We are excited to welcome the newest cohort of professionals joining our Emerging Consultants of Color Training Program. This transformative initiative is designed to equip consultants of color with the skills, knowledge, and connections needed to thrive in the nonprofit sector. This year’s cohort brings a dynamic range of experiences and a shared passion for driving meaningful change in their communities. Over the next several months, they will engage in immersive learning sessions, hands-on projects, and collaborative discussions to strengthen their consulting expertise and build a supportive peer network.
Learn more about our facilitators and the Emerging Consultants of Color Training Program, and join us in celebrating this year’s cohort below!
Meet the Cohort
Meghna Bhat, Ph.D. (she/her), is an independent consultant based in California, specializing in gender and social justice, and a creative disruptor. In addition, she is a multidisciplinary storyteller, interdisciplinary feminist scholar, educator, and cultural practitioner. Born and raised in India and having lived in the United States, Dr. Bhat has been deeply motivated to become an advocate and prevention educator due to her experiences encountering persistent cycles of gender violence and street harassment.
With two decades of extensive experience as a scholar-practitioner and training specialist, Dr. Bhat firmly believes in the power of storytelling to foster community dialogue, shift cultural norms, and promote ongoing decolonized narrative change. She has successfully presented and facilitated workshops and plenary sessions at statewide and national anti-gender violence conferences, including the National Sexual Assault Conference (NSAC), the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence (OAESV), and the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence (NCEDSV).
As a recipient of the 2022 Seeding Creativity Artist Grant, Dr. Bhat created a multidisciplinary art project entitled “Gulabi Stories: A South Asian Healing Initiative.” This project amplified and highlighted healing stories within the broader South Asian diaspora. The Gulabi Stories initiative garnered attention and was featured in news articles by ABC Local News, Solving Sacramento, and Deccan Herald (India).
Theresa Coney, Esq. is an experienced and passionate advocate and thought leader in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion and restorative justice. She is the former Racial Equity Statewide Training Lead for the Committee for Public Counsel Services. A pioneer in this position, she launched the Why Race Matters Speaker Series, a multifaceted education course from race equity leaders around the world, and led a Racial Equity Internship Program.
Theresa is the Founder and President of Race Matters Solutions, an organization offering anti-bias training programs. As a lawyer, a race equity trainer, law school and college adjunct professor who has been teaching and training for more than 20 years, her style of educating around the difficult topics of race, bias, and fairness for those engaged in or impacted by the legal profession invites thoughtful conversation, growth, and evolution. Theresa engages with the judiciary, bar associations, and other stakeholders to develop and implement strategies to address the disparities which exist in our legal systems. She is a former prosecutor and public defender who lives at the intersection of race and gender with the lived experience of being a mother of a child with mental health challenges and the daughter of a police officer. These experiences allow a perspective and insight into this work which is multi-faceted and invaluable.
She wants people to leave her trainings understanding the fluidity of privilege and inspired to do the internal and external work to embrace place consciousness and make our legal system a place where no one is relegated by any barriers as a result of being Black, where DEI and Black history are embraced as necessary to equity, and where fair and just systems can first be envisioned and then actually achieved.
Theresa volunteers with several bar associations and philanthropic organizations in varying capacities including: the Criminal Justice Section of the American Bar Association Chair of the Racial Justice and Diversity Committee, Member of the Board of Directors of the of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers, and Member of the Massachusetts Bar Association Diversity Equity Inclusion Committee. Theresa is a current Hearing Officer for the Board of Bar Overseers for the Supreme Judicial Court. She has received several professional awards and honors, including her most recent recognition as a TEDx Roxbury Finalist and the Massachusetts Top Women of Law Award from Mass Lawyers Weekly.
Paola M. Ferrer, Esq. is a seasoned leader with extensive experience in philanthropy, nonprofit management, government administration, and public policy. Most recently, she served as Chief Operating Officer at Health Care for All, where she oversaw all agency operations, and as Chief of Staff at the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, managing key initiatives in legislative affairs, public affairs, and stakeholder relations to support the agency’s mission to protect children. Her career has also included roles in grant-making, advocacy, fundraising, and as an educator.
