Rooted in Justice

Adam Hassan (he/him) is the National Advocacy Manager at Justice Outside, where he supports ROOT Hub’s work to build movement-wide advocacy infrastructure for equitable youth outdoor access and environmental learning. In his role, Adam helps advance policy strategy, governance, coalition-building, and field engagement efforts rooted in racial justice, community leadership, and collective power.

Adam brings experience across public policy, advocacy, international affairs, and nonprofit strategy. Prior to joining Justice Outside, his work focused on policy research, governance, human rights, and cross-sector collaboration, including experience with Amnesty International and the United Nations Foundation. Across his work, Adam is especially interested in how policy can be shaped by the communities most impacted by public systems and how institutions can become more accountable, accessible, and responsive.

Adam holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University, where he focused on human security and development, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Virginia Commonwealth University, with a concentration in civil rights.

A first-generation Somali-American raised in the Washington, DC metro area, Adam brings a global and community-centered lens to his work. Outside of work, he enjoys basketball, hiking, traveling, spending time with friends and family, reading, and exploring local and national parks.

Aly Whalen (she/her) has worked tirelessly the latter part of 15 years towards youth access to services, juvenile justice, inclusion, equitable outcomes and community empowerment. Aly has a passion for healing the BIPOC community through access to experiences they may not have had before. She believes strongly in the need of breaking generational cycles through addressing trauma all while simultaneously healing. She has dedicated her career to the nonprofit sector and state government in youth development, teen education, juvenile justice, and substance abuse. She is passionate in ensuring all communities have equitable access to services and community spaces.

Prior to joining Justice Outside, Aly was the Regional Director for the Massachusetts Juvenile Justice Agency, and previously an executive that focused on teen parenting programs, affordable housing and equitable education. Aly’s understanding of the BIPOC community, personal experience, and commitment to building a more equitable world for the BIPOC community to experience, makes her a key player to the Justice Outside team.

Amanda (she/her) has worked in nonprofit organizations since 2005, while in college at California State University, Fresno. From her start at Break the Barriers, to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and now with Justice Outside, she has dedicated her skills to work with organizations that improve the lives of the people in her community.

Born in Central California, Amanda has enjoyed access to Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, along with other recreation areas for decades. These days, her favorite activities include hiking through familiar places, discovering new trails, fly fishing small streams in the Sierra and spending time with her pets. She believes everyone deserves the enjoyment of the outdoors and is proud to be part of an organization that is actively working towards ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to seek it.

Anna (she/her) is the Individual Giving Manager at Justice Outside. She moved to the Bay Area to attend UC Berkeley, becoming a first-generation graduate with a B.A. in Cognitive Science and minors in Ethnic Studies and Global Poverty and Practice.

Before joining Justice Outside, Anna worked with organizations focused on fighting commercial sexual exploitation, advocating for formerly incarcerated individuals in New Orleans, and amplifying AAPI narratives in film. Across all her work, she is deeply committed to relationship-building and community-centered impact, believing in the power of empowering individuals to create lasting change.

In her role, Anna brings a people-first approach to fundraising and development. She is passionate about fundraising that centers community care, equity, and accessibility, ensuring that fundraising efforts reflect the values of justice and inclusion. She strives to build genuine connections with donors and supporters, recognizing that fundraising is not just about financial contributions but about long-term partnerships that sustain movement work.

Growing up in Santa Cruz, Anna developed a deep connection to the outdoors—spending time at the beach and walking through her neighborhood to recharge. She understands that outdoor access is not always equitable and is committed to ensuring that everyone feels safe, welcomed, and empowered in nature. She hopes to help people experience the outdoors in a way that feels meaningful to them, rather than seeing nature as something only accessible through a weekend trip to a national park or an expensive ski pass. Whether it’s a local park or a green space just a short commute away, she believes that connecting with nature should be accessible, affordable, and part of everyday life. Through her work, she is dedicated to breaking down barriers to outdoor access and advocating for inclusive, community-driven outdoor experiences where all people can feel a sense of belonging.

Outside the office, Anna enjoys photography with her Pentax film camera, dipping in the ocean, and weekend flea market trips with her family.

