Daniel Oppong
Founder
Nani Vishwanath
Consultant & Facilitator
Sunday Helmerich
Consultant & Facilitator
FREEDOM S. Maitreya
Researcher, Facilitator
& Consultant
Isaac Addae, PHD
Consultant
Kelli Nowers
Consultant
Grace Twesigye
Consultant & Facilitator
Mari hegyi
Consultant & Facilitator
LAUREN FRANKLIN
Facilitator
isis avalos
Consultant & Facilitator
Consultant
KENNY APPLEWHAITE
Consultant
Sasha Rojas, phd
Daniel Oppong
A little about me
I’m Daniel (He/Him), and I’m the Founder of The Courage Collective. My experience includes work in Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital, Tech, Consulting, Education, and the Nonprofit Sector. I care deeply about humanizing the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion conversation, bringing impactful ideas to life, and creating meaningful, memorable, and transformational experiences with & for others.
What courage means to me
Courage means showing up in moments big and small. It means understanding and embracing your own humanity and the humanity of others. It means taking the risks, doing the work, and becoming the better, more beautiful world we hope for and believe in. And perhaps most of all, for me — Courage means creating a life I love and building things I believe in with people I enjoy.
Nani Vishwanath
A little about me
I’m Nani (She/Her), and I’m a Facilitator & Consultant with The Courage Collective. I walk this Earth as a South Asian woman, a mother, an activist, a coach, a teacher, and a student. My professional background includes work in Human Resources, Technology and Higher Education. My mission in life is to empower the voices of those that are not often heard, and I strive to create spaces where those voices are celebrated, respected and understood.
What courage means to me
To me, courage means moving forward and into the unknown. A courageous person, organization or community embraces the unknown and sees it as an opportunity to grow, learn and evolve. Courage can show up in big moments and experiences, or can be demonstrated in small, every day acts. Both are important and both will make us better.
Sunday Helmerich
A little about me
I’m Sunday (They/Them), and I’m a Consultant & Facilitator with The Courage Collective. I am an advocate for fostering psychological safety in learning spaces to equip folks to absorb new concepts, acknowledge current biases, and feel intrinsically motivated to make the changes necessary to create equity in their workplace. As a gender queer person, showing up authentically - and feeling the safety to do so - is very important to me. The desire to create more safe spaces in businesses fueled my decision to leave the music industry, earn my Master’s in Org Psychology, and roll up my sleeves to help organizations transform into safer, more inclusive places for all.
What courage means to me
Courage means showing up authentically, meeting others where they are, and handling conflict with grace. Courage means having the resilience to continually stand up and advocate for equity for all. Courage is the willingness to admit when you're wrong and the humility to continue learning.
Freedom S. Maitreya
A little about me
I'm Freedom (He/Him), and I am a Researcher & Consultant with The Courage Collective. I am a learning and development strategist who believes in the inherent value and interconnectedness of all life. My professional experiences have afforded me the opportunity to lead research projects on six of seven continents, and I enjoy using the lessons I've absorbed to cultivate psychologically empowering cultures that yield inclusive communities. Compassion is my highest value; freedom is my highest aim.
What courage means to me
The word 'courage' comes from the Latin root "cor" which means 'seat of the heart.' Courage is a consistent decision to live bravely from our deep inner knowing. This isn't easy at all . . . as a matter of fact, it is probably the most terrifying commitment any of us can make; however, it is also one of the most exhilarating experiences we can have. Courage, then, is a paradox--for it asks us to intentionally face our deepest fear so we can discover our deepest joy.
Isaac Addae, PhD
A little about me
I’m Isaac (He/Him), and I’m a Consultant with The Courage Collective. As a first-generation Ghanaian American, I consider myself to be a change agent dedicated to shifting the trajectory of individuals, communities & organizations. My professional background includes work in military/defense, information technology, consulting, higher education and the nonprofit sector.
What courage means to me
I view courage as the ability to live and behave in a way that fully aligns with your morals and values. Being courageous may challenge societal norms and perspectives. Exemplifying courage in your daily life may even force you out of your comfort zone. However, I believe it is our duty to be an example of courageous living for the benefit of those around us and the world we live in.
Kelli Nowers
A little about me
I’m Kelli (She/Her), and I’m a Consultant at the Courage Collective. A life-long hunger to learn and commitment to transformational change has driven my professional experience and ongoing creative pursuits. My academic background centered on gender, antiracism, anti-militarization, and social movements which I now incorporate into my leadership at a grassroots nonprofit advocating for positive policy change for women and kids. Writing has always been a healing and creative outlet for me, so I am naturally drawn to stories and symbolism as a means to speak truth and make change.