Paola is deeply committed to fostering diverse and inclusive communities. She has chaired and served on committees advancing equity in organizations, including United Way’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and TSNE’s Diversity Initiative. She co-founded an affinity group for Latino philanthropists in Massachusetts and helped launch ALPFA-Law to promote Latino attorneys in the profession. Her efforts have earned her recognition, including the “Pioneering Woman of Color” award from the Women’s Bar Association and Boston Business Journal’s “Boston’s 20 On the Move.”
An accomplished actor and advocate for the arts, Paola has performed with numerous Boston-area theatre companies and has regularly featured in TV, web, print, and radio commercials. She is a proud alumna of Boston University (CGS ’92, CLA ’94 and MET ‘97) and Suffolk University Law School (J.D. ’00) and a member of the Massachusetts Bar. Paola lives in Stoughton with her husband, Camilo, a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran, and their two pups, Dahlia and Orchid.
Bernadette Hickman-Maynard has worked for over 25 years in the nonprofit sector serving people of all ages, across different races, ethnicities, income levels, and faith traditions. She has served as a program director for youth and elder services, community organizer, nonprofit leader, pastor, and advocate for social justice – mostly in the Greater Boston Area.
Currently, she is the Deputy Director of the Essex County Community Organization (ECCO). After experiencing burnout, Bernadette founded Be a FRIEND, a coaching and consulting practice that encourages people to “be a FRIEND” to themselves by integrating practices of Fun, Rest, Interaction, Exercise, Nourishment, and Development into their personal and professional lives, and helps organizations promote productivity and employee well-being by implementing FRIENDly policies and building a FRIENDly culture.
Coniqua Johnson-Reed has dedicated her career to cultivating spaces where people feel brave and safe—where voices are uplifted, ideas are challenged, and transformative change is possible. Her advocacy journey began in high school with Planned Parenthood of New York City and the New York Civil Liberties Union, championing comprehensive sex education, the school-to-prison pipeline, and LGBTQ+ rights in schools. In college, she founded and led WordPlay, a spoken word club fostering dialogue on identity and social justice. While working full-time as a Legislative Assistant for a New York State Assemblywoman, she gained firsthand experience in policymaking and grassroots organizing. She also played a key role in advocating for the removal of the Confederate flag in South Carolina and increasing resources for students of color, leading to the establishment of a Multicultural Student Center and a student representative seat on the college’s Board of Trustees.
These experiences laid the foundation for her career in organizational change, learning and development, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Over the past decade, she has led large-scale learning initiatives, designed high-impact training programs, and guided organizations through transformative cultural shifts. As the Founder and Chief Consultant of Fearless Spaces Consulting, she helps organizations build values-driven infrastructures that foster inclusive, thriving workplaces. Her work focuses on strategic learning, leadership coaching, DEI integration, and change management, ensuring that organizations embody their missions in practice.
Since launching Fearless Spaces, she has worked with institutions such as the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the Institute of Black Imagination, and several other organizations, providing expertise in anti-racist transformation, conflict resolution, restorative justice, and program development. Her approach is rooted in justice, equity, and building sustainable, impactful organizations. With a Master’s in Nonprofit Management from The New School and a Bachelor’s in Public Policy and Public Affairs from Sage College of Albany, she brings a blend of academic rigor and real-world experience to every engagement. Whether coaching leadership teams, facilitating transformative dialogues, or designing immersive learning experiences, her goal remains the same: to create fearless spaces where organizations and individuals can evolve, innovate, and lead with integrity.
Sharmon Lebby is a nonprofit leader, speaker, writer, and podcast host with over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, movement-building, and ethical entrepreneurship. As Founder/CEO of Blessed Designs Consulting, Sharmon guides mission-driven organizations in strategic growth, governance, and long-term sustainability, ensuring they build strong foundations before scaling their impact.
As an experienced speaker, Sharmon engages audiences on nonprofit development, collaboration, ethical fashion, and environmental justice. Her writing has been featured in ESJ (formally Ethical Style Journal), Treehugger, The Road to Ethical, and other publications and sustainability-focused platforms. As the co-host and producer of Unpacking Ethical, she led conversations on ethical living, sustainability, and social impact with thought leaders and changemakers.
