the

team

Candice Crawford

Operations and Finance Director

Photo by Constance Mensh Photography

Candice Crawford serves as the Operations and Finance Director for me too. International. She has dedicated her career to public service working to innovate solutions for operational efficiency and revenue growth and management. She has served in leadership capacities within the organizations where she has led strategic and capacity building processes, as well as assisted with fundraising efforts that has garnered grant funding and other resources.

Candice continues to engage in community service efforts related to education, workforce, and community development by serving on boards and advisory groups such as Teach for America of Metro Atlanta, Families First, Atlanta Beltline 67, and MAFDET. Additionally, she is a member of LEAD Atlanta Class of 2019.

Candice graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Spelman College. She also earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from City University of New York-Baruch School of Public Affairs where she was a recipient the National Urban Fellows Public Service Fellowship.

Dani Ayers

Chief Executive Officer

Photo by Constance Mensh Photography

Dani Ayers is an organizational development and strategy executive. She has led inside small, grassroots organizations, as well as multi-billion-dollar enterprises over the last 18 years. Her passion for the multi-layered work of racial and social justice, gender equity, and education has been the center point of her career path and leadership development. She has held roles as Enterprise Executive Vice President with Black Women’s Health Imperative, Director of Organizational Development for a portfolio of Boys & Girls Clubs in the Southwest US, and Managing Director with Art Sanctuary, a Black arts for social change organization in Philadelphia. Dani specializes in building organizational infrastructure and developing internal operations and culture in service to mission. As the first CEO of me too. International, the organization undergirding the work of Tarana Burke’s visionary ‘me too.’ Movement, Dani built the global organization’s foundational infrastructure and has led day-to-day operations for the past six years. Dani has a Bachelor’s degree in public relations and a Master’s degree in African American Studies, both from Temple University. Dani lives in metro Atlanta and serves on several boards and advisory councils. She loves spending time with her three nephews, traveling the world, reading historical fiction, and semicolons.

Iresha Picot, M.Ed, LBS

Healing and Support Specialist

Iresha Picot, M.Ed, LBS is a Licensed Behavior Specialist and Therapist. A Philly transplant by way of Virginia, Iresha is the co-editor of the book, “The Color of Hope: People of Color Mental Health Narratives” and has written articles in the Research in the Teaching of English, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Elephant Journal, Aunt Chloe’s Journal, and For Harriet. She has been featured in NPR, NBC, WHYY, 6ABC, Bicycle Magazine, FOX29, and PBS American Portraits. Iresha directed her first short film with Love Now Media, called the “The Do-Over”, which explores the transformation from childhood trauma to renewal and community responsibility. In 2021, Iresha hosted a “Sis, are you good?” digital series with Girltrek, INC that centered Mental Health check-ins with Black Women and piloted a virtual therapeutic program for people incarcerated with the prison abolitionist organization, “Let’s Get Free”. Iresha is the founder and ride leader for Black Girl Joy Bike Ride, a bicycle accessibility group for Black Women in Philadelphia. Black Girl Joy Bike Ride just made Philly magazine’s “Best of Philly” for 2024.

Jazmine Wilson, JD

Digital Organizer

Jazmine Wilson (she/her) is a digital strategist, lawyer, and advocate. She is a native of Cincinnati, OH, and a proud graduate of the Southern University Law Center, and The Ohio State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Strategic Communication in 2013. She also earned a Public Policy Certificate from the National Institute of Lobbying & Ethics in 2022.

Jazmine’s work centers vulnerable and underrepresented communities, particularly Black women and femmes and Black queer folks, and is situated at the intersection of social justice, policy analysis, and digital media. She has served on multiple nonprofit organization boards and held multiple leadership positions as a law student, and in her communities. Jazmine was also an inaugural Fannie Lou Hamer Government Relations Fellow with the Congressional Black Caucus Institute in 2022, and a Research Intern with the Lavender Rights Project for two years. As Digital Organizer, she applies her unique creative-legal lens to the creation of compelling narratives and campaigns that highlight evidence-based research and community action toward the eradication of SGBV.

