. Amina Doherty holds a B.A. in Political Science and Women’s Studies from McGill University (Distinction) and an MSc in Gender, Development and Globalization from the London School of Economics (LSE).An adventurer by nature, Amina has lived and worked in Nigeria, Canada, Jamaica and the UK. She currently makes her home the small Caribbean island of Antigua and Barbuda. In this episode, Amina shares her global perspective on investing in women's rights. As she puts it, she's in the work of philanthropy because "another woman believed in me". This woman-to-woman advocacy fueled her passion for investing in the rights of women, girls and LGBTQI people. Residing and working on behalf of an underfunded region in the philanthropic landscape, Amina shares what efforts are underway to ensure women and girls in the Caribbean have what they need to sustain and grow their movements. Positioning the work in the pandemic, Amina offers her thoughts on what it will take for the Caribbean to mobilize; a shift from a nationalist to regional identity. Additionally, Amina echoes how central wellness is to the sustainability of the work locally and globally. Business cannot go on as usual and we are grateful that Amina is at the helm of ensuring justice, equality and equity are core to our uplift in the Caribbean and beyond.We commit ourselves to community activism, justice, equity and a continuum of learning for womanhood across the globe  as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected to Amina via her website , LinkedIn , Instagram and Twitter. Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Shonah Jefferson began her culinary career at the tender age of 11 – by helping her dad at his local Houston restaurant.  After spending many years in business and as a practicing attorney, she returned to her culinary roots by managing the family restaurant for a few years while obtaining a degree in Culinary Arts from San Jacinto College.Shonah has always had an interest in giving back to others because “to whom much is given, much is required.”  Being a Chefs for Seniors owner and personal chef gives her an opportunity to “do well by doing good” and to combine her love of people, business and the culinary arts.  She and her team of chefs primarily serve the seniors of the North Houston area.Shonah attended The University of Texas at Austin, where she received a B.B.A. in Finance and a B.A. in Plan II Honors Liberal Arts.  She also has a law degree from Georgia State University College of Law.  She brings over 25 years of business and legal experience to the table as the owner of Chefs for Seniors – North Houston.In this episode, Shonah, an avid green tea drinker, shares her journey of doing well and doing good. Her career in law was inspired by her senior thesis on transracial adoption and the Honorable Judge Hatchett, who years ago shifted her career from corporate law to presiding as juvenile court judge. Similarly, Shonah shares why she chose to leave a 6-figure job to work in spaces that fed her spirit.  A question she asked herself that is relevant to us in the work is "Can I bring this work home with me?". Better yet, "is this work where my heart is?" Driven by faith and her conviction that faith can indeed be centered in her work, Shonah invested in her entrepreneurial journey to blend advocacy and culinary arts. Now in the space of cheffing up meals, love and meaning for an undervalued and often overlooked population, the elderly, Shonah reminds us of the importance of our elders. With personal and professional reflections on mental health, depression and disparate rates of suicide in the aging community, Shonah offers up wisdom on what we should bear in mind for our elders and the Black community at large. We feed our spirits, cultivate our minds and center faith in the work as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected with Shonah on LinkedIn Chef for Seniors website and Facebook. Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Dr. Angelica Hardee (affectionately known as Dr.gelz) is a native of Cleveland, Ohio. She currently leads strategy and advocacy as the VP of Health Strategies at the American Heart Association and also the President of the National Urban League Young Professionals of Greater Southwest Ohio. Dr. Hardee is a three-time alumna of the University of Cincinnati (UC) where she received her Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate in Public Health. At UC Dr. Hardee’s studies focused on global health systems and health policy. Dr. Hardee’s dissertation was related to malaria control methods among pregnant women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Her research internationally addressed the needs amongst the world's most vulnerable populations. In addition, she established health promotion and education programs while teaching and mentoring students interested in public health.​Dr. Hardee attributes her dedication and passion for public health associated with her love for volunteering. Working everywhere from local classrooms at the University of Cincinnati to small communities in developing nations, she wants to be a part of eliminating health disparities. Dr. Hardee recently co-founded Let’s Change Our City, a community initiative in Cincinnati, Ohio. Within the organization students from neighboring universities are able to engage with community partners and refer patients to essential social services addressing both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Dr. Hardee always knew her future was in healthcare, but not as a medical doctor. Rather her passion for public health can help to inspire change of health outcomes.​Currently Dr. Hardee lives in Cincinnati, Ohio and works in the nonprofit sector focused on population health. In her current role she works with health systems and community agencies to address and navigate health related social needs. In addition to her primary role Dr. Hardee works with public health organizations to implement policies to improve health in Ohio. She also mentors youth and tutors high school students on ACT & SAT preparation while mentoring college students and young professionals navigating the public health field. In this episode, Dr. Hardee brings joy and equity to the center of community health. She reflects on her shift from international research to leading public health strategies locally in her home state. She also shares the misconception that women need to have said education credentials to have a seat at the table and lead systems change. Reflecting on an article written by Dr. Danielle Moss on Black women in the nonprofit sector, Dr. Hardee furthers the need to center race and race politics within the sector's operations internally and externally. We are in agreement that when we aren't empowered enough to advocate for ourselves, we set generations at a disadvantage. Her work with Cradle Cincinnati amplifies the significance of centering race to health outcomes of Black mothers and their babies. Additionally we explore her insights on what a younger generation of Black professionals desire in the moment of racial justice reckoning: alongside our elders and in predominantly White spaces. Dr. Hardee makes clear the diligence needed in public health and the nonprofit sector at large in valuing the treasures and assets within the community. ****References to Dr. Danielle Moss's article Black Women in Nonprofits Matter  appear in this episode. We celebrate our time, talent and treasures as we are also reminded that our voices matter in the sector as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector. Stay connected with Dr. Hardee on LinkedIn Instagram and Twitter. You can also delve more into her journey on her personal website.  Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Noella Moshi joined Future Fund for Education (FFE) with a strong passion for education and workforce development. Since graduating with a Master’s in Clinical Science from the University of Cape Town, Noella has worked on projects that provide scalable solutions to problems within health and education across Africa. Noella previously led operations at West Africa Vocational Education (WAVE) in Nigeria. She was on the founding team of African Leadership University in Mauritius and the co-founder of Goodbye Malaria in South Africa. In her free time, Noella likes to write poetry and fiction.In this episode, Noella speaks about the importance of innovation in the education sector even in a time of "uncertainty". With her leadership as the Executive Director of FFE, she is championing "African-led solutions" on the continent. Despite being met with prejudice towards her leadership as a Black nonprofit executive, Noella has been gracefully buoyant. She offers insight into the agility that is being activated abroad as educators work to innovate and serve their respective communities. Questions around access, talent management and operations are at the forefront of FFE's cohort of entrepreneurs and FFE is providing a space for shared capacity building in their respective pursuits. We also hear more about her perspective on the benefit of telemigration in generating a more expansive workforce and connecting people across the African diaspora. A creative herself, Noella also invites us into ways she has been able to tap into her creative flow for balance and affirmation.****References to Julia Cameron "The Artist's Way" appear in this episode.We ground our confidence in our ability to learn, empathize and create solutions for our community as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected with Noella on LinkedIn and Twitter. You can also follow the work of FFE on Twitter. Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Valerie Red-Horse Mohl, of Cherokee ancestry, is the Executive Director/CEO of Social Venture Circle, a nonprofit leading the way in the field of social impact; building and galvanizing the business world to create social, economic, and environmental change. She is also the owner/founder of Red-Horse Native Productions, Inc., a film and television production company primarily focused on bringing important documentaries to the screen for which Red-Horse Mohl directs, produces, and writes. Additionally, she is the owner/founder of Red-Horse Financial Group, Inc., and has more than 30 years of in-depth experience in the financial services and investment banking industry with a unique expertise in the Native American tribal government sector. Red-Horse Mohl has raised, structured and managed over $3 billion in capital for tribal nations and holds seven FINRA registrations.Valerie was inducted into the NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) Hall of Fame in 2008. She was recently appointed to the Board of Stanford University’s Center for the Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity and is teaching a Stanford course on Entrepreneurship for Race and Social Equity. She also serves as a Board Member for the Northern California Chapter of the International Women's Forum and the National Boys and Girls Clubs Native American Division. Valerie earned a B.A. with Cum Laude honors from UCLA and has founded several nonprofit ministries on reservations nationwide.In this episode, Valerie shares what inspired her to serve her own community and advocate on behalf of other underserved communities of color. With the trillions of dollars that are leveraged in business, Valerie has been able to use her positional power to advocate peers and the next-generation alike to start their own ventures. Reflecting on the economic fallout and recovery efforts post-COVID 19, she shares what she believes is necessary for equitable capital ownership and deployment. We also learn what she is hearing from the next generation of social entrepreneurs and how they are hoping to shift the broken system of our economy. Valerie also offers up the principles of community and spirituality that she centers often in her work and extends her hopes of us doing the same.We activate our power to create, own and leverage our innate assets as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected with Valerie on LinkedIn and Twitter. Look into her Top 5 recommendations for equitable social impact work here:Take a look at SVC's website for free to help to get through COVID-19American Sustainable Business CouncilLeap Frog and Nathalie Molina NiñoMorgan Simon, author of Real Impact Purpose EconomyFollow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Leonette Henderson is a native of Clarksdale, MS and serves as the Director of Development and Partnership for Higher Purpose Co. (HPC).  HPC is a 501c3 economic justice nonprofit, building community wealth with Black residents across Mississippi by supporting the ownership of financial, cultural, and political power. Leonette has a fervent desire to propel economic and social justice. This desire is rooted in a genuine concern for the overall well-being of people and community as well as a predilection for an equitable distribution of justice.As a documentarian, she believes in shared stories that recreate narratives for individuals, communities, regions, and countries, giving light to their truth and healing.  Leonette has spent 14 years in higher education, education reform and secondary education collectively, six of which as a nonprofit professional.  She has served on the Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development team for the University of Virginia’s School of Medicine.  Prior to returning to the University of Virginia, Leonette joined New Leaders, a national nonprofit that develops transformational school leaders, where she served as the Program Coordinator and later the Program Manager for the Effective Practice Incentive Community (EPIC) in Memphis City Schools.  She then served as the organization’s Interim Development Manager.  Leonette has served as a guest co-lecturer at the University of Virginia on the “Obesity in the African American Community,” and as a guest speaker on “Philanthroculture” for the North Carolina Planned Giving Council. She has served as a board chair for Sisters Conquering Cancer, board member of Shelter for Help in Emergency in Virginia and Higher Purpose Co (MS). Leonette has a Masters in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and is a proud HBCU alum with a BA in History from Tuskegee University.In this episode, Leonette bridges the journey of generations past and connects them with the present-day reckoning of #BlackLivesMatter. She reflects on pivotal points in her career that inspired the return to her hometown of Clarksdale, MS in pursuit of authentic community development and empowerment. As #BlackLivesMatter is currently amplified in global discourse, we reflect on the historical context of this moment of racial trauma and lift up the hope we are witnessing through intergenerational community engagement efforts that are underway. As companies and organizations grapple with internal and external racial equity and anti-racist (more specifically anti-Blackness) strategies, Leonette sheds light on the reprieve and solace she has found with her Black-led team at Higher Purpose Co. Additionally, we glean the importance of accounting for regional perspectives as we look to bring or further investments into Black communities and Black-led organizations. Not only do we gain further insight into the climate of the "Black Belt" but we are also re-empowered by the history of Black ingenuity and resilience as we prepare to celebrate Juneteenth 2020.We ground ourselves and celebrate our illustrious journeys as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected with Leonette on LinkedIn, Twitter and via email at: leonette@higherpurposeco.org. Learn more about the impact of Higher Purpose Co. on Facebook and Instagram.Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Indrani Goradia is the Founder of RAFT Cares (formerly Indrani’s Light Foundation), a philanthropist, and an advocate for women’s health and empowerment. She leads empowerment trainings in several countries around the world. She is also a board member of Everywoman Treaty and Think Equal.In 2013, Indrani joined forces with the global health organization PSI and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to transform the lives of girls and women and lift them out of poverty. In partnership with PSI, Indrani’s Light Foundation launched programs in 2014 to eradicate gender-based violence in India and in her home country of Trinidad.As an in-demand author, speaker, and master certified life coach, Indrani delivers keynote addresses and leads workshops around the globe. She has also participated as a speaker at the World Women’s Health and Development Forum at the United Nations. In addition, Indrani has served as a keynote speaker and/or panelist at multiple international gatherings. Her TEDx Talk, Love Expressed as Violence is a Lie, can be found here.Indrani completed her formal education in New York City, attending CUNY Queens College and Kent State University. She recently earned a certification in Social Impact Strategy at UPenn and completed an executive leadership program at THNK in Amsterdam. Indrani is a master life coach and yoga teacher. As though these aren’t great accomplishments in their own right, Indrani became a triathlete and marathoner at 50 and believes the body needs exercise. In her spare time she quilts and travels with her family.In this episode, Indrani shares her passion for advocating for women and children in the wake of abuse. She recalls her transformational journey from childhood trauma to being intentional about breaking the  cycle of abuse when she became a parent. Combating the notion "don't ask, don't tell" Indrani has been able to courageously speak to abuse on the global stage. By accessing spaces of validation, she herself was able to process her healing and is currently in the position to offer resources for those that are often forgotten in the process, victim/survivor activists. As the country and world readjust to what life will be like post-COVID 19, Indrani cautions educators and practitioners alike, to proactively create space for children and women who are facing abuse. Additionally, as the Founder and executive leader at RAFT, Indrani reflects on brand identity in the social impact space. She shares her lessons learned so we are not hindered executing on our missions. As she notes, "As activists, your brand has to be the work".We are reminded of ways to shine in the face of adversity and trauma as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected with Indrani on LinkedIn, Twitter and through her website. Learn more about the resources at RAFT here. Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Irene Franco Rubio is a social justice activist and media professional committed to advocating for her Latinx community and historically oppressed populations in her hometown of Phoenix, Arizona and across the world. Growing up in the West Phoenix Valley in Arizona and recognizing the social and racial injustices present within economically distressed communities, Irene made it her mission to advocate for not only her Latinx community but for systematically oppressed populations on an all-encompassing standard. As a media professional, her passion for uplifting diverse voices has been recognized by ProPublica, the National Association of Broadcasters, BuzzFeed and Teen Vogue. Currently a student at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication / Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University, Irene recently became a part of the Yale Program Public Voices Fellowship on the Climate Crisis.Through a young, progressive, and intersectional approach, Irene fights against injustice by tackling the most pressing issues black and brown communities face in the U.S. as an advocate, content creator, intersectional thinker, and change-maker. She was able to grasp more insight on community advocacy while interning for The Office of Representative Deb Haaland  as a CHCI-NAB Congressional Intern. Irene is devoted to igniting an intersectional digital movement through political and cultural dialogue where all voices are heard. In this episode, Irene reflects on her journey towards developing her political power. Noting the systemic access points that weren't available to her in her upbringing, she is humbled in what she has been able to accomplish at such a young age. One of the key pieces of legislation that sparked her interest in organizing was the anti-immigration bill, SB-1070. This fueled her to become engaged in local organizing through the One Arizona Coalition and as of recently becoming the Digital Organizer for AzC4C. She encourages other youth of color to become civically engaged in their local communities and hone in on the power they innately possess to be change agents. It is clear that Irene is committed to ensuring her peers don't feel powerless. She intends to continue this advocacy and shift the media landscape to be representative of community voices and all-inclusive by accurately representing the beliefs, issues and perspectives of disenfranchised communities as a content creator, change-maker, intersectional thinker, advocate and media professional.We are grateful to witness the torch of community empowerment and justice blaze brightly in the next generation as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected with Irene on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Support AzC4C's work on Instagram and  Facebook.Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Ateira Griffin is a life-long Baltimore City resident, educator, facilitator, and community organizer. She is the founder of BOND - Building Our Nation’s Daughters, Inc. which mentors single mothers to cultivate positive mother-daughter relationships and increase their economic mobility 2 generations at a time. Ateira earned a Bachelor's in Civil Engineering from Morgan State University and a Master’s in Secondary Education along with a Certificate in School Leadership and Administration from Johns Hopkins University. She has served as a K-12 educator and school administrator at the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women and has authored and facilitated leadership training for adults in Baltimore and across the nation. Currently, she serves on the board of Teach For America - Baltimore and the Unity Hall. Ateira was awarded the 2019 Echoing Green Fellowship in recognition of her leadership and her work with BOND. She believes a part of her life’s purpose is to disrupt all things oppressive to the black community, women of color, and single mother households. She has learned through her experience in urban education, policy, and community organizing that purpose, action, and unconditional love go a long way to create change.Cheers to us making it to the halfway mark in style and grace with our 20th episode! Also, Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunties out there! In this episode, Ateira blesses us with her journey to social entrepreneurship in strengthening relationships between single mothers and daughters. She recalls the critical nature of BOND's co-creation process and how that intentionality is evident in their work today. Ateira also shares how their mothers and daughters have been able to utilize this time during the pandemic to be more creative in their relationship-building. The BOND community has also pivoted their engagement to address the needs of the community, with 60% of the mothers being frontline workers. At a time where social service agencies and nonprofits are being stressed and stretched with their capacity and delivery system (specially those led by people of color), Ateira speaks to what is needed to disrupt the status quo and rebuild generational knowledge and wealth. Additionally, with an increase in the usage of "communities of color", "women of color" and people of color" in the media, programming and branding, we reflect on the importance of specificity so as not to whitewash our experiences while also working towards consensus-building. Ateira, thank you for reminding us of the importance of going to the people closest to the pain to create solutions and for modeling the fruits of when we create agency for leadership in mission critical work. ****Ateira's work with BOND was recently featured in Baltimore Magazine.We are honoring our daughterhood and strengthening women as leaders in families and the community as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected with Ateira on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Support BOND's work on Instagram, Facebook and by donating here. Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Cyndi Mendoza is originally from Southern California, the epicentre of women's football.  She is passionate about equaling the playing field for women and girls and believes in transforming data into a language that organisations can understand. She has a Masters in Programme Evaluation and an Honours in Social Development from the University of Cape Town. Cyndi leads Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) and a Sport for Good Community of Practice at Laureus and is also an Emerging Evaluator in the South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association (SAMEA). Apart from supporting Laureus with MERL, she helps manage the Youth Empowerment through Sport (YES!) programme, which focuses on empowering youth with accredited and non-accredited training. She also supports NPOs and sports clubs build organisational development plans through capacity building and long-term planning. When she is not a Sport for Development enthusiast she loves traveling, eating delicious food and playing football.Cheers to our first international guest! In this episode, Cyndi reflects on her love for and journey in sports development. Her path, like most, has not been linear and it is that unconventionalism that inspires us. Despite being in a male-dominated space, Cyndi has honed in on her authenticity and tapped into external networks like The Coaching Fellowship to bolster her personal and professional development. The leaps she has taken into uncharted territory, whether it was in her education, work or on the field, remind us to not let fear stifle us from delivering on our purpose. In this segment, we also learn about the landscape of sports development in South Africa, the importance of monitoring and evaluation in social impact work and how vital equitable leadership is to the sports development sector and beyond. ****References to Marta Effinger-Crichlow's documentary "Little Sallie Walker" and Brene Brown's work appear in this episode.We are embracing new leadership pathways and advocating for equitable representation in the work as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected with Cyndi on LinkedIn and the latest sports for good efforts at Laureus here. Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Chloe Lander is an entrepreneur and philanthropist from Houston, TX. Her company, One Love Travel Club, organizes group trips for its members to the world's most beautiful and sought-after travel destinations. Each experience focuses on diving into the authentic culture, engaging in "off the beaten path" excursions, and volunteering or giving back to the local community in some way. Being of Caribbean descent, with a family that immigrated to the United States, Chloe was exposed to travel at a very young age. She realized early in life that she had a knack for travel that many of her other Black American friends did not possess, it was her second nature. Chloe's philanthropic background started at an early age as well. She was heavily involved in her local community through various church and school organizations and always spent weekends doing these extracurricular activities. By the time she learned that her true passion was entrepreneurship, it was natural to start a travel company that centered around giving back to the community.  As her business continues to grow and thrive, Chloe is committed to pursuing more ventures that focus on "Enriching People's Lives" along the way.In this episode, Chloe shares how she transitioned from the corporate sector and turned her entrepreneurial drive into the creation of her own travel company. She charted the course of wanting to be her own boss and built a global community of cross-cultural exchange for others. She reflects on her lessons learned along the way and the need to build a solid foundation before growing and scaling one's venture. Oh and if you're thinking about capturing your operational systems, she offers a resource that has been helpful for her and the team.We are expanding our horizons and anticipating our next adventure as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected with Chloe on Instagram @chloelovestravel and the latest with One Love Travel on Instagram and Facebook. Continue to support Forward 40 on IG and Twitter @forward4tea.  Be in touch to nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Amy Elizabeth Paulson is a mental health advocate, facilitator, writer, speaker, trauma survivor, and the co-founder and CEO of Gratitude Alliance, a global nonprofit working to democratize access to mental health and healing by building the capacity of everyday community leaders around the world to break individual, collective, and generational cycles of trauma and violence.As an orphan and survivor of gender based violence and child sexual abuse, Amy is passionate about healing and transformation for those who have lost their mothers and those who most need to reclaim their inner mother. A former CPA, Amy left the corporate sector in 2011 to start Gratitude Alliance after reuniting with her biological family, and learning to embrace her wounds as the portal to inner wisdom, resilience, and connection to our shared humanity.Amy holds a MS in Nonprofit Management & Global Studies (Northeastern), is certified in Trauma Informed Interventions (UC Berkeley), and will complete a certification in Global Mental Health and Refugee Trauma (Harvard Medical School) this spring.In this episode, Amy reflects on how her "capacity to experience pain will be matched to experience joy". She shares how trauma lives in the body and speaks to the "heartwork" she underwent to heal a lineage of it in her life. In a moment where news of illness, pain, loss, death and grief are abound, Amy offers up the power of breath. She acknowledges how much of a privilege it can be to access and find reprieve in moments such as this while others are just coping to get by.  Thank you Amy for encouraging us to be introspective, compassionate and grateful for the small things - giving light to what our capacity can be on the other side of healing. We are grateful for life and our capacity to be present in this very moment as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected with Amber on Twitter @amyepaulie and the work of her team at Gratitude Alliance Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Continue to support Forward 40 on IG and Twitter @forward4tea.  Be in touch to nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Amber is on a mission to leverage the energy and potential of all Latinxs to create a more equitable society. Her goal is to use storytelling to help shape a new narrative about Latinxs in California and across the country.In her current position as Senior Program Manager at the Latino Community Foundation, Amber executes and manages the strategic vision of their core initiatives – the Latino Giving Circle Network and the Latino NonProfit Accelerator. In this role Amber supports LCF’s philanthropists and grantees to maximize and unleash their own power and power of our communities. Amber is a graduate of UC Berkeley, where she received Bachelor’s Degrees in both Political Economy and French and minored in global poverty and practice. She carries a California spirit and Peruvian soul in her personal and professional life. These days, that translates into pursuing her dreams of writing a New York Times bestseller and visiting 30 countries by the time she turns 30.In this episode, Amber reflects on the events that led her to shift her career focus from an international agenda to one of local community leadership. She shares what steps she took to arrive at a more formal position in philanthropy and the pivotal influence of her CEO, Jacqueline Martinez Garcel, in her leadership development. As Amber and her team disrupts traditional philanthropy for the Latinx community in California, she reminds us that our liberations are tied together. Especially at a time where inequities are being exacerbated with the COVID-19 pandemic, how can the sector further transform from a position of charity to one of equitable change? Amber is evidence of what is needed - a changing face of leadership in philanthropy and activation of community giving.We are committed to representative leadership and redefining what a philanthropist means as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected with Amber on Twitter @Ambersvida and the work of her team at Latino Community Foundation Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Continue to support Forward 40 on IG and Twitter @forward4tea.  