Sharmon has co-founded and led multiple nonprofit initiatives, working with organizations that advocate for under-appreciated communities, address racial and economic injustice, and promote cooperative economic models. Her leadership centers on bridging gaps between grassroots efforts and institutional systems, ensuring that those most affected by injustice have a voice in shaping solutions.
With a background that includes experience as a Neuroscience Research Associate, Sharmon brings a research-driven, systems-based approach to her work. Whether through consulting, public speaking, writing, or media, she is committed to strengthening social and environmental impact organizations, challenging inequitable systems, and fostering solutions that create lasting, community-led impact.
AleyiaMonet Martin is the Founder of AleyiaMonet Coaching and Consulting LLC, where she empowers individuals and organizations to unlock their potential through personalized coaching and capacity-building strategies. She currently serves as Associate Chief of Staff at CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, supporting strategic initiatives, leading project management efforts, and enhancing organizational alignment. With a robust background in health equity and community health, AleyiaMonet previously held project management roles at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and Health Resources in Action. She holds a Master of Public Health from Tulane University and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Virginia.
Dr. Janel Pasley is a purpose-driven leader committed to advancing equity and nurturing the well-being of communities. With deep expertise in health equity, community engagement, and cross-sector collaboration, she works to address systemic inequities with strategy, compassion, and innovation. Grounded in the intersections of her identity, Dr. Pasley seeks to break down barriers and create pathways for liberation, growth, and renewal. Her work is a testament to the power of transformative action and collective hope.
Richard Rivera is a dedicated leader with over 30 years of visionary leadership and program development expertise focused on expanding opportunities for underrepresented youth. A Bronx native and first-generation college graduate, he has dedicated his career to creating and developing college access, success, and workforce programs and organizations.
Most recently, Richard served as Chief Program Officer at the I Have a Dream Foundation (IHDF), where he developed a national program framework that closes the opportunity gap within underserved communities. Before that, Richard co-founded and launched Kura Labs, an online academy providing free training and job placement in Cloud Infrastructure Engineering and DevOps for students from underserved communities.
Richard has also played key roles in launching HERE TO HERE, a Bronx nonprofit connecting youth to careers, and leading youth programs at Goddard Riverside Community Center, Kingsborough Community College (where he pioneered the ASAP retention program), and Bank Street College, where he founded a college access program called the Institute for Leadership Excellence and Academic Development Program.
An adjunct professor at multiple institutions, Richard holds a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University and master’s degrees in Urban Affairs (Hunter College) and Public Administration (Baruch College). He is currently a Fellow at the Pahara Institute 2025 leadership development cohort.
Dr. Heang Leung Rubin has worked as facilitator, advocate, researcher, community builder, storyteller/evaluator, teacher, and researcher. She is the Principal and Founder of CHIC Community Engagement Consulting. CHIC is a local firm specializing in the practice of community engagement through facilitation, community building, storytelling, applied research, contemplative practice, and creative healing. CHIC infuses their core values of compassion, harmony, imagination, and celebration into the work that they do with their clients. They are committed to using participatory, creative, and somatic approaches to thier work. One of their strongest skills is deep listening and giving clients the space to dream into new possibilities for their work. Some of their recent projects include facilitation and community engagement for Chinatown HOPE, Project RISE, and the Chinatown Cultural Plan.
Prior to the founding of CHIC, Dr. Rubin was an Assistant Professor in Public Health and Community Medicine the Tufts University School of Medicine. During her time at Tufts, she founded ADAPT, an academic-community research partnership between Tufts and Chinatown. ADAPT focused on research that addressed community-identified priorities including housing, problem gambling, environmental justice, emotional wellness, arts and culture, and open space.
Dr. Rubin has a Masters in Urban Planning from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Doctorate in Education from Harvard University. She is also a certified qigong instructor and reiki practitioner.
Igor Souza is a bilingual creative leader and social entrepreneur whose journey embodies the American dream. Raised by a single, immigrant mother, Igor’s early understanding of perseverance led him to co-found Fresh Truck at age 20, a nonprofit initiative bringing healthy food to underserved communities.
Drawing from over 13 years of digital and design experience, Igor recently launched Capetivate, where he helps nonprofits tell their stories and grow their impact through thoughtful digital strategies. His hands-on approach to web design, brand development, and technology has helped numerous mission-driven organizations build sustainable paths forward.
