Alexis is an educator, project manager, and community-engaged practitioner with experience spanning higher education, grassroots philanthropy, and capacity-building initiatives. She currently serves as an adjunct professor of African American Studies, where her work centers on critical race analysis, applied learning, and student-centered pedagogy. Across her academic and community-based work, Alexis has contributed to collaborative and grassroots-led efforts focused on equity, systems-building, and program implementation. She brings particular strength in training and development, quality control, technical assistance, and implementation, supporting teams and organizations in translating vision into sustainable practice. Grounded in relationship and accountability, Alexis is passionate about building systems and processes that are both structurally sound and responsive to community needs, helping stakeholders move from planning to action with clarity and purpose.

Amanda Durst is a fundraiser, educator, and musician with a passion for community engagement and equitable fundraising practices. During her career, Amanda has worked with healthcare organizations, social and human services nonprofits, large performing arts organizations, and music education programs to raise funds, streamline grant writing processes, strengthen community partnerships, and bring an equity lens to development and fundraising. She recognizes that an organization’s greatest strength lies within its people and enjoys connecting with others to help them reach their full potential. 

 Amanda also enjoys a career as a professional cellist, performing with several orchestras in Western North Carolina and producing concerts that showcase works by living and underrepresented composers.

Dr. Amieris Lavender holds a B.A. in Feminist Studies with a minor in Education and Applied Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She earned her PhD in Education Policy from Michigan State University. Dr. Lavender is a strategic planner, implementation and culture specialist, systems-level leader, with experience leading multi-site, state, and cross-sector teams. Dr. Lavender is a storyteller, writer, creative, and relational community organizer. Dr. Lavender founded LoveJoyLiberation Community Relations Firm; a values driven company, built of multi-sector professionals, offering: organizational culture and planning, training and development, curated events and experiences, and meeting facilitation services.

Christina Esmay is a strategic communications and crisis management leader with more than 12 years of experience guiding high-stakes public messaging, digital transformation, and executive advisement. She has served as lead spokesperson during nationally recognized disasters, including Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Fred, coordinating multi-agency communications and countering widespread misinformation. Christina brings deep expertise in crisis response, media relations, reputation management, and digital strategy, including leading large-scale website rebuilds and engagement growth initiatives. Known for clarity under pressure, she excels at translating complex situations into trusted, actionable communication that stabilizes public confidence. 

Cierra is a higher education and nonprofit leader with over a decade of experience cultivating organizational cultures rooted in equity, belonging, and community care. Her work spans residence life, leadership development, and large-scale program management, where she designed environments that support both individual growth and collective accountability. Cierra brings deep expertise in organizational planning, aligning strategy with mission to build sustainable, people-centered systems that serve diverse student and community populations.

A skilled facilitator and trainer, Cierra has led staff development initiatives, national conferences, and community dialogues that center equity, inclusion, and belonging as frameworks to guide lived practices rather than abstract values. She is known for her ability to guide meaningful conversations, translate complex equity frameworks into actionable plans, and empower teams to engage in community-based action. Through thoughtful meeting facilitation, training design, and collaborative leadership, Cierra helps organizations strengthen culture, deepen impact, and create spaces where people feel seen, supported, and inspired to contribute.

Giannina Callejas is a Colombian-born, queer, first-generation college graduate with more than a decade of experience in systems, management, and community-centered work. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Leadership and Women & Gender Studies, grounding her approach in both critical thinking and lived practice. Giannina supports organizations through equity-centered systems, relationship-building, resource mobilizing, event planning and design, and organizational culture work. Known for blending structure with creativity, she brings care, joy, and clarity to complex efforts—helping communities and institutions build accountable, inclusive, and healing-centered practices.

As a mental health-trained college healthcare practitioner, Jaci has worked on advancing diversity, equity, well-being, and social justice throughout her career. Namely, Jaci has worked to improve resource navigation, early intervention support, and community culture change work in a variety of settings. In her previous roles, she led institution-wide interdisciplinary coalitions on: basic needs and low barrier access; mental health promotion, prevention, and early intervention support; and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).  Jaci’s professional interests include supporting folx through a trauma-informed and intersectional lens. Throughout Jaci’s career, her praxis has been anchored by centering culturally humble and responsive approaches. Jaci is a proponent of Health in All Policies; with emphasis on striding to address the social determinants of health. Jaci highlights the invaluable knowledge she gained through working directly with the community as both a provider and educator. This insight is what drives Jaci to strive for innovative, collaborative, and integrative solutions to complex organizational or community needs. Jaci also serves as an instructor for degree-seeking students and as a licensed trainer for national certification programs. She looks to bring with her a charismatic, proactive, and compassionate style that aligns with the spirit and purpose of Love Joy Liberation!

