Angela Howard 

               Areas of Expertise: Early childhood, Family support

 

I am committed to equity and belonging by:        

Sharing my knowledge, resources, and skills to create safe spaces for individuals to be fully seen, heard, and uplifted. My goal is to prioritize the needs of those who are most impacted by inequities, so that we begin to shift the priorities to create a more just and equitable society. I am committed to DEI personally and professionally. I have lived-experience as an immigrant, a person growing up in deep poverty and neighborhoods impacted by violence, income and environmental inequality, etc. I shared a deep sensibility with people who are from similar backgrounds and who have been exposed to risk factors. In my professional work, I review data (neighborhood, cities, etc.) to help prioritize services and shift resources to create more protective factors (services, supports, and resources).

How did you get where you are today?

I arrived at my current role through pursuing higher education and working in various education, nonprofit, and government entities. In 2008, I founded a 501c3 nonprofit organization called Lotus Bloom, a culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and intergenerational Family Resource Center located in Oakland, CA. Through my community organizing and leadership skills I have helped Lotus Bloom expand and operate centers to serve three high benefit neighborhoods in Oakland. I received a Jefferson Award for Community Service in 2014. Completed the Leaderspring Fellowship 2013, and completed coaching training through Co-Active Training Institute in 2022.

    

         Bernex Richardson 

              Areas of Expertise: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, People and Culture                                      Leadership, Nonprofit Leadership, Educational Leadership, Organization                                   Development, Change Management

I am committed to equity and belonging by:        

Serving as a nonprofit leader dedicated to empowering first-generation college graduates to access exceptional careers. Additionally, I actively engage in coaching and mentorship for underrepresented professionals, particularly individuals from marginalized communities such as people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. Through these efforts, I strive to foster a more inclusive and equitable society, ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to thrive and succeed.

How did you get where you are today?

I arrived at my current position by embracing intuition and approaching life as an unfolding journey, driven by my passion for education and commitment to equity. Along the way, I have been dedicated to expanding knowledge, fostering inclusivity, and advocating for equal opportunities. These values have guided me and shaped my path, bringing me to where I am today.

 Elle Weatheroy 

  (Coaching Experience - 2 Years, Professional Experience - 21 Years)

  Areas of Expertise: Strategic Planning, Training and Facilitation, DEI                          Consultation, Individual and Group Therapy

I am committed to equity and belonging by:

Utilizing a DEI lens in all professional roles, committed to creating safe spaces for learning,  healing and thriving and focus on moving from planning to implementation of DEI strategies.

How did you get where you are today?

A favorite saying of my own is “I am my ancestors wildest dream”. However, I like to tweak it to “My ancestors are my wildest dreams”. I stand on their shoulders. I benefit from their sacrifices. I am only here because they believed in something that they could not see. As a result, I take seriously my responsibility to pay it forward and open the door for others. As a social worker, I have led systems change initiatives, served as a lead strategist and consultant, all while centering the use of an equity lens. Today, I incorporate my professional experience into a holistic model of coaching and wellness.

   Gary Mobley 

   (Coaching Experience - 1 Year, Professional Experience - 30 Years)

      Areas of Expertise: Career development and planning, strategy management and          data analytics, engineering, manufacturing, and nonprofit sectors.

I am committed to equity and belonging by:

Being an example, a continuing learner and ally. I provide a safe and open environment for people to be heard. I am led by purpose, integrity, and belief that all people should have the opportunity to excel. I want to continue to challenge myself as well as my understanding and empathy for others.

How did you get where you are today?

Getting here today has been an interesting journey, my career started in engineering and manufacturing. Seeking more purpose in my work, I transitioned to strategy work in the non-profit sector. For the last 8 years, I have had my own consulting business that provides strategy management, market research, and data analytics to primarily the education sector. Throughout my career, I have provided mentorship and coaching to my colleagues; help young professionals navigate the waters, and develop their professional careers. For the last 15 years, I have volunteered as peer and group counselor for the LGBTQ+ adult community. Becoming a professional coach was a natural evolution to both my personal and professional lives. I am completing my certification in August with CTI and looking forward to providing coaching services, particularly to the BIPOC population.

 

Jennie Tian 

  (Coaching Experience - 2 Years, Professional Experience - 16 Years)

   Areas of Expertise: Trauma, through a nervous system & somatic approach             (currently training with Somatic  Experiencing International (SEI), Generational            trauma, cycle breaking, some symptoms of cPTSD, Symptoms of nervous system                                     dysregulation (i.e. hypervigilance, anxiety, depression, burn-out cycles, shut-down,                                      etc.) Leadership development through the lens of somatic safety.

I am committed to equity and belonging by:

Improving my own awareness of my blind spots and privileges, approaching relationships with a trauma-informed lens, and doing all that I can to make this world nervous system safe for those who experience systemic injustice (only then can we actually reach equity).

