Our Team

FIONA OLIPHANT Co-Founder & Principal Consultant, she/her

Fiona’s personal mission is to create a world that centers on those living on the margins of our society by valuing their lived experiences, amplifying their voices, and realigning current systems of power. She has been an intern, legal advocate, program manager, staff attorney, trainer, public speaker, and director. Each position has been a fundamental building block priming her for sustained social impact work.

Fiona is the current Board President of the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence and has been on the board for 8+ years. She is also on the Legal Resource Center’s Board and was a Board Member for the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence. She was the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement for the DC Coalition to End Sexual Violence in 2018. Prior to that, she was Acting Director of the Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project (DVRP) for over two years. Before relocating to the DC metropolitan area, Fiona was the Director of a legal advocacy program for survivors in New York City, where she extensively engaged Caribbean, African, Asian, and Latinx communities and provided direct immigration representation.

Regardless of her role, Fiona was always mindful of how race, class, religion, gender, sexual orientation, income, language, etc., formed formidable barriers to equitably accessing services. Consequently, she began to specialize in cultural humility, racial equity, anti-oppression, and culture change work. She supports main stream service providers to better engage marginalized communities. Fiona also works to empower culturally specific communities striving for equitable access to power and resources. Fiona’s approach to racial equity and culture change work is that it must be firmly rooted in honest, self-reflective, and challenging communications. Building on that foundation, Fiona encourages participants to develop their cultural humility skills, understand the dynamics of oppression (particularly racism), become more conscious of their biases, have a stronger understanding of how to work with marginalized communities and have the skills to deliver higher quality, equitable services.

Fiona firmly believes that our identities, ALL of our identