OUR FOUNDER & HISTORY

Academy Instructor

Jessica was born and raised in Miami, Florida and moved to California to complete her MFA in Screenwriting. Having lost her parents at a young age, she always felt she lacked peace and true happiness. Finding a passion in Creative Writing, she found a healthy outlet that inspired, not only healing, but Social Justice, as well. At that moment, Jessica made it her mission to teach youth from marginalized communities that their voice was not a choice; it was an opportunity to seek and evoke change. The majority of what we keep silent, speaks volumes – so it is imperative to rewrite the narrative. 

With a background in Journalism, Jessica teaches Upward Bound students the true value of ethics and the impact the media has towards it. But her biggest passion lies in breaking generational curses within the girls who look just like her. Having been called inferior or insignificant based on race and sex, she truly understands how words can hurt but they can also heal. Jessica feels it is important to teach young women how diction is the most powerful weapon in the world, they simply have to use it explosively.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Dawn L. Brown joined the EmpowHer team in October 2020. She has more than 20 years of nonprofit management and consulting experience, and has served as the Executive Director of three well-respected nonprofit organizations across California. In each role, Dawn successfully launched fundraising and marketing strategies that increased company revenue, improved program delivery, and expanded advocacy and policy efforts for youth of color from economically disadvantaged communities.

As an advocate and strategic thought partner, Dawn has led advocacy initiatives that successfully became California legislation and/or established best practices for eliminating gender bias within the juvenile justice system, decriminalizing sex trafficked girls, implementing community-based gang intervention strategies, and ending the shackling of pregnant women. Dawn has also served on various advisory boards and think tanks focused on issues affecting women & girls of color.

A proud native of Washington, DC, Dawn has spent the past five years returning home to support her family and supporting local and national initiatives that are fighting to ensure racial justice and eliminate gender bias in America.

Dawn helped to develop educational theater curriculum for public and private schools in New York City and was an Acting Instructor at Atlantic Theater Company in NYC. Dawn graduated from the prestigious Duke Ellington High School of the Arts in DC, received her BFA in Acting from New York University’s renowned Tisch School of the Arts and a MA in Drama Therapy from New York University’s School of Education.

Board of Director

Angel James Horacek practices employment and civil rights law on behalf of employees, focusing primarily on anti-discrimination work. She represents employees in courts, arbitrations, and administrative hearings. She also counsels employees in select pre-litigation matters.

She is admitted to practice in all state courts in California, in the United States District Court for the Central, Northern, and Southern Districts of California, and in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She was also an extern in the chambers of the Honorable Andrew J. Wistrich of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

She is the co-chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Saturday Seminar Committee, which presents continuing legal educational programs for lawyers and law students several times through the year. She is also an active volunteer with the Los Angeles Black Workers Center in View Park.

Prior to starting her own firm, Ms. Horacek was an associate commercial litigator at an AmLaw 100 firm focusing on business and corporate clients. She then transitioned to representing individuals as an associate attorney at a boutique employee-side litigation firm.

Academy Instructor

What does it mean to be a change agent, a leader, and a mentor? It means marrying your passion and mission to your work and showing up authentically in your purpose to advance and support the lives of those around you. As a Loyola Marymount University alum, Xavia Janisse had the opportunity to graduate with a degree in Psychology and African American Studies as she worked with renowned educators. Her educational background informs how she approaches her work with youth of color in communities riddled with stigma and inequities. Her field of study allowed her to explore the psychology of gender, psychology of diversity, social justice, and a myriad of other subjects. During her time at LMU, she was able to work with community activists and lead ethnic and intercultural initiatives on campus as well as in the community-at-large.

In addition to her educational background, she works with youth of color at College Track, a college preparatory and completion program that deconstructs systemic and systematic barriers in education. Her work at College Track is student-centric and student-led to ensure the scholars feel empowered to rewrite their narratives through experiential learning opportunities while providing them with meaningful, case-by-case interventions. In her role, she also gets to develop curriculum, implement youth trauma-informed care practices, and instruct/facilitate workshops that support students as they explore and express their intersecting identities.