As a passionate storyteller, natural connector, and dedicated advocate, Bren brings over a decade of experience in public relations, marketing, and communications to her role at Justice Outside. With a deep love for the outdoors and a commitment to making nature accessible to all, she finds great joy in crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to connect with the natural world.

Originally from Mexico City, Bren immigrated to Colorado in her early teens, where she developed a deep appreciation for the state’s awe-inspiring landscapes. Her expertise spans various industries, including nonprofit, government, and healthcare, providing her with a unique perspective in her role as a communicator and bridge-builder. Bren takes pride in her ability to delve into complex issues and craft messages that resonate with diverse audiences.
With a BA in mass communication and public relations from Adams State University, Bren is well-equipped to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of marketing and communications. When she’s not dedicating her time and energy to advancing Justice Outside’s mission, Bren can be found exploring Colorado’s stunning trails with her family, discovering hidden gems in the local food and beverage scene, or tending to her many, many, many house plants.

Cameron (they/he) is the Senior Learning & Impact Training Specialist at Justice Outside, where they work to design and deliver training and consulting services for outdoor partners who are working toward a just world. They use their training in social work and mindfulness to ground their efforts in a holistic, strengths-based foundation. Their work focuses on power building and sharing, using a holistic trauma-informed framework. With a background in project management, meeting facilitation, teaching, and evaluation, they work to empower communities to work toward a world where everyone has the opportunity to live the life they want. Cameron holds an LMSW in Texas after earning their MSW degree from TCU; a B.A. in Religion from Southwestern University; and is a Qualified Teacher of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction through the University of California San Diego’s Center for Mindfulness. Outside of work, they enjoy plant-based cooking, any time outside, photography, making music, and spending time with their partner, Mel, little one, Davey, and dog, Laika.

Danielle is a dynamic fundraiser who has spent the last 12 years helping arts, cultural, and environmental nonprofits raise funds through a multifaceted approach to support their mission, Her work at Justice Outside focuses on growing and nurturing individual donors, connecting them fully to the mission.

Danielle is passionate about equity and inclusion, working to disrupt the power dynamics that have been in place for far too long and creating more equitable communities for future generations. She strongly believes in the intersectionality of racial and environmental justice especially surrounding land use, water quality, food systems, and outdoor recreation.

When she is not raising funds to advance Justice Outside’s programs, Danielle can be found hiking or on the beach with her family, leading art gallery tours, and reading every book she can get her hands on.

In her role as the Southwest Program and Grantmaking Manager, Deanna (she/her) strives to build collective power by facilitating investments to Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color marginalized by colonization and racism. In partnership with community and anchored in racial equity, Deanna seeks to disrupt cycles of disinvestment and promote liberation and self-determination in the outdoor space and environmental movements. Prior to joining Justice Outside, she worked primarily in the areas of immigration and housing with a focus centering on Black and Indigenous communities. When she’s not working, you can find Deanna deep in a novel or in her garden under the New Mexico sun praying for rain.

Dr. Mary Traylor (they/she) has a passion for and experience in camp and retreat programming and educational leadership. They have worked in the field of education and camp programs, in various capacities and at various levels, for over 15 years. Mary has substantial experience with coaching, instructional design, and program development. Mary’s own identities as a Queer Black-Biracial person, along with their gifted ability to look at situations from a variety of perspectives, have influenced their work with creating dynamic educational experiences and programming that disrupts racist, ableist, patriarchal, and cis-heteronormative practices, while centering the wellbeing and needs of historically marginalized identities. Mary’s professional work is heavily influenced by the works of Audre Lorde, bell hooks, and Assata Shakur.

Before joining Justice Outside, Mary was Director of Student and Family Support at New Heights Charter School, a charter school in South Central Los Angeles, and Program Director at Pilgrim Pines Camp and Conference Center. Mary has obtained a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California, and is an avid life-long learner. When Mary is not working they love a good nap, a good walk, and binge watching fun tv shows.

Currently on unceded Yokuts Land, Central Valley California, Central California, Eliza Jane Palao (They/them | Siya) has worked in the Community based leadership/nonprofit sector since 2019. Eliza Jane has dedicated their career to philanthropy, creating brave spaces, and building community. As a change maker and social justice warrior in their community, they hope to continue being a positive change in society.