Natasha (Natty) Camille

Healing and Support Specialist

Natasha (Natty) Camille, LMSW, is a psychotherapist who works with individuals, couples, and families. They currently work at NYC Affirmative Psychotherapy, a group practice that centers queer and TGNC people of color. Natty has an extensive history of working with adolescents and young adults of color across gender and sexuality spectrums in the capacity of a clinician, an educator, and an advocate. As a clinician, they focus on identity development (particularly in the areas of gender and sexuality), racial trauma, intimacy & relationships, as well as survivors of violence.

Natty has been committed to anti-sexual violence activism and education ever since they were in high school. Some of their most notable work includes serving as a peer educator at their university’s rape crisis center, leading their chapter of Take Back the Night to be more inclusive of the stories and experiences of survivors of color, and designing & implementing an afterschool program named T.R.U.T.H. (Thinking Resistance and Uniting Through Healing) Project for young Black women and TGNC youth to address topics such as sexual violence, consent, and body autonomy through discussions, activities, and experiential healing exercises.

Shesheena A. Bray

Director of Programs and Partnerships

Photo by Constance Mensh Photography

Mother, therapist, activist, educator. Shesheena A. Bray is a Boston native who has taken up roots in Philadelphia. Shesheena came to Philadelphia to attend Temple University in 2003 and fell in love with the rich culture of the city. In service to her new home, Shesheena dedicated over a decade to deepening her understanding of her community’s needs as an educator and social justice advocate. In 2014, Shesheena realized her service to Black and Brown communities was best actualized through her passion, mental and emotional wellness. Honing her focus and training, Shesheena earned her M.S.Ed in mental health counseling from The University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education in 2016. In 2017, Shesheena launched Going Inward Wellness, LLC. Through Going Inward Wellness, LLC Shesheena sees individuals and couples for psychotherapy; hosts wellness workshops for global majority women; teaches mindfulness to youth and adults; and hosts a 10-day morning routine program, The Morning Routine Refresh. Notable assignments and partnerships include The People’s Emergency Center; the Life After Trauma Organization (LATO); the North Philadelphia Community Healing Project; Village of Arts and Humanity; GirlTrek; What is Mindfulness (WIM); the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia; and ArtWell. You can also join Shesheena at her weekly virtual meditations, The 720 Meditation.

Tarana Burke

Founder & Chief Vision Officer

Photo by Portraits to the People

For more than 25 years, activist and advocate Tarana J. Burke has worked at the intersection of sexual violence and racial justice. Fueled by commitments to interrupt sexual violence and other systemic inequalities disproportionately impacting marginalized people, particularly Black women and girls, Tarana has created and led various campaigns focused on increasing access to resources and support for impacted communities, including the ‘me too.’ movement, which to date has galvanized millions of survivors and allies around the world.

Aishah Shahidah Simmons

Contributor

Aishah Shahidah Simmons is a Black feminist lesbian award-winning documentary filmmaker of the groundbreaking 2006-released Ford Foundation-funded film, NO! The Rape Documentary, and the editor of the 2020 Lambda Literary Award-winning anthology, Love WITH Accountability: Digging Up the Roots of Child Sexual Abuse. Simmons’s long term-cultural work, activism, and scholarship are informed by her lived experiences as a child sexual abuse survivor, adult rape survivor, and Buddhist committed to preventing, disrupting, and ending the inhumane pandemic of sexual violence, humanely. She has presented her work and lectured extensively across North America, and in numerous countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Simmons is on Twitter, @AfroLez, and #LoveWITHAccountability® and on Instagram, @lovewithaccountability