Be in touch to nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Liz Rebecca Alarcón is a communicator and social entrepreneur. She leads Pulso, a digital organizing platform that reaches almost 1 million Latinos in the US via Facebook Messenger with the mission of increasing this community's political power. Liz comments and writes on Latin America, Latino issues and current events. She has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, Time, Buzzfeed, The Miami Herald, and the World Economic Forum blog, among others. Liz is a former Fulbright Scholar and holds a B.A. in International Studies & Sociology from the University of Miami and a Master's in Latin American Studies from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. She serves on the board of the Miami-Dade County Office of New Americans and is a Global Shaper, an initiative of the World Economic Forum. In this episode, Liz shares more about her journey of connecting her purpose with media and politics. She recalls a few pivots in her life that inspired her to leverage her core for a more expansive representation of the Latinx community. Additionally, she notes how the power of community and her immediate team have helped her to become more balanced in the work. Liz and her team are truly representative of what it means to break away from traditional media. We are grateful for her leadership, dedication and vision. As she so beautifully puts it, we are our own messengers. We are humbled to be in this very moment of authentic and expansive representation of the Latin American diaspora as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected with Liz on Twitter @LizRebeAlarcon and the work of her team at Project Pulso on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Subscribe to the latest from Pulso through Facebook Messenger.  You can also learn more about Liz's journey in journalism and media here. Continue to support Forward 40 on IG and Twitter @forward4tea.  Be in touch to nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.   

Isabel Coronado is a citizen of the Mvskoke (Creek) Nation. Her clan is the Wind Clan, and her Tribal Town affiliation is Thlopthlocco Tribal Town. Ms. Coronado witnessed the effects of mass incarceration on Indigenous people and decided to help create the American Indian Criminal Justice Navigation Council (AICJNC). The AICJNC is a non-profit in Oklahoma aimed to reduce recidivism among tribal members and help facilitate the trauma family members endure as a result. In 2019, Isabel stepped down as Deputy Director of AICJNC to further develop progressive policy in criminal justice reform at a think tank called Next100, as a Policy Entrepreneur in New York City. At Next100, Ms. Coronado is focused on criminal justice reform narrowing on children of incarcerated parents and decreasing the racial disparity of the mass incarceration of indigenous people. Ms. Coronado is the 2018 Champions for Change recipient, 2019 College Student of the Year from Mvskoke Women’s Leadership, and a member of Alpha Pi Omega. Isabel received her Bachelors of Science in 2017 from Northeastern State University. As of May 2019, Ms. Coronado is a graduate of the Masters of Public Health with an emphasis on rural and underserved populations from Oklahoma State University. In this episode, Isabel shares more about her journey to advocacy and her fight to ensure children of incarcerated parents aren't the "collateral consequence" of their parent's decisions or circumstances. Additionally, we learn more about the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, and what policy shifts are underway to rectify this issue. Isabel stands on the shoulders of great women; her mother and grandmother have been integral pillars of light on her journey. Ms. Coronado has made such great headway as an emerging leader in this space. We are grateful for the special gift she brings to the justice reform movement and the work at large.We reposition ourselves to speak to the lives of the too-often overlooked, forgotten and voiceless as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected with Isabel on Twitter @GraduateIsabel and the work of her fellow colleagues at Next100 on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.Recent Articles that Isabel has published can be found here:We Are Not Collateral Consequences: Children of Incarcerated ParentsThe Resilient Children of Incarcerated Parents: InterviewsThe Urban Indian Health Institute report on missing and murdered Indigenous women can be found here.Continue to support Forward 40 on IG and Twitter @forward4tea.  Be in touch to nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here. 

Suki Terada Ports is a well-known social justice activist and community organizer who has dedicated her life to fighting for issues of school integration and community empowerment to ensure that public spaces were protected from institutional expansion to quality health care access. A child of parents directly affected by U.S. policies against Japanese Americans during World War II, Suki grounded her early activism on behalf of those that were not treated fairly.Suki attended Smith College (Class of 1956) and studied Education. The field of Education helped shape her unrelenting fight for all children and people, especially those on the margins. She is Co-founder of Iris House and of Apicha—two innovative HIV/AIDS healthcare programs dedicated to providing quality care to underserved communities. She has held leadership positions in the National Minority AIDS Coalition and in New York’s Japanese American Association. Throughout her career Suki worked for national and local change, testifying before White House commissions and serving as a member of the local board of the New York City Board of Education. Some of her leadership positions include:Editor of Health Power Asian-Pacific Islander ChannelCo-Founder and Executive Director, Minority Task Force on AIDSCo-Founder and Steering Committee member of the National Minority AIDS Council, East Coast Asian and Pacific Islander Network, and Voices of Women of Color Against HIV/AIDS. Chair of the Sakura Festival, Queens NYCOne of the “founding mothers” New York Women’s Foundation and member of NYWF Circle of SistersI had the pleasure of meeting Suki at the 2018 Smith College Women of Color Conference “Persistence, Possibilities and the Power of Our Voices” where I facilitated a workshop on social responsibility. Her presence as the elder in the room was a true gift. It was an honor to proverbially sit at her feet and hear the adages of her life and more importantly lend the power of her experience to our collective voices in this work. She is wisdom personified. I have the pleasure of awarding her with the 2020 Smith College Medal this year. While you may not find her on social media, you can delve deeper into her history and accolades here:An Unusual Childhood - A Profile of Suki Terada PortsHamilton House 2017 honorSuki's tea affirmation starts off with some tea drinking tips lol and we close with life is warm and enjoyable. #SipOnThisNote: There is a mention of a sexual assault incident of a child that fueled Suki's activism and protest in Morningside Park @55:00. Selah and find support.