What courage means to me
I view courage as intentional expansion outside of your perceived limitations: the worldview you grew up in, the societal norms you are told to fit into, your comfort zone. I think it is courageous to get curious and ask questions about systems and structures that you have taken for granted. Ultimately, I think it is courageous to change your mind and evolve.
Grace Twesigye
A little about me
I’m Grace (She/Her), and I’m a Consultant with The Courage Collective. I am a first generation Ugandan-American whose favorite titles include: mother, partner, sister, coach, friend, and bibliophile. My professional history includes work as a people strategist, employee advocate, and attorney. My background, beliefs, and temperament guided me into the liberatory work of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and I am honored to continue the work in this space.
What courage means to me
Being scared and doing it anyway.
Acting in ways that will instill pride in your ancestors and descendants.
Getting knocked down, taking a deep breath, and mustering the will to stand up one more time.
Going through life with the following phrase as a commandment: “But still, like air, I’ll rise.”
Mari Hegyi
A little about me
I’m Mari (She/Her), and I’m a Facilitator with The Courage Collective. For the past 10 years I have worked to build company cultures where employees feel valued. My objective in life is for everyone to see and be seen, for everyone to get to enjoy the full range of the human experience, and to be able to cultivate a life of meaning. This is not possible unless we all turn inward and untangle our own stories and beliefs and create new ones that better serve ourselves and each other. I’m energized by beauty, connection, and love.
What courage means to me
To me, courage means standing in your values and power. It means, being scared, and doing it anyway. I believe that you can’t live a purpose-driven life without courage, which is exactly why we all need more of it.
Lauren Franklin
A little about me
I’m Lauren (She/Her), and I’m a Facilitator with The Courage Collective. My favorite titles include wife, daughter, sister, outdoor enthusiast, aspiring chef, and change agent. With a background in research, tech, higher education, and employee engagement, I find myself most inspired when I can use data to tell stories that transform teams, businesses, and organizations.
What courage means to me
Courage means activating your authentic self. In a culture that often rewards status, competition, and perfection, to show up as your flawed, vulnerable and human self every day takes true courage. And when that authentic self shows up and brings courage along with it, I believe that’s what truly sparks meaningful relationships, change, and connection.
Isis Avalos
A little about me
I’m Isis (e-sees) (She/Her), and I’m a Facilitator with The Courage Collective. I am a Mother, Mexican, Immigrant and Movement Artivist. My professional background is in the Non-profit Arts sector both administratively and in Performance. My lived experience as an undocumented person in the South Texas borderland has and continues to, inform my forever-journey of decolonizing. I truly believe the body stores ancestral memory to help guide us as we walk in this path of remembering how to be with one another
What courage means to me
Courage is swimming across that river without knowing how to swim with the deep belief that something better is on the other side. Courage, are the Native languages still being spoken today.
Sasha Rojas, PhD
A little about me
I’m Sasha (she/her/ella), and I’m a Consultant with the Courage Collective. My longstanding interest in serving underserved and marginalized populations has been heavily informed by my professional journey and lived experience as part of a first-generation Hispanic-American family. My doctoral training has provided me with a strong foundation in the scientific method and evidence-based practice, which I intentionally aim to take forward to empower underserved communities. As a clinical psychologist, I value the practice of evidence-based care from a culturally-humble perspective and innovative models of care delivery to most effectively reach those in need.
What courage means to me
Courage in my mind is a word that calls to action. I believe to have courage is to make the daily decision to engage in value-driven behaviors. It takes courage to follow one’s moral compass despite adversity and any uncomfortable emotions that may arise. Courage is powerful and I believe it’s our anchor as we strive toward a value-driven life.
Kenny Applewhaite
A little about me
I’m Kenny (He/Him), and I’m a Consultant with the Courage Collective. As a queer person of color, I have a vested interest in diversity and equity work and am always looking for opportunities to connect and transform. With a background in strategic communication, relationship building, and content creation, I've successfully managed social media accounts, executed influencer marketing campaigns, and implemented public relations strategies for a diverse range of clients and organizations. I'm looking forward to leveraging my skillset to bring fresh ideas to the collective.
What courage means to me
Courage is having the inner strength and bravery to face fear, adversity, or challenges, despite the feelings potentially holding you back. It involves taking risks, standing up for what is right, and facing difficult situations with resilience, determination, and integrity.