Julia is a facilitator, community-builder, and researcher who brings over a decade of experience mobilizing REIA efforts across education, nonprofit, and private sectors. Over the course of her career, Julia has contributed to several collaborative, cross-sector, and network-based initiatives dedicated to systems change and social justice. Julia is passionate about facilitating processes that equip clients with the tools and conditions they need to realize their goals. Holding the sacredness of relationship at the center, Julia draws upon liberatory frameworks to curate virtual and in-person experiences that promote collaboration, accountability, and healing to move clients from ideation to principled action. 

Julia holds a BA in Sociology, a MA in Higher Education Administration, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education at Michigan State University, where her research focuses on university–community relations.

Jules (they/them) is a skilled administrative professional and North Carolina native with a degree in Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies and 8+ years of nonprofit experience. Thorough notetaking, workflow creation, and thoughtful task management makes collaboration a dream!

Jules is the external hard drive for your project, event, or organization. Don't have enough room in your own noggin to keep everything in order and operating smoothly? They've got you covered! Detail-oriented and dedicated to making sure the little things don't slip through the cracks, Jules’ clear communication and streamlined organization infuses care, integrity, humor, and calm into everything

Justin A. Coles, PhD is a university-based educational researcher and strategy consultant specializing in Social Justice Education. He serves as the inaugural Director of Arts, Culture, and Political Engagement at the Center of Racial Justice and Youth Engaged Research (CRJ) in Amherst, MA, where he leads initiatives integrating research, arts-based practice, and community partnership. At CRJ, he directs the award-winning Black Healing, Joy, and Justice Collective, a multi-year initiative grounded in racial justice, cultural sustainability, and collective care. His scholarship draws on literacy studies, arts-based inquiry, and participatory action research. Dr. Coles is a Fulbright Specialist and the author of Resisting Antiblackness in Education (Teachers College Press, 2025).

Justin A. Coles, PhD is a university-based educational researcher and strategy consultant specializing in Social Justice Education. He serves as the inaugural Director of Arts, Culture, and Political Engagement at the Center of Racial Justice and Youth Engaged Research (CRJ) in Amherst, MA, where he leads strategic initiatives that integrate research, arts-based practice, and community partnership. At CRJ, Dr. Coles directs the award-winning Black Healing, Joy, and Justice Collective, a multi-year initiative that brings together youth, educators, artists, and community organizations to co-design programs, professional learning, and public-facing projects grounded in racial justice, cultural sustainability, and collective care. His work emphasizes collaborative planning, participatory leadership, and implementation strategies that support organizations in aligning values with practice. Dr. Coles’ socially and community-engaged scholarship draws on literacy studies, arts-based inquiry, and participatory action research to center creativity and activism as drivers of institutional change. His research and applied work inform the design of professional development, custom curricula, workshops, and learning spaces that support educators, organizations, and community partners in advancing equity and accountability. Dr. Coles brings extensive experience facilitating strategic conversations, supporting teams through complex change processes, and translating research into actionable plans. In 2023, he was inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. Collegium of Scholars at Morehouse College. He has held national and international leadership and diplomatic roles, including serving as a Fulbright Specialist. He is widely published across academic and practitioner-facing venues and is the author of Resisting Antiblackness in Education: A Pedagogy of Black Youth Aesthetics (Teachers College Press, 2025).

Tera Coffey is the Founder of Tera Coffey Consulting, a consultancy offering strategic thought partnership around community engagement, PR, marketing, and fundraising across the political, governmental, and non-profit sectors. Her expertise includes community organizing, movement building, fundraising, strategic planning, and process development with a focus on equitable outcomes and social change.  

Her work in political movements and government has included leading GOTV field campaigns, legislative policy analysis and strategy, communication development, and community building in both State and local offices across Texas. Tera brings her passion for racial equity to the philanthropic sector by consulting with funders as a facilitator and thought partner around grantmaking restructuring and accountability measures to ensure systemic change. She holds a B.A. in International Economics from Franklin University Switzerland.