Andrea Glik, LMSW

Contributor

Andrea Glik, LMSW is a somatic trauma therapist, writer, and educator. Andrea specializes in treating trauma, nervous system dysregulation, and PTSD, prioritizing women, survivors, and queer & trans folks. She utilizes neurobiological, body-based and feminist therapy practices to help clients come home to themselves. Andrea can also be found on Instagram @somaticwitch and at andreaglik.com

Aredvi Azad

Contributor

Aredvi Azad is a sex and relationship educator and certified coach focusing on the intersection of childhood trauma and adult relationships. They are a queer and genderfluid immigrant writing and producing educational material for nearly a decade. Aredvi is the business manager and co-partner at The HEAL Project at heal2end.org.

Follow Ignacio and Aredvi on social media: @heal2end

Ayanna De’Vante Spencer

Contributor/Author of 'me too.' Framework

Ayanna De’Vante Spencer is a doctoral candidate in philosophy at Michigan State University from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. As a Black feminist epistemologist, Ms. Spencer’s research examines structural epistemological challenges for survivors of sexual violence to argue that survivors face epistemic oppression beyond disbelief and insufficient public uptake. In particular, she centers on the experiences of Black, cisgender, and transgender girl survivors in the U.S. context to highlight sexual violence as structural violence. Moreover, she is passionate about political education, youth leadership and organizing, and community power for gender and racial justice. Contact: spenc315@msu.edu.

Biany Pérez, LSW, M.Ed

Contributor

Biany Pérez, LSW, M.Ed (she/her) is a licensed social worker, trauma therapist, educator, and full-spectrum doula. Biany specializes in treating trauma, PTSD, and anxiety for women and femmes, people of color, and LGBTQ+ folks, using psychodynamic, body-centered, and feminist practices to help clients access their inner wisdom, and heal and grow through life’s many challenges. Biany lives in Philadelphia with her partner and three children. You can learn more about her at www.bianyperez.com.

Billye J. Jones, LCSW

Contributor

Billye J. Jones, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker who has spent more than two decades in the field. Her work primarily focuses on children, adolescents, adults, and families impacted by trauma and child sexual abuse. Billye incorporates her passion for child sexual abuse treatment, prevention, intervention, and developing trauma-informed programs in her multiple roles. She is the author of We Can Prevent Child Sexual Abuse: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers. To learn more about Billye and her work, you can visit www.BillyeJones.com.

Dr. Michael Chan-Frazier

Contributor

Dr. Michael Chan-Frazier is a trainer with BEAM and provides mental health workshops, helping to facilitate trainings on gender, identity, and holistic health with a focus on wellness and self-care. Since 2000, Michael has worked as a therapist in multiple clinical settings ranging from private practice to intensive & residential settings. Recognized and awarded as an innovative therapist and social service worker in the community. In addition to his work at BEAM, Dr. Michael is the Lead Therapist and first Black C.A.R.E. Certified, SOULva Specialist in the world, at the VANDA HOUSE, a wellness center and lighthouse, to raise the awareness to a mindful & conscious lifestyle that serves your highest good & helps you create joy for themselves and for others while interrupting intergenerational trauma.

Holiday Simmons

Contributor

With a background in social work, education and performing arts and activism, Holiday Simmons has worked with youth in foster care, taught GED courses, managed education initiatives and facilitated numerous creative writing and spoken word workshops with groups of youth, LGBT people, women and Africana and Latino communities both in the United States and abroad.

Ignacio G (Hutía Xeiti) Rivera, M.A.

Contributor

Ignacio G (Hutía Xeiti) Rivera, M.A., is a cultural sociologist with expertise in sexual trauma, healing, and liberation for marginalized populations. They are an internationally known gender non-conforming speaker, educator, writer, and performer. Ignacio is the founder and co-partner at The HEAL Project, on a mission to prevent and end childhood sexual abuse through healing the wounds of sexual oppression and embracing sexual liberation.