Syrita Steib co-founded Operation Restoration (OR) in 2016 and serves as the Executive Director. OR was started to eradicate the roadblocks she faced when returning to society after incarceration. The organization specializes in creating opportunities for formerly incarcerated women through college courses, a women first clinic, clothing supply closet, case management services, advocacy programs and more. At the age of 19, Syrita was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison. After serving nearly 10 years in prison, she was released into a community vastly different than the one she left. Other formerly incarcerated women helped her to re-adjust to the world she left behind. Despite her academic accomplishments while incarcerated, Syrita was initially denied entrance at the University of New Orleans due to the criminal history question on her admissions application. Two years later, she reapplied, unchecked that box and was subsequently granted admission. Syrita went on to earn her B.S. from Louisiana State University’s Health Sciences Center in New Orleans and is a nationally certified and licensed Clinical Laboratory Scientist. In 2017, Syrita wrote and successfully passed Louisiana Act 276 which prohibits public post-secondary institutions in Louisiana from asking questions relating to criminal history for purposes of admissions, making Louisiana the first state to pass this type of legislation. In 2018, she was a co-chair for the healthy families committee for New Orleans Mayor Cantrell’s transition team. She was also a panelist on the Empowerment stage at Essence Festival in 2018 and 2019. She serves as a policy consultant for Cut50’s Dignity for Incarcerated Women campaign and worked tirelessly on the passage of the First Step Act. Ms. Steib was appointed by Governor John Bel Edwards to the Louisiana Justice Reinvestment oversight council and is the Vice-Chair of the Louisiana Task Force on Women’s Incarceration. Most recently she was nominated to be one of LISC's 2020 Rubinger Fellows. In this episode, Syrita reflects on her personal and professional journey to restoration. She shares how she has been able to show up authentically in her advocacy to dismantle systems of oppression. We are ignited by her passion, unrelenting determination and wisdom. Ms. Steib is truly a sojourner of our generation; join her in the movement.We stand in solidarity to break chains of oppression for all women and the communities they lead, as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected with Syrita on Twitter @syritasteib and the work of Operation Restoration@TheOR_NOLAContinue to support Forward 40 on IG and Twitter @forward4tea.  Be in touch to nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Samantha Pratt is CEO and Founder of KlickEngage. She graduated magna cum laude from New York University with a B.S. in Applied Psychology as a Jack Kent Cooke Scholar. She served as a Teach for America (TFA) 2015 corps member in Miami-Dade County where she taught 5th grade science for three years. While teaching, in 2017, Samantha participated in an incubator as part of a partnership between Venture Hive Miami and TFA where she cultivated the idea for KlickEngage. In 2018, she was part of the first cohort for Miami EdTech and went on to win 3rd place in the Miami Herald Business Challenge and 1st place in the pre-pilot track of the Social Innovation Award. Most recently, Samantha became a 2019 Camelback Venture Fellow, a finalist in the Harvard HIVE Pitch Competition, a Kravis Lab Moonshot Fellow, and a graduate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education with a Ed.M in Education Policy and Management, an NPR How I Built This Fellow, and a Forbes 30 under 30 Lister. She believes that the key to educational equity is creating and safe and supportive environments for kids. In this episode, Samantha reflects on her personal and professional journey with anxiety and trauma. She shares how she has been able to leverage her lived experience and data to inspire educators, administrators and investors to see the big picture in promoting healthy environments and culture. We celebrate her strength and resilience to serve as a champion for the socioemotional well-being of students, especially students in lower-income communities. Samantha inspires us to consider how much more positive our environments  and interactions could be if we carved out the time and space to intentionally engage. Ms. Pratt is an overcomer, a committed learner, and a wellspring of insight and vision. Prepare to be recharged and supported in your journey, knowing you are not alone.We move to be more intentional and mindful of our daily engagements, for ourselves and the next generation, as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected with Samantha on Twitter @samjoypratt and the work of @KlickEngage on all social channels.Continue to support Forward 40 on IG and Twitter @forward4tea.  Be in touch to nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Lisa (Pawnee/Comanche) has been with AISES since 2012 in various capacities. She started as an administrative assistant, worked in the Development and Communications departments and eventually became the Director of Membership Engagement and Advocacy, the position she holds now. Lisa’s experience includes an extensive background in sales, event coordination, communications, and business administration. Lisa grew up in Rio Rancho, New Mexico and still lives there with her husband, two sons, and two dogs. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration. She is currently working on her Masters of Public Administration degree at UNM. Lisa is a proud member of Hufflepuff House.In this episode, Lisa imparts wisdom on the history and impact of native communities and the cultural responsibility in her personal and professional life. She shares how helpful it is to be in a native-led and serving nonprofit in belonging in the work. We reflect on the emotional and social tax that comes with our histories and identities as women of color and how we can be a bridge for each other. Ms. Paz is woman of honor, passion and love for her community and for social impact. Be inspired and relish in the journey not being one you have to go at alone in this episode.We are honored to be in community and represent for our ancestors as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected with Lisa on Twitter @lpaz22 and also the work of American Indian Science and Engineering Society here. Continue to support Forward 40 on IG and Twitter @forward4tea.  