Eliza Jane has an immense love and respect for native land since an early age growing up around the world with their family. In 2020, they obtained their B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Philanthropic and Community-Based Leadership. During this time, they developed a love for the Central Valley mountains and wanted to make environmental change after seeing the outcome from California’s intense fires. They joined the 2019-2020 CCAC (California Climate Action Corps) as a fellow, planting over 300 trees and doing fire restoration by collaborating with national and local environmental organizations.

Following their time with CCAC, they went on to obtain their M.A. in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peace-building from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2023. During their graduate school they participated in the Spring 2023 OEI and has since been a part of the Justice Outside Team ever since

Outside of the office, Eliza Jane can be found spending time with their enormous family and wonderful friends. You’ll find them enjoying nature, building community, and binge watching shows and movies.

As an advocate, therapist, and mentor, Elizabeth brings over two and a half decades of experience in mental and behavioral health, and nearly 20 years of leadership in the nonprofit, youth-based sector — particularly in staff development, training, and organizational culture.

Having grown up in predominantly white spaces, Elizabeth is deeply aware of the barriers to access and inclusion in the outdoors. She has spent much of her career advocating for — and creating — opportunities for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to experience safety, joy, and belonging in nature. She has presented at national conferences, facilitated workshops, and participated in panels focused on equity, inclusion, and the transformative power of outdoor connection.

Elizabeth believes in the power of storytelling to move people from awareness to action. Whether leading a training or holding space in a circle, she creates environments that are brave, grounded, and open — inviting people to show up authentically, learn deeply, and explore new ways of thinking and being. Her work is guided by a strong belief in relational leadership and the healing power of connection.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Cycling Association, which focuses on middle and high school mountain biking, and Afros in Nature, a non-profit organization in Northeastern Pennsylvania that aims to “plant seeds of safety in natural environments” for individuals of color.

A lifelong lover of the outdoors, Elizabeth can often be found cycling, hiking, paddleboarding, or photographing the natural world. When she’s not outside, she’s likely listening to a good podcast (not true crime — that stuff is weird), reading, editing nature-based videos, collecting random facts, traveling, or living up to her title as the “Cool Auntie.”

Ethan (he/him) is the Movement Building Coordinator at Justice Outside, where he supports programs and networks rooted in racial justice and community mobilization.

 Ethan has spent the last several years as a youth backpacking guide, ski instructor, environmental educator, and managing gear libraries. He previously served as the Program Coordinator for Justice Outside’s Outdoor Educators Institute. He is dedicated to making the outdoors an equitable and accessible space through supporting grassroots movements and leaders.

 In his free time, Ethan is an avid skier, climber, ramen enjoyer, and a pickleball enthusiast. He also enjoys playing card and board games, watching movies, and playing with his cat.

Isabel Rangel (she/her) is the Development Associate at Justice Outside. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Isabel earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, as a first-generation college student. During her time at UC Berkeley, she served as a peer counselor and research assistant at the Language and Cognitive Development Lab.

Isabel is a strong advocate for physical and mental wellness through outdoor activities and believes in ensuring access to nature for everyone. Her personal healing experiences in nature have fueled her passion for removing barriers that prevent others from enjoying awe-inspiring outdoor experiences.

In her free time, Isabel enjoys spending time in the mountains, whether camping or hiking with her two dogs and partner. She also loves backpacking to swim in Alpine lakes. When at home, Isabel immerses herself in the world of books.

Jacqueline Delgadillo (she/her) was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and raised in Southern California. After completing her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Riverside, she worked at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as a paralegal specializing in immigrants’ rights and LGBTQI+, gender and reproductive justice issues. As the Communications & Advocacy Manager at Justice Outside, she’s happy to merge her love of storytelling and human rights advocacy.

She has enjoyed writing since she was a child and began freelance writing in 2020. Her work can be found in Teen Vogue, Refinery29, HelloGiggles, and more. In her free time, she loves working on her newsletter, In My Room, where she shares her thoughts on identity, style, and mental health.