Kaia Naadira

Contributor

Kaia Naadira is a filmmaker and photographer originally from the historic city of Selma, Alabama. Kaia’s work is inspired by and almost exclusively centers stories from the black, queer community, often with an experimental twist. Believing in centering truth in all their work, many of their projects are informed by real moments in their own life to remind people that they are not alone. Kaia attended Howard University for film but is largely self-taught finding the biggest lessons have come from making connections, building community, co-developing projects, and using their experiences to learn and grow as an artist. Their work has been screened at the BlackStar Film festival in Philadelphia where they won an Audience Award for best short in their age group as well as the Black Trans Media film festival and Revolve Film Festival. Their photography can also be seen internationally in magazines like Les Inrock and Glamour. They currently reside in New York City and are looking forward to the next adventure.

Kaia Naadira

Content Curator and Research

Kaia Naadira is a non-binary filmmaker and photographer originally from Selma, Alabama. Kaia’s work is inspired by and almost exclusively centers stories from the black, queer community, often with an experimental twist. Believing in centering truth in all their work, many of their projects are informed by real moments in their own life to remind people that they are not alone. Kaia attended Howard University for film but is largely self-taught finding the biggest lessons have come from making connections, building community, co-developing projects, and using their experiences to learn and grow as an artist. Their work has been screened at the BlackStar Film festival in Philadelphia where they won an Audience Award for best short in their age group as well as the Black Trans Media film festival and Revolve Film Festival. Their photography can also be seen internationally in publications like Salty, Glamour, Les Inrock, and USA Today as well as featured on metoomvmt.com and the Advocate. They currently reside in Brooklyn and are looking forward to the next adventure.

Kelli Ffrench-Parker

Content Curator and Research

Kelli Ffrench-Parker is an actress, artist, photographer, and communications professional from Decatur, GA. A graduate of Howard University, she received a B.A. in Strategic Legal and Management Communications with a concentration in Media Management and a minor in Economics before moving to New York City where she currently resides.

Kelli’s love of the visual and performing arts sparked her immense appreciation for creative processes and various forms of creativity, including acting, modeling, painting, drawing, graphic design, spoken word, social media strategy, and photography. Whether in front of the camera or behind it, she’s happy to be a part of the creative process to bring innovative ideas to enhance the world. Her career has allowed her to work with major brands like Hasbro, Ulta Beauty, Coca-Cola, Lyft, M. Night Shyamalan, Serena Williams, and more.

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Dr. Yaba Blay

Board Member

Dr. Yaba Blay is a scholar-activist, public speaker, and cultural consultant whose scholarship, work and practice centers on the lived experiences of Black women and girls, with a particular focus on identity/body politics and beauty practices. Widely respected as one of the foremost thought leaders on Black racial identity, colorism, and beauty politics, Dr. Blay is a globally sought-after speaker and consultant with an extensive client list of over two dozen academic institutions including Harvard University, Duke University, Spelman College, New York University, to name a few; and such corporate entities as Netflix, UniLever International, SheaMoisture, Estee Lauder Companies, Procter & Gamble’s ‘My Black is Beautiful,’ and the #meToo. Movement.

Dr. Yaba Blay earned a Master of Arts and PhD in African American Studies (with distinction) and a Graduate Certificate in Women’s Studies from Temple University. She also holds a Master of Education in Counseling Psychology from the University of New Orleans. The former Dan Blue Endowed Chair in Political Science at North Carolina Central University, she has also taught on the faculties of Lehigh University, Lafayette College, and Drexel University, where she served as the Director of the Africana Studies program.

Elizabeth Hanley

Board Member

Elizabeth Hanley serves as the Deputy Finance Director for Administration, Development and Training in the Office of the Director of Finance for the City of Philadelphia. With over 13 years of experience within the City of Philadelphia in citywide budget oversight and financial strategy, Elizabeth leads the Administrative Services Center (ASC) in addition to development and implementation of citywide fiscal staff training, and Annual and Five-Year Capital Program and Fiscal Year Operating with multiple funding sources for the Office of the Director of Finance. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Science from the Business College at Western Michigan University with a focus in Finance and International Business Management.