These experiences have equipped her with the tools and skills to advocate for youth and support them with tangible resources and equitable opportunities to better leverage their educational experience, not just as a student, but as a whole person. Her pedagogy is informed by an interdisciplinary and culturally/gender-responsive lens that uses social-emotional learning as the foundation for enrichment. Her educational background and professional experience support her vision and passion specifically for the advancement of young ladies of color, who are truly her “why”.

Academy Instructor

Passion and a strong work ethic have defined Staci Janisse’s incredible journey as a child of God, wife, mother, and transformational life coach. Following her academic career at Grambling State University and the University of Kansas, she served a 14-year sentence in Corporate America and is now dedicated to pursuing her God-given assignment. Formerly a Regional Sales Development & Sales Manager, she is now dedicated to helping heal and develop women suffering from emotionally arrested development. Staci recently served as the General Manager of Kale My Name LA in 2022, a 100% plant-based/ globally inspired restaurant owned by social media mogul Tabitha Brown and Neiman Golubovic.

Staci Janisse is honored to walk into her passion serving as the Community Resource Manager at EmpowHer Institute as of November 2022.

This organization falls directly in line with her dream.

Staci’s dream/assignment is to create a Women’s Empowerment Organization that empowers and encourages gracefully broken women to draw strength and tools from their experiences to fulfill their spiritual assignment. As a survivor of cancer and post-partum depression, Staci definitely has a spiritual calling on her life. “I believe supporting women’s empowerment is going to help me fulfill my purpose; women who are suffering from low self-esteem and lacking value are ready to receive the keys to unlock the chains that bound them from fulfilling their spiritual assignments.” I firmly believe, “A woman who heals herself heals her mother, heals her daughter, and heals every woman around her.”

Programs Assistant

Yvette Marquez was born and raised in Southern California. She has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a psychology minor. During her undergraduate studies, she focused her research on the criminalization of youth and trauma-informed care and practice. She recently obtained her master’s degree in organizational leadership and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in public administration. Throughout her childhood, she experienced traumas that shaped her passion for service to others. Before joining us, she worked for UnitedWay of Greater Los Angeles and various higher education institutions. Yvette is committed to serving girls from marginalized communities who have experienced trauma, like herself, and is proud to serve at EmpowHer Institute as Program Manager.

Staff Member

Anne Hebert is a native of Colorado. She graduated from Denver’s Manual High School and earned her BA in history from the University of Denver.

Anne has written grants for public and private sector industries. Most notably, Anne wrote and facilitated grants for the Adams County Workforce & Business Center where she worked as a manager overseeing five federally funded programs including: TANF, Employment First (EF), Business Services, and workforce development programs for youth and adults.

Anne’s hobbies include yoga, tennis and reading. She enjoys travel and learning about cultures different from her own.

Staff Member

Shawniqua was born and raised in Los Angeles, Ca. After Completing her B.A in Politics from UC Santa Cruz, Shawniqua began her career with AmeriCorps VISTA helping Opportunity Youth with college and career readiness and community service development. Her experience with AmeriCorps deepened her desire to work in the non-profit sector, leading her to earn her Master’s in Public Administration from Cal State Long Beach. After completing her degree, Shawniqua continued to work with underrepresented youth in the education and community service space. She believes in the mission of EmpowHer and hopes that all girls are given the opportunity for growth and self-exploration. 

Staff Member

Angie Ngo is a queer, second-generation Asian-American with immigrant parents who were refugees from the Vietnam War. 

Angie Ngo’s passion for serving communities has led her to dedicate her career to non-profit work. Her commitment to non-profits began in her hometown, where she was a manager at a small, grassroots non-profit. For those 5 years, she worked closely with families battling pediatric cancer. In 2020, Angie relocated to Los Angeles County. She worked as a health worker where she helped with COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and vaccination education in marginalized areas. She also is the editor and manager for the author of the children’s book, “I Love Grandma’s House,” a book that introduces to kids the topic of biracial families. Angie is humbled to work at EmpowHer, where she gets to contribute to the strive towards intersectional equity for girls of color. 

Assistant to the CEO

Jazmin received her Bachelors in Economics from Mills College and her MBA from Mills College, Lorry I. Lokey School of Business. She is a first generation Latina college graduate that is passionate about supporting WOC to achieve their academic and career goals. During her undergraduate studies, she provided mentorship to girls in Oakland Unified School District and Los Angeles Unified School District and college prep and guidance to San Jose’s Downtown College Prep graduates. She has also provided program support to non-profit organizations. During her graduate studies, she consulted with small BIPOC owned businesses to create marketing strategies and business plans. Jazmin hopes to continue supporting women and girls on their educational paths.