Jacqueline believes in the power of rest in a country that demands constant productivity. She grounds herself through nature walks, yoga, and spending time with her loved ones.

Jake (they/them) is the Rising Leaders Fellowship Assistant at Justice Outside and grew up on Tongva land in Southern California. During their time at California State University, Long Beach, they received a Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies as a first generation graduate while actively studying the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior, Assata Shakur, bell hooks, & Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer.

After college, Jake explored their passion for working with youth in multiple different roles including being a Soccer Coach, Camp Director, Environmental Educator, and Playworker. While each role worked with youth in a unique way, their goal was always to center the kids’ experience, advocate for their needs, and contribute to their joy!

Outside of work, Jake enjoys listening to music, land tending, observing urban nature in Los Angeles, and contributing to community science platforms like INaturalist. Ask them about how one of their observations shut down a botanical garden!

Jess Rivas (she/ella) is the Rising Leaders Fellowship Manager at Justice Outside. She is from the land originally and still inhabited and cared for by the Tongva, Tataviam, Serrano, Kizh, and Chumash Peoples aka North Hollywood, California. She is a first generation graduate and received her B.A. in Cognitive Science with a minor in Socio-Cultural Anthropology.

Jess has worked alongside the brilliant minds at the University of California, Merced as the Yosemite Leadership Program coordinator and lead Yosemite Wilderness Ranger. Since the start of her career, she’s worked towards ensuring environmental programs and experiences were centered around equity and accessibility and that programming was relevant to communities. She’s worked with over 50 environmental organizations consulting and coaching their equity and inclusion journeys.

The outdoors can be healing and although everyone deserves access, she works to understand the systemic barriers that keep people from enjoying these spaces. The highlight is working with the industry baddies who come through the Justice Outside programs. These leaders inspire, recharge and motivate her to continue the journey of disrupting cycles of poverty and inequality with humility.

Outside of her profession, she enjoys going to hip hop shows, pop-ups, magazine stands and museums with friends, learning about the esoteric wonders of the world, daydreaming, falling in love and styling clothes she finds at flea markets and thrift stores. Ask her about her vinyl collection.

With over 25 years of experience in strategic planning and community engagement, Kim Moore Bailey (she/her) provides the leadership and vision that drives Justice Outside’s work, shifting resources to, building power with, and centering the voices and leadership of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to advance racial justice and equity in the outdoor and environmental movement.

As President and Chief Executive Officer of Justice Outside, Kim guides the overall strategic direction for the organization and supports the leadership team as they manage the organization’s grantmaking portfolio, training and capacity-building programs and on-going advocacy work.

Kim is a frequent speaker and thought leader on topics related to racial equity and inclusion in the outdoor and environmental fields. As a facilitator, she has supported many individuals and organizations in thinking about equitable access to nature and designing outdoor spaces and programming that supports this goal.

Prior to Justice Outside, Kim was a Vice President with Outward Bound where she supported their city-based programs, and she was the Mayoral appointee as the Manager for Denver Parks and Recreation.

Kim serves on the Board of Directors for the Children & Nature Network, The Redford Center, The National Recreation Foundation, and the Blue Sky Funders Forum.

Mariah (she/her) brings a wealth of experience supporting executive leaders in philanthropy. Her role focuses on providing comprehensive support to our C-Suite executives and ensuring the smooth operations of schedule coordination and correspondence. She has a deep commitment to advancing racial equity and values the power of community to bring about systemic change.

The impactful work being done to amplify the voices of Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color in the environmental movement is what drew Mariah to Justice Outside. Nature has been a powerful healing space and a catalyst for her own growth and healing. She believes in the mission of the organization to ensure equitable access to resources, opportunities, and decision making in the outdoor space.

Mariah is a birth doula and advocate for infant and maternal health. She is passionate about reproductive justice and changing the astronomical disparities in Black maternal health by means of advocating, educating, and community engagement. Mariah also facilitates yoga and mindfulness programming for youth impacted by the justice system. She is dedicated to making sure that our youth have the resources and support that they need to heal and thrive.

In addition to her love for community and philanthropy, Mariah enjoys spending time with family, Ethiopian food, working out, ceramics, and farmer’s markets.