Imani Perry

Board Member

Imani Perry is the Hughes-Rogers Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University. She is the author of 6 books, including the critically acclaimed Breathe: A Letter to my Sons and the award-winning: Looking for Lorraine: The Radiant and Radical Life of Lorraine Hansberry and May We Forever Stand: A History of the Black National Anthem. Perry’s creative nonfiction work has appeared in publications such as The Atlantic, The Paris Review, The New York Times, and she frequently provides commentary for documentaries on Black history, art, and culture. Perry holds a Ph.D. in American Studies from Harvard University, a J.D. from Harvard Law School, an LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center, and a BA from Yale College. She currently lives in the Philadelphia area with her two sons.

Laura Brown

Board Member

Laura Brown is the Editor in Chief of InStyle, one of the world’s most successful fashion media brands. Appointed in August of 2016, she is responsible for InStyle’s voice, content, strategy, and brand extensions. Helming a brand that reaches 30-plus million women, Brown oversees the core magazine, digital across all platforms and nine international editions. In addition, she leads the development of the ‘InStyle Badass Women’ platform, hosts InStyle’s weekly podcast ‘Ladies First’ and live events such as the annual InStyle Awards and the Golden Globes party. Previous to InStyle, Brown spent eleven years at Harper’s Bazaar, rising to the role of Executive Editor, and was Articles Director of Details and Senior Editor at W. She earned her BA in arts and communication from Charles Sturt University in New South Wales, Australia.

Thenmozhi Soundararajan

Board Member

Thenmozhi Soundararajan is a Dalit American artist, community organizer, technologist, and theorist. Currently, Thenmozhi is the Executive Director of Equality Labs, which she co-founded. Equality Labs is the largest Dalit civil rights organization working to empower caste-oppressed people in the US and globally. Through her work at Equality Labs Thenmozhi has mobilized South Asian Americans towards dismantling eons-long systems of oppression, with the goal of ending caste apartheid, gender-based violence, white supremacy, and religious intolerance. Thenmozhi previously co-founded Third World Majority, an international media training organization and collective that supported people from disenfranchised groups in telling their own stories, in their own way.

Her intersectional, cross-pollinating work—research, education, art, activism, and digital security—helps to create a more generous, global, expansive, and inclusive definition of South Asian identity, along with safe spaces from which to honor the stories of these communities. Thenmozhi’s work has been recognized by U.S. Congress, , The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, The Producers Guild of America Diversity Program, The Museum of Contemporary Art, The Sorbonne, Source Magazine, Utne Reader, The National Center for the Humanities, The National Science Foundation, The Ford Foundation, and The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. She was also an inaugural fellow of the Robert Rauschenberg Artist as Activist and the Atlantic Foundation for Racial Equity. You can order her new book the Trauma of Caste from North Atlantic books to learn more about her work around caste equity, abolition, and healing.

You can find her on twitter, instagram, and facebook at @dalitdiva and Equality Labs@equalitylabs.

Wade Davis

Board Member

Former NFL Player Wade Davis is an educator, advisor, and public speaker on gender, race, and orientation equality, and currently the VP of Inclusion for Product at Netflix. Wade was the NFL’s first LGBT inclusion consultant, where he worked at the intersection of sexism, racism, and homophobia to build inclusive leadership strategies and national engagement initiatives. Before joining Netflix, Wade consulted for Google, P&G, Viacom & 21st Century Fox around inclusive leadership and building inclusive cultures. Wade is a United Nations Women Global Impact Champion, a Ms. Foundation for Women board member, and Global Champion for GirlUp. He’s a former NYU and Rutgers adjunct professor, 2012 President Obama surrogate, and a feminist. Wade Davis was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and graduated from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and received an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from Northeastern University.

the team

the

team