Be in touch to nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Starla D. Hart, MPA, has worked to enhance the lives of people in Indianapolis for more than 17 years and serves as 16 Tech Community Corporation’s Director of Community Initiatives. She leads the innovation district’s work with Near West, Northwest and surrounding neighborhoods to ensure that the economic benefits of 16 Tech extend to nearby communities.In addition to her ongoing work with the surrounding neighborhoods, Hart oversees the 16 Tech Community Investment Fund, a community-focused fund that, under the advisement of a community-led advisory committee, will invest in neighborhood projects that provide maximum impact.Prior to joining 16 Tech, Hart supported the Great Places 2020 initiatives as a Program Officer for Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Indianapolis, focusing her work on transforming strategic places in Marion County into dynamic urban villages.Hart served as Director of Neighborhood Partnerships at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Office of Community Engagement, serving for 10 years as IUPUI’s liaison to the Near West neighborhood. This body of work led Hart to become the founding director of Source River West, a hub for entrepreneurs in the River West Great Place that offers place-based entrepreneurship and small business supports for residents in urban Indy neighborhoods.And because she is just as intentional about her acts of service to her family and community, Hart is a mother of two and serves as a member of the Mayor’s Cultural Investment Advisory Council, board member for Matchbook Learning and advisory council member for Indianapolis Contemporary. In this episode, Starla reflects on her journey to the community development sector. She shares how each of her roles allowed her to pivot into the next and hone in on her entrepreneurial spirit. Starla extends her wisdom on how the next generation of leaders of color can tap into opportunities within their respective communities to ensure the sector is representative. Ms. Hart has a career of building and serving the community, walking through previously closed doors and opening doors for others to have their voices present and heard. Starla exemplifies selfless authentic leadership. Take notes on how she is working to balance it all. We are blessed to be able to serve with beauty and balance as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Stay connected with Starla on Twitter @simplystarla and also the work of 16 Tech here. Continue to support Forward 40 on IG and Twitter @forward4tea.  Be in touch to nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Sable B., founder and creator of Real Brown Girls has over 10 years of experience in PK-12 education and program development. Sable has created a community of over 80,000 women, focusing on building vast national networks for professional women of color in order to arm them with the necessary tools to show up full and whole, both personally and professionally. She received her BA in African American Studies and French from Temple University and a MSEd in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. In this episode, Sable reflects on the genesis of Real Brown Girls and the importance of women of color collectives. She also shares how the philanthropic arm of the business, Real Brown Girls Foundation, is offering additional supports to a younger generation of women. We reflect on the essence of time, getting real about your "why" and staying the course in your development even in the face of fear. Sable is a pure model of how authenticity yields a path to freedom. Take the time to pour into you.We are honoring the beauty of investing in ourselves as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Are you interested in joining the Real Brown Girls community? Join here and follow the collective on Twitter and Instagram @realbrowngirlsContinue to support Forward 40 on IG and Twitter @forward4tea.  You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Margaret is the Founder and CEO of Kahawa 1893 Coffee and a third-generation coffee farmer from Kenya. Through her business, she is building a more inclusive coffee supply chain in Africa to empower women. Margaret moved to the US for college, attending Smith College for undergraduate and later attained an MBA from Harvard. Her career has spanned consulting, the World Bank and most recently Wall Street. Margaret is passionate about using business for the good of society and empowerment of all.In this episode, Margaret shares how she leveraged her experience on Wall Street and lived experience in Kenya to start her social enterprise for the greater good of the "global diaspora woman". She also sheds light on the growing market of digital currency and how it can be leveraged to connect the consumer to the farmer. We reflect on Black Women's Equal Pay Day and the most recently released 1619 Project noting a growing consciousness of the systems at play and the additional work ahead. Margaret further situates her work as an extension of her upbringing of one's individual success being translated fully when it's in conjunction with the success of the community. She offers up a charge for us to take space, think more broadly about diversity and inclusion and tap into positivity in the face of opposition.We are awakening our positive thoughts and actions to impact the whole woman as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Want to learn more about what Margaret's journey and the women she is working on behalf of? Check out her website and follow her on Twitter and Instagram @kahawa1893.Continue to support Forward 40 on IG and Twitter @forward4tea.  You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Amber Scott is Founder and Executive Director of Leap Year. A child of first-generation college students, the importance of higher education and the power that it can have to raise a family out of poverty was instilled in Amber at a young age. She believes that the opportunity for higher education should be open to everyone, regardless of where they are born. After working in the nonprofit sector for ten years, she founded Leap Year to challenge the status quo. Amber is a 2018 Echoing Green Fellow, a winner of WeWork's 2017 Incubate Creator Awards, and was recognized by Black Enterprise as alone of "25 Black Women Who Are Changing the World." She holds a BA in Neuroscience from Smith College, and an MBA in Marketing from Ohio State University. In this episode, Amber shares how she was able to leverage her experience in the nonprofit sector to create her own social enterprise. We reflect on college access/persistence as it pertains to some of the realities for first-generation students and how Leap Year is providing a gap year for exploration and service. We also reflect on the lessons learned in leadership, in a running a social enterprise with a women dominated workforce. Amber's work extends a charge to the importance and impact of preparedness as a narrative shift for not only the students but also their families and communities at large. We are bending the narrative of preconceived notions of the impossible as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Want to learn more about what Amber and her team are doing at Leap Year? Contact them directly and follow their latest updates on Instagram @leapyearusa.Continue to support Forward 40 on IG and Twitter @forward4tea.  You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here. 