How did you get where you are today?

As someone who’s originally from China and grew up in the Bay Area, I’ve had the privilege of intersectional identities that has helped me see a lot of the world, work in different (mostly White, and male-dominated) industries, and more recently, find my way to the world of nervous system healing. My own experience with regulating my nervous system inspired me to become a coach, and as a result, I care a lot about expanding access to healing through coaching, particularly for trauma and generational trauma.

   Joann Lee Wagner 

        (Coaching Experience - 2 Years, Professional Experience - 22 Years)

     Areas of Expertise: Talent development, change management, equitable                                                                   workplace, strategy, event planning

I am committed to equity and belonging by:

Advancing the development and sustainability of BIPOC leaders and caregivers who work in social impact.

How did you get where you are today?

My life has been one of service and knowing that the more opportunities one gets in life, the more responsibility they have to share the knowledge and power that can bring others along who have purposefully been excluded. Over the last decade, I’ve worked on economic justice in the field of community economic development. In my current role as the VP of People Operations at a national economic justice nonprofit, I’ve spearheaded efforts to create a workplace that is created by and for the majority BIPOC people that work there. This includes being one of the first nonprofits to implement a 4 Day WorkWeek, providing 100% pay for 80% work.

Coaching was a calling. After years of standing on the sideline wanting to become a coach, but finding one reason or another not to pursue my dream, I finally began taking coaching courses in 2020 and began my coaching practice in 2022.

  

   Mara Klein 

     (Coaching Experience - 1 Year, Professional Experience - 12 Years)

     Areas of Expertise: Career transitions, young adults

     

I am committed to equity and belonging by:        

Finding ways to use my coaching skills to support other BIPOC students and professionals by making them feel seen and heard.

How did you get where you are today?

I started working at Center for Creative Leadership a couple years ago and was introduced to coaching as a profession. I was intrigued and a colleague recommended I apply for CFE.

   Meilan Akaka Manfre 

     (Coaching Experience - 10 Years, Professional Experience - 15 Years)

     Areas of Expertise: K-12 education & non-profits

   

I am committed to equity and belonging by:

Working towards becoming a better ally and co-conspirator, increasing awareness of identities, power and privilege, and building a foundation of trust to work in partnership to shift systems seeped in white supremacy.

How did you get where you are today?

I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors, grateful for their legacy. With a strong support system and different aspects of privilege, I’ve spent the past 15 years serving in public education systems, first as a teacher, and for over a decade, as a coach and professional development facilitator. I’ve had amazing coaches to learn from. I’m from Honolulu Hawaiʻi and bring a background in public education and non-profit work.

   Sorbrique "Sorby" Grant 

     (Coaching Experience - 1 Year, Professional Experience - 16 Years)

     Areas of Expertise: Strategic Planning, Instructional Leadership, Non-Profit                       Leadership, Project Management, Turnaround of schools - Transformation of                       departments and organizations.

I am committed to equity and belonging by:     

Actively promoting and advocating for inclusivity. I actively seek to understand and challenge my own biases and assumptions, and I strive to create space for diverse perspectives and experiences to thrive. I am dedicated to promoting equal opportunities for everyone, addressing systemic barriers, and advocating for justice and fairness in all aspects of life. I am committed to continuously educating myself and others on issues related to equity and belonging, and I actively engage in initiatives that promote diversity, inclusion, and social cohesion.

I’ve always worked for organizations and volunteered with organizations that are focused on supporting disenfranchised and under-resourced communities. In my coaching practice, I’ve intentionally focused on individuals that do not usually receive formally coaching–Women and BIPOC leaders in the non-profit and education space.

How did you get where you are today?

I am currently the President of a workforce development non-profit. In this position I manage all the department heads and internal operations. Prior to this role, I was in education for over a decade. I’ve been a teacher, teacher trainer, teacher coach, principal, and principal manager.

My family worked really hard for me to have opportunities they didn’t have in Jamaica. I’m incredibly grateful for their sacrifices, courage and support. With the foundation of my family’s support, I’ve gotten where I am today through a mixture hard work, being courageous in the face of challenges, some bad decisions, and some serendipity.

  

   Waneka Jackson

     (Coaching Experience - 7 Years, Professional Experience - 17 Years)

     Areas of Expertise: Leadership Development, K-12 Education, Adult Learning &               Facilitation

I am committed to equity and belonging by:

Creating a safe and inclusive space where individuals from all walks of life can thrive and contribute their unique perspectives. Additionally, I actively support initiatives and organizations that promote diversity, inclusivity, and empowerment.

How did you get where you are today?

While teaching, I was recruited to become a teacher coach at a nonprofit organization. While studying coaching, I decided it was my career passion.