Michelle (she/her) is a Grantmaking and Program Manager for the Liberated Paths program. Working in Lenapehoking, also known as the Delaware River Watershed, she is a first generation American with a B.S. in Earth and Environmental Science from Susquehanna University and an M.S. in Hydrogeology from the University of Pennsylvania.

At the nexus of science, policy, and social justice, she strives to bridge the gap between Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color and the outdoors. Whether it is clean water, air, soil, or food, she believes it is a human right to have equitable access to natural resources. Michelle has done water quality and equity work in the Dominican Republic and has spent time studying the implications of climate change in Australia, specifically on Aboriginal communities and coastal ecosystems.

Her love for the outdoors started young, rooted in her grandparents’ relationship with their gardens and her family’s overall love for long walks. Of Syrian and Portuguese descent, Michelle has a passion for learning about different cultures and a deep love for food. In her free time, she enjoys searching the city for sustainable forms of produce, calming bodies of water, and BIPOC bookshops. Her Sunday morning routine consists of volunteering at a local community mutual aid fridge, hiking Wissahickon Valley Park, and tending to her plant babies.

Based in Philadelphia, PA, Oskar Castro (he/they) has worked for mission-driven organizations focused on social justice concerns for a few decades. He is a 1992 graduate of Rowan University, where he majored in Law & Justice with attention to human rights. As a young Puerto Rican interested in self-determination for Puerto Rico, this charted his intention to work for social justice after graduating from college. His non-profit experiences include working with the American Friends Service Committee, INROADS, Inc., and more recently, serving as the Director of Human Resources for Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and the Director of People & Culture for IllumiNative.

Oskar likes to emphasize the “human” side of Human Resources and has long focused on the wellness of the teammates he has worked with over the years. A public speaker/coach who helps people to consider their potential for mind & body wellness along with personal & professional goal setting, Oskar believes that we are all supernatural and he enjoys talking about the power of meditation to meet our goals.

Partnered with an incredible spouse and the father of two adult children who operate in the arts, Oskar is also an activist and artist who enjoys spending his free time making music, creating art, and writing. Oskar is excited to sojourn with Justice Outside as his love for nature and connection to the natural world inform how he approaches his work, his art, and his life.

Rachele Lopez (she/her) is the Grantmaking and Program Manager for Federal Grants on the Liberated Paths team. She has 9 years of grant writing and management experience and has worked for 11 years in environmental monitoring, research, and program facilitation.

Rachele was born and raised in the ancestral lands of the Coahuiltecans people (San Antonio, Texas) and grew up camping in parks where her love for the outdoors began. Rachele was a Peace Corps Volunteer for three years in Zambia where her grassroots work focused on rural aquaculture, community health, and women’s empowerment. She worked for 6 years to establish long term and sustainable relationships with local organizations in unceded Kumeyaay territory (San Diego) that represent and serve environmental justice communities with an emphasis on water quality and reducing equity barriers to outdoor access.

Rachele has a B.S. in Environmental Science with minors in GIS and Geography from Texas A&M University, and an M.A. in Peace and Justice from University of San Diego. She is passionate about environmental justice and applying an intersectional lens to all aspects of her life. She loves going to the beach, local parks, and aquarium. She is a proud plant mama that specializes in growing strawberries.

For Rena (she/her), her love for this work boils down to her personal experience of loving the outdoors, not feeling like she was represented and receiving messages that she didn’t fit into the “outdoorsy” white-centered narrative. She never wants someone to walk into an outdoor space and feel that they don’t belong. In her role, she works toward racial equity in the outdoor field by building power with Leaders of Color through grantmaking rooted in relationships. She is proud to work daily to honor their outdoor leadership, strengths, and our collective communities’ connection to the outdoors.

I have always had a personal and spiritual connection with the outdoors and nature, where I find power, healing, inspiration, and beauty. The outdoors belongs to all of us, and is a place where we can learn more about ourselves, our cultures, and each other. As the father of two children of color, I want a world where my kids — and all kids — have their own authentic connections to the outdoors.

I have dedicated my career to the nonprofit sector for more than three decades, working in recreation, youth development, education, international development, and mental health. I am passionate about fundraising and organizational advancement to help advance equity and justice in the outdoor sector.