At Capetivate, Igor combines innovative technology with practical solutions, proving that business success and social impact belong together. His growing interest in AI tools has opened new doors for his clients, while his unique background helps him connect cultural dots in today’s diverse landscape. Most importantly, Igor never loses sight of what matters most – using technology to strengthen communities and create lasting change.
Jeremy Scheiner is an independent DEI consultant and practitioner with over a decade of experience in nonprofits and government.
Jeremy started his career as a 4th grade teacher in Lawrence, MA. Since transitioning from the classroom, Jeremy has been committed to DEI and civil rights work, including serving as Manager of Diversity Initiatives for UP Education Network and the Director of Training, Recruitment, and Legislative Affairs for the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD), the MA government agency charged with enforcing MA civil rights law. In his role with the MCAD, Jeremy’s oversaw a team that trained ~10,000 Massachusetts residents in state anti-discrimination law including the first ever sexual harassment training for the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Most recently, Jeremy served as the Deputy Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) where he oversaw all internal diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work for the ACLU national office. At the ACLU, Jeremy created innovative programming including the first organization-wide DEI strategic plan. Jeremy has an M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from Boston University and a B. A. in Education Studies and Women’s Studies from Washington University in St. Louis.
Jackelin Trevino has over a decade of experience driving change for greater social justice addressing concerns that impact Latino and disadvantaged communities. Her research, organizing, advocacy, and training skills are focused on engaging and building capacity among residents and organizational stakeholders to address their concerns. Her work and experience with arts organizations are an essential part of her toolbox for utilizing storytelling and other art forms to inform and organize communities to action. Her intersectional organizing, facilitation, and campaign management experience centers relationship development and cultivating shared understanding across different issues and strategic approaches to collaborative goals.
Jackelin recently served as the Membership Movement Manager with the National Center for Responsive Philanthropy. Her prior work experience includes Program Grants Manager for the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures, Consultant, South Texas Border Capacity Assessment Project Manager, and founding Executive Director of the Pluma Blanca Community Theater in McAllen. She holds a B.A. in Communications Studies from UT Pan American, and proudly lives in the Rio Grande Valley.
For the past 10 years, Erin Lynn Williams (she/her/Elle) has held leadership roles in intermediary philanthropic institutions that resource activists and movements advancing sexual and reproductive justice and narrative and cultural strategy. As an advisor, facilitator, and coach, Erin has also led journeys for philanthropists who want to deepen their value alignment and giving practices in service of social justice, repair, and liberation.
Erin is a Black mixed-race radical listener, trust-based grantmaker, and change manager and has lived and worked in Canada, Belgium, Botswana, Jamaica and the U.S. as an advocate, counselor, and sexuality educator. Erin holds a Master of Social Work from Carleton University and a graduate certificate in Principles and Practices of Organization Development from Columbia University.
She weaves her love of singing, dancing, theatre, somatic, and mindfulness practices into her life and work. She is currently an Artist in Residence with Our Collective Practice and is learning to DJ. Erin speaks English and French, is motivated by cultivating deep relationships and trust, and tries her best to live up to Kay Ryan’s words: “Intention doesn’t sweeten. It should be picked young and eaten.”
Juliana (Juju) Wong, M.Ed. (she/her) is a bicoastal educator, entrepreneur, and content creator based in New York City and San Francisco. With 14+ years in higher education, Juju centers the social identities and emotions of first-generation, BIPOC students, and children of immigrants throughout the college process.
Juju is also a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategist who integrates her ethnic studies lens into curriculum design and program development for schools and nonprofits. Her ultimate goal is to create culturally-affirming and equitable college and career pipelines for diverse communities to feel valued and empowered in their educational and professional pathways.
Juju received a Master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs at the University of Maryland, College Park and completed a B.A. in Communications from UC San Diego.
As we celebrate the arrival of this inspiring new cohort, we look forward to seeing their growth and the lasting impact they will have in the nonprofit sector. These talented professionals bring fresh ideas, deep expertise, and a shared commitment to strengthening communities. By investing in their development, we are fostering a more inclusive and innovative landscape for nonprofit consulting. Stay connected for updates on their journey and the meaningful contributions they will make in the months and years ahead.