Creative Director, Social Justice STEAM Camp

Dr. Dijanna Figueroa is a Marine Biologist, STEAM Educator, and Social Justice Warrior. She currently serves as the Chair of Innovation and Design where she leads the innovation/STEM team, teacheses kindergarten science, and high school marine biology. She also serves as the Creative Director of the EmpowHer Institute Social Justice STEAM camp. She is an ocean explorer, STEAM educator, science communicator, and advocate for social justice. Her curiosity and enthusiasm for the ocean and all things science are well documented in a variety of films and tv shows including Aliens of the Deep, Discovery Channel’s Mysteries of the Deep, Nickelodeon’s Noggin Knows, and The History Channel’s Ocean Explorers. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from UCLA and a Ph.D. in Marine Science from UC Santa Barbara. She brings her experience, enthusiasm, knowledge, and love of science into her classroom through hands-on engaging, and innovative experiences. As an advocate for STEAM education- she is committed to adding the arts and design to the science, technology, engineering, and math equation. She has over two decades of classroom teaching experience in grades k-12 and has collaborated with a variety of education non-profit such as the Two Bit Circus Foundation, EmpowHer Institute, Black Girls Dive Foundation, Bridge Builders Foundation, Boys and Girls Club of Los Angeles, National Association of Black Scuba Divers, National Marine Educators Association, and Makey Makey-Joy Labs. In collaboration with the Two Bit Circus Foundation, she helped to install over 500 makerspace innovation labs in schools throughout the greater Los Angeles area. She believes that learning happens everywhere, radical kindness is transformational, and that passion, curiosity, and creativity make the world a better place. She loves watching this play out in the classroom every day.

Workforce Development Manager

Kendra joins the EmpowHer Institute team with 10+ years of non-profit experience. Before joining the team, her workforce development program experience involved working with diverse populations, including LGBTQIA+ older adults, transitional-aged youth, the formerly incarcerated, unhoused Angelenos, and junior high and high school girls at multiple LA-based organizations, including the Los Angeles LGBT Center, L.A. Kitchen, and Joan Macy School. She facilitated work readiness courses, organized employment placements for program participants, and managed internship partner relations in her previous roles.

On account of her own life experience, Kendra is passionate about non-profit work that aids young women in marginalized communities to live to their full potential regardless of the barriers they face. She looks forward to dedicating her life’s work to imparting the competencies our girls need to overcome the societal obstacles placed on them during their formative years to have a promising future.

Kendra holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton. In Fall 2022, she will begin pursuing a master’s degree in Public Administration at California State University, Los Angeles.

Academy Instructor

Siaira Shawn Harris is a youth development and empowerment facilitator & educator, advocate and artist with over 15 years of experience working with youth, artists, educators and organizers across multidisciplinary spaces in the Bay Area, New York and now Los Angeles.

While living in Brooklyn, NY, working for Center for Family Life and in partnership with Planned Parenthood, she led a 10th grade service learning program that focused on sex and reproductive health. That experience showed her that she could combine comprehensive sex education, the arts and civic action to educate and empower youth. Since making Los Angeles home, she has continued her work in civics education and sexual and reproductive health. Training students and teachers in creating democratic classrooms, developing youth voice and guiding youth to take informed action in their schools and communities, while simultaneously educating youth and parents in sexual and reproductive health. She is also an artist and co-runs an independent label and music education hub, Over Everything.

Eric Lane earned his M.A. in Administration from Concordia University and recently graduated with his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from California State University, Fresno in May 2022. Eric has over a decade of development and fundraising experience, working with a plethora of educational institutions and non-profits, including serving as the Director of Development for California Baptist University, where he worked primarily for with the athletics department, helping to raise over $1,500,000 for the unit. Prior to his time at CBU, Eric served as the Director of Development in the athletics department at Cal State Fullerton, where he oversaw fundraising, cultivated donor relationships, and set up fundraising events.