Prior to working with Justice Outside, I served in several leadership roles at Playworks and with the YMCA of San Francisco. I am excited to join the Justice Outside team, providing support and power for historically marginalized communities. As Chief Advancement Officer, I am eager to continue working towards building a path to equity in the outdoors that is innovative, authentic, and timely.

Based in Roanoke, Virginia, Sarah Allison (she/her/hers) has dedicated her career to building organizational capacity through trauma-informed care, cross-cultural communication, and program management. As Justice Outside’s Senior Director of Operations, she is passionate about refining internal systems to empower leaders to execute their missions with efficiency and joy.

Raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Sarah’s love for the outdoors started early as she spent time near the Chesapeake Bay and camping with her family. After relocating to Georgia and completing her B.A. in Spanish Language and Culture from Valdosta State University, she developed a love for backpacking and hiking while building her administrative and communication skills as an English for Speakers of Other Languages teacher.

Seeking a deeper connection to the outdoors, Sarah relocated to Colorado and completed her M.A. in International Human Rights from the University of Denver in 2015. Sarah worked abroad as a consultant for organizations including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Rise Against Hunger. Additionally, she has served as the Evaluation Director for TEAM Wellness & Prevention, Data and Partnerships Manager for United Way of Larimer County, and Program Manager for CASA of Larimer County.

Outside of the office, Sarah can be found cycling through the Blue Ridge Mountains pointing at cool plants, hiking and foraging with her dog, Mister Dog, and volunteering in a variety of mutual aid roles in her community.

Sarah Layton (she/her) is Justice Outside’s Chief Financial Officer. She has spent her career building strong administrative backbones for mission-driven nonprofit teams. Sarah has a passion for navigating systems that are used as or designed to be barriers to structural change on behalf of those fighting for social justice, and for building confident financial literacy within board and staff teams.

Prior to joining Justice Outside, Sarah was the VP of Finance & Operations at WorkMoney, Inc, and previously held leadership roles at organizations within the reproductive health, rights, and justice movement and the care economy space. Sarah’s history of strategic financial leadership, and her personal commitment to equity in all spheres, make her a motivated member of the Justice Outside leadership team.

Outside of the office, Sarah can often be found hiking in the Oakland redwoods, cooking for friends and neighbors, or snuggling in the hammock with her dog.

Sierra Mathias (she/her) is the Director of Movement Building & Advocacy at Justice Outside, where she oversees programs that build power with community-driven movement networks in the outdoor and environmental sectors. Her work focuses on advancing racial justice through grassroots organizing, community mobilization, and environmental leadership programs.

Sierra is particularly passionate about exploring intersectional, multidisciplinary approaches to environmental problem-solving. Prior to her current role, she was the Operations Coordinator at Justice Outside, where she focused on building organizational capacity through streamlined systems and equitable program design. This included spearheading trust-based grantmaking, developing accessible leadership programs, and offering consulting support to environmental organizations committed to advancing anti-racism within their operations.

Sierra holds an M.S. in Environmental Justice from the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability, and a B.S. in Social Ecology and Urban Studies from the University of California, Irvine. Outside of work, Sierra enjoys cooking, gardening, moving her body outdoors, and playing the piano.

Toya (she/her) serves as the Human Resource Specialist at Justice Outside. As part of her responsibilities to help expand the organization and secure top talent, Toya not only drafts position descriptions and assist in the interview process, but she has completed a very thorough and comprehensive review on the title of employees and a compensation analysis based on national data ensuring equity across the organization. Before joining Justice Outside, Toya served as a consultant supporting organizations in the areas of Human Resources, Fundraising, Strategic Direction, and Event Planning.

Prior to that, she served as the Director of Community Impact at United Way of Dane County in the area of Self-Reliance & Independence ensuring that older adults and people with disabilities are able to live independently and stay in their homes. Toya has always had a passion to better the lives of people especially those who consistently experience being the lonely, the least, and the left out. Toya is a native of Chicago who grew up on the city’s Southside. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry and Master’s Degree in Business Administration. In her spare time, Toya likes spending time with family, planning events and shopping at her favorite store “TJ Maxx.”