Sheena Collier is CEO & Founder of The Collier Connection and Senior Economic Advisor for the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. She is a superconnector, facilitator, and host. A native New Yorker, and Spelman alumna, Sheena made the transition to Boston after graduation to attend Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2004. She didn’t know anyone or have a network, so she built one. Sheena started & joined organizations, became civically engaged, and hosted events that connected her to lots of different worlds, including education, politics, arts, community organizing, & business. She made connections that changed her life and learned techniques to navigate (and eventually enjoy) the city. This helped her build a supportive community that she now leverages to benefit others. Sheena loves creating spaces for people to connect and gets joy from introducing people to each other, sharing valuable information, or new experiences. Through The Collier Connection (TCC), Sheena is creating a home for content, programming, and physical spaces to enhance the ways that black people experience Boston. In this episode, we reflect on how Sheena was able to leverage the purpose  in her transition to a new city to benefit the broader Black community. We also explore what it means to command space, occupy it and the necessity of ownership. For the transplants out there, Sheena offers insight into how you can be intentional about learning and immersing yourself in a community. Sheena continues to be a bridge of opportunity for anyone who crosses paths with her. We are moving with purpose, on purpose as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Want to learn more about what Sheena is doing in the Greater Boston area? Read this Boston Magazine feature and her opinion piece in The Boston Globe.Connect with Sheena on Twitter @PensiveInPink and IG: @sheena_collier ; @collierconnection. Continue to support Forward 40 on IG and Twitter @forward4tea.  You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Dr. Sofia B. Pertuz is a higher education and diversity and inclusion professional who currently serves a Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the Jed Foundation, a nonprofit that exists to protect the emotional health and prevent suicide for teens and young adults. Sofia teaches at Hofstra University and has been an invited speaker on topics in leadership, change management, social justice, and LGBTQ advocacy. Sofia has a bachelor’s degree from SUNY New Paltz and earned a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership, Management, and Policy from Seton Hall University. Sofia is committed to creating a socially just world and  dedicates volunteer time through mentorship and activities aiming to create inclusive and caring communities.      In this episode, we record live from the Boogie Down Grind Cafe in the South Bronx, our home borough. We acknowledge National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month and explore what it means to rise in resilience when you feel you're starting from "the bottom". We reflect on our upbringing in the South Bronx and how that has helped shape our perseverance in the sector. Sofia shares what supports carried her through to being a "Phinisher",  notes how she made the transition from higher education to nonprofit leadership and advocates for finding your family in the work. You will be inspired to leave a positive legacy behind in whatever you do with this guest. We are rising to the occasion in our purpose as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Want to further contribute to DIFFvelopment? Text FORWARD 40 to 44-3421.Connect with Sofia on Twitter and IG: @sofiabpertuzphd. Continue to support Forward 40 on IG and Twitter @forward4tea.  You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Esi Kagale Agyeman Gillo is the Co-Founder of DIFFvelopment. She is a wife, mother and mentor to the students she works with. Esi is committed to re-empowering people of African descent by holistically empowering college students to disrupt negative patterns of history through personal development and entrepreneurship. If she had to describe herself in one sentence, she would say that she "is passionate about all things authentic and puts nothing above her freedom." This is DIFFvelopment's 3rd year of operation. Synergistic with the mission, this is the first year that DIFFvelopment's clients are all Black owned businesses. Fun fact: She and her husband were also featured in OWN'S docuseries Checked-Inn in 2017. Esi holds an MSc in African Studies from the University of Oxford, UK, a BA in Afro-American Studies and Psychology from Smith College, and a certificate in African Studies from the Five College Consortium. She has also studied in Uganda, Rwanda and Ghana. In this episode, we highlight the interconnectedness of the village and faith in entrepreneurship. We also put this episode in the context of Juneteenth and what that means for the work. Esi reflects on her journey of being present as both a Co-Founder, wife and mother. The interplay of all of these factors lends itself to the freedom inherit in entrepreneurship, a career option that as she notes to her black students, "is a part of who you are".We are rooted in our resilience as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this rising WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.Want to support DIFFvelopment? Look at some options for supporting here. On a more personal note, help me increase my fundraising goal 40% by 9/30/2019.  Follow highlights of their evolution and impact @diffvelopmentContinue to support Forward 40 on IG and Twitter @forward4tea.  You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here

I asked Cat for her favorite number and suggested it be 2 (my way of nudging her to be our second guest). My instincts were correct, she wore #2 on her jersey! Catherine (Cat) Almonte is the Managing Director of The Broad Room. Serving as the organization's first director, Cat’s mission is to train up an all woman activist army to fight for political progress. She previously worked at the intersection of art and activism as the Brooklyn Museum’s Government and Community Relations Liaison. Cat’s work at the Museum was focused on breaking down barriers to access and creating space for underserved communities to feel welcome and seen. Before entering the arts, she worked for the City of New York, learning the nuances of the often male-dominated NYC political scene. Cat quickly rose to become the Mayor’s right hand at City Hall and in his successful re-election campaign where she played a key role in raising nearly $10 Million. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York, Cat has been a committed advocate for the underrepresented in all aspects of her work.In this episode, we explore the concept of space as it relates to our leadership and why it is necessary in activating the collective. Cat shares more about her journey and what it means to tear institutional barriers down to then build equitable systems up.We are fired up to share Forward 4O’s platform with this rising WOC in the nonprofit sector.Want to be a part of The Broad Room community? Subscribe here and follow the movement @broadroomycContinue to support Forward 40 on IG and Twitter @forward4tea.  You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here

Welcome to the Forward 4O Live Launch hosted by Coach Faith!On this platform we are highlighting the experiences of women of color in the nonprofit and social enterprise sectors, forging an intergenerational collective with our listeners, and sipping tea while we share.Our first guest, Ofronama Biu, was recently recognized as one of Nonprofit HR’s 2019 Women to Watch. Ofronama probed into the racial leadership gap in U.S. nonprofits and authored the statistical proof in Race to Lead: Women of Color in the Nonprofit Sector. She has toured the country sharing report briefings and findings with Building Movement Project, which is acclaimed for “…advancing the potential for nonprofit organizations to have an impact in building movements for progressive social change.” Ofronama has also co-founded a nonprofit organization that connects youth to media professionals for skills-building and mentoring opportunities.We are exuberant to share Forward 4O’s platform with this rising woman of color in the nonprofit sector live at The Chai Spot in NYC.Learn more about our mission and subscribe to stay updated at Forward4tea.com. Follow the movement on IG @forward4tea.  You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.