Eric also has spent time in fundraising and grant writing roles at the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, The Posse Foundation, Playworks Southern California, Culver-Palms and Westchester Family YMCA, Hoops for Kids International, Voice for Asian Elephants Society, Sarcoma Alliance, Feminist Frequency, and Kids Enjoy Exercise Now. When Eric isn’t working, he enjoys spending quality family time with his wife and three kids. He of course loves to get outside, play basketball, and relive his glory days, as he formally played collegiate basketball at Boise State.

Siaira Shawn Harris is a youth development and empowerment facilitator & educator, advocate and artist with over 15 years of experience working with youth, artists, educators and organizers across multidisciplinary spaces in the Bay Area, New York and now Los Angeles.

While living in Brooklyn, NY, working for Center for Family Life and in partnership with Planned Parenthood, she led a 10th grade service learning program that focused on sex and reproductive health. That experience showed her that she could combine comprehensive sex education, the arts and civic action to educate and empower youth. Since making Los Angeles home, she has continued her work in civics education and sexual and reproductive health. Training students and teachers in creating democratic classrooms, developing youth voice and guiding youth to take informed action in their schools and communities, while simultaneously educating youth and parents in sexual and reproductive health. She is also an artist and co-runs an independent label and music education hub, Over Everything.

Director

Staci Nicole Freeman, PHR, SHRM-CP, is a senior manager on the Partner Affairs Human Capital team at PwC. With nearly 15 years of human capital experience, she has been impactful in various capacities such as recruiting, training, coaching, employee relations, talent management, and leadership development.

Staci’s undergraduate background is in mathematics and computer science, but she was drawn to human resources as a career and has obtained various HR credentials to further her knowledge in the industry. Staci prides herself on being a natural connector and is passionate about future workforce trends, corporate responsibility, strategies that enhance diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and building high performance teams.

In 2017, Staci relocated from Hyde Park in Chicago, to the westside of Los Angeles. She enjoys hiking, painting, hot yoga, meditation, volunteering in the community, and spending quality time with friends, family, and her Lhasa Poo, Parker.

Staci stands tall in life and in the nonprofit world by leaning into her strengths and her unique blend of corporate experience, community leadership, and compassionate motivation supporting those around her in realizing their full potential.

Initially, EmpowHer Institute collaborated with the Network for Training Entrepreneurs (NFTE) to use its curriculum and develop a customized signature program called E-BEST (EmpowHer-Building Entrepreneurial Skills for Tomorrow).

The E-BEST program delivered workshops focused on building high school girls’ entrepreneurial skills as a way of engaging, learning, and preventing dropout. E-BEST workshops would impart entrepreneurial values, attitudes, and skills to girls with the highest at-risk rate of dropping out of school. In implementing the E-BEST program it became increasingly apparent that to improve academic performance for girls in marginalized communities, with a nearly 50 percent dropout rate in Los Angeles public schools, we needed to address the experiences and situations outside the classroom — pregnancy, low self-esteem, depression, family violence, sexual assault and other trauma — that profoundly affect their readiness to learn and achieve academically. We also recognized that, in order to be more effective at changing the trajectory for teen girls, it was imperative that we intervene earlier than high school.

In 2012, EmpowHer Institute turned its attention to serving middle school girls as young as 11. We developed the EmpowHer Girls Academy (EGA) and began collaborating with Title I middle schools to deliver the program. In contrast to the E-BEST program, which focused on developing entrepreneurial skills, EGA focuses on developing social and emotional learning (SEL) skills coupled with mentorship. The program utilizes SEL as a means of giving girls the skills they need to overcome the negative experiences and trauma outside the classroom – low self-esteem, depression, family violence, and sexual assault — that affect their ability to engage in school, perform academically, and reach their full potential.

In 2016, we established the EmpowHer Leaders Academy (ELA). ELA provides continued support for EGA alumni as they transition from middle school and navigate through high school. The program utilizes mentorship and tailored workshops to provide girls with the information, support and tools they need to reach their full potential and thrive.

In 2021, we introduced our Summer programs, launching a Social Justice STEAM Camp for middle-school aged girls and a paid internship program for high schoolers.

Since 2003, EmpowHer Institute has positively impacted the lives of 4,100+ Black and Brown girls throughout Los Angeles County.