Fatimah Halim is the designer, facilitator, and author of Rites of Passage Programs for Phoenix area youth. This commitment to youth has driven her passion for over 30 years. Her dedication to promoting the development of women and girls is also evident in her Journey Home Program: An Arts Experience for Incarcerated Women and in her book, “Blueprint for Womanhood:  A Rites of Passage Handbook for Growing Girls. In Zhenzhou, China, she was a guest of the Shanghai Women’s Federation, where she presented a workshop on her Rites of Passage Program at Sias International University.

Imani Muhammad has been committed to mental health education in our community for over 30 years.  Ms. Muhammad is a psycho-therapist who has donated her time and services and assisted those with Mental Health challenges. She has averted suicide attempts and has worked with families with troubled children. Ms. Muhammad has been with the Rites of Passage program since its inception.  She instructs classes, develops curriculum, and donates her counseling services to participants and families.  Ms. Muhammad is also a key member of the Journey Home Program for Incarcerated Women where she provides counseling and support to the women in Estrella Jail. 

Bridgette I. Williams has a passion for giving back to community and inspiring and impacting future generations, which is evidenced in her work coordinating the ROP Mentoring Program. She is a mother of one and ASU Alumni holding both Bachelors and Masters degrees. Bridgette is originally from Long Beach, California who has lived in the Phoenix area for 12 years and works as an academic adviser for an online University. When Bridgette isn't enjoying time with her daughter, she spends her free time reading, plays women's' tackle football and pursuing business endeavors.

Stacia Holmes has over twenty years of professional experience in supervision in the areas of youth development, budget and finance, cultural enrichment, juvenile diversion, prevention, and the fine arts.  In that time she has managed numerous recreational facilities for the City of Phoenix, a youth enrichment program for YMCA, a federally funded drug prevention program for middle school aged participants, and gender and culture specific programs.  For the last 14 years, she has administered intervention programs serving youths and adults for the City of Phoenix, Parks and Recreation Department with over 10 years in class and event programming.

Ebone Johnson's background includes a myriad of things: From Translating and Interpreting for Spanish speaking Clientele to Account Exec at one of the leading local radio stations, but her heART is in ART! An avid lover of thrifting and painting she decided why not put the two together creating Rejected Thrifts! Hailing from the great state of Mississippi, This Southern Belle enjoys giving back to the community and volunteering wherever she's needed. She is the owner and muse behind Rejected Thrifts as well as the Program Director for a local non-profit FIBCO Family Services Inc.

Champion for Women and Girls

Teniqua Broughton is a transformative leader with a lifelong commitment to empowering women and girls. As the CEO of VerveSimone Consulting, Teniqua has dedicated her career to fostering leadership development, advancing equity, and driving systemic change. Her work spans nonprofit governance, leadership training, and creating opportunities for women to thrive across industries.

Teniqua's passion for uplifting women is reflected in her 20+ years of leading impactful initiatives such as ASU Gammage's Journey Home program, which empowers incarcerated women through creative expression. She also served as Managing Editor for Achieving My Purpose's annual Celebration of Women book, celebrating BIPOC women breaking barriers in arts and culture.

A visionary entrepreneur, Teniqua was one of several leaders who helped to launch the African American Women’s Giving Circle (AAWGEC) and rebranded the State of Black Arizona’s African American Leadership Institute. Her innovative contributions extend to redefining grant-making practices and championing diverse leadership in the arts. Recognized for her excellence, Teniqua has earned accolades such as Worth Magazine’s Worthy 100 and Arizona Capitol Times’ Women Achievers of Arizona. Through her work, she continues to inspire and pave the way for future generations of women and girls to achieve their full potential.

Angelica Lindsey-Ali is a wife, proud homebirthing mother of 4, and a lifelong lover of African culture. A native of Detroit, Angelica studied African and African American Studies at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. She has spent over two decades both locally and internationally in the fields of education, public health, refugee rights, and social work, endeavoring to help end systematic inequities inflicting Black people across the Diaspora.

She is a certified sexual health educator and the lead consultant for Beautiful Abyss, an online information-sharing portal for Black women’s health and wellness. After returning from a 5 year stint in the Middle East and West Africa, Angelica has been conducting program supervision and development, as well as capacity building for organizations who have established educational and public health initiatives within the African American community. Angelica is the co-founder and Vice President of Endé Education, an American based educational management company operating branches in Phoenix, AZ and Accra, Ghana.

Davena Levon was the Administrative Director of Fight for Life No Excuses Nonprofit organization, a role she held from 2018 to 2022. Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Davena grew up in North Phoenix, often being the only Black female in many spaces, which shaped her commitment to fostering inclusive and empowering environments.

As a proud wife and mother of six children, Davena is deeply dedicated to ensuring that her family remains connected to their heritage and community. To instill these values in her children, she enrolled children in black youth programs, the key initiative of these organizations was to reinforced cultural identity and personal development.

In her professional capacity, she is known as Sister Davena, she was the overseer of daily operations for the organization, managed administrative functions, and collaborated with staff and community partners to drive the organization’s mission forward. Her strategic leadership has been essential in optimizing resources and expanding the organization’s impact.