A look back

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 ZBey tha Poet is a writer and spoken word hip-hop artist based in Richmond, VA. Along with music, basketball and uplifting people to be the best version of themselves, she pursues her passion as an educator, mentor and community advocate. This project is tapping into the core of herself to identify who Zenobia is to be able to help others. Through her art and community engagement with various organizations throughout the Richmond area she seeks to impact a community and nation of people. In 2012 she founded the grassroots non-profit Community 50/50. 

  Melody Gross is a motivational speaker, facilitator, and certified professional life coach who values freedom, connection, and the voices of those silenced. As a resilient survivor of domestic violence, Melody brings an energetic and empathic approach to her calling. She is the founder and Chief Domestic Violence Disruptor of Courageous SHIFT, a speaker and consulting agency. Courageous SHIFT partners with value-driven, people-centered, action-taking organizations committed to compassionate, diverse, inclusive, and equitable solutions to support all employees through keynotes, programs, trainings, and policies. 

As a speaker, she shares stories of reclaiming your resilience, living your values out loud, parenting after abuse, and the impact of domestic violence on the workplace. Melody lives by the Henry Miller quote, “Every [person] has [their] own destiny: the only imperative is to follow it, to accept it, no matter where it leads [them].” Beyond work, Melody can be found crystal shopping, candle collecting, museum hopping, and being criticized for her clothing choices by her teenage son.

Lenise Mazyck MSW, LCSW, CCTP,NIMHP (She/Her) is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Lenise graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. She then went on to obtain her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of South Carolina, returning to Virginia to bring the work back to where it all began for her.

She has become a “student of others”, growing a love for helping people work through lifelong trauma from a holistic perspective. She works with women of color one on one as a mental health therapist and has the core belief that “Rest is your right, not your reward” She is certified in trauma informed practice, grief, complex trauma, the effects of nutrition on trauma and the brain. Her specialties include areas such as: anxiety, depression, Adult ADHD, and life changes for people of color. Lenise enjoys building connections with clients based on their own needs where everyone can learn from each other.

When she is not in the therapy office, Lenise enjoys teaching social work students at Virginia Union University as an assistant professor in the Social Work Department. She also enjoys spending time with others and loves to travel and experience other cultures in an immersive way.

Demetra Bradley, MCJ is an established Empowerment Speaker, Author and Owner of Foxy Defense and Protection, LLC. Through law enforcement and military assignments, Demetra interacted with countless women in domestic violence and sexual assault situations. She realized the lack of resources for women to learn how to physically, mentally, and emotionally protect themselves. This prompted her to open Foxy Defense and Protection, LLC, whose mission is to educate and train women to protect themselves by equipping them with the mental and physical tools necessary to increase their confidence and self-esteem.

 As a result, Demetra became certified as a Self Defense Instructor and teaches women only self- defense classes. She also speaks about the steps, importance, and necessity of being READY for an attack by being Prepared, not Scared! In her spare time, Demetra likes to spend time with her family, go roller skating, and test out Pinterest recipes. 

Forever Foxy 

 Shana Francesca is a Keynote Speaker, Consultant, Workshop Facilitator, and Scholar of Intentional and Ethical Leadership and Living.  She is the Founder & CEO of Concinnate LLC.  Shana has been interviewed on more than 100 podcasts worldwide and has been published in Medium, Authority Magazine, Shoutout LA, Emotional Intelligence Magazine, and Emerge Magazine. Shana has worked with clients like the Council for Brain Injury, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Mainline Chamber of Commerce.  Shana believes our present and future are transformed when we infuse our lives with intention, design our lives, and realize the power of continually practicing curiosity, respect, and accountability.  

 Colleen Coles is a Spiritual Healer for successful women who crave deeper intimacy in their lives and with themselves, while expanding their wealth, legacy and mission.   

Colleen has helped hundreds of clients since 2015 overcome deep levels of trauma through her energetic healing work that traditional counseling can't seem to reach.   Whether she’s working with her clients on healing sexual trauma or releasing codependency she has incredible tools to help clients trust themselves and step powerfully into higher realms of success with bravery, authenticity, true freedom, pleasure and fun!   

As a certified life coach through the Divine Living Academy, and a Tantra practitioner having worked with Psalm Isadora, Colleen’s mission is to help spiritual women make a real difference in the world being all of who they are.   She has studied with the likes of Gabrielle Bernstein and Tony Robbins, she surfs, travels, horseback rides, and lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband, dog Kona, and 3 year old son. 

"Dr. Rachael prides herself on her direct and practical approach to communicating with and caring for her patients."

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While maintaining her medical practice in Gary, Indiana, Dr. Rachael Ross commuted back and forth to Hollywood, CA serving as a co-host on the Emmy® Award-winning talk show, The Doctors®. For three consecutive seasons she was the approachable Family Physician on the show that viewers worldwide related to.

As a sexologist, her engaging manner has garnered comparisons to Dr. Ruth Westheimer. A pioneer of groundbreaking discussions about relationships, sex, abstinence, HIV/AIDS prevention, and vaccine safety, Dr. Rachael has spread her message to audiences across the world on television, social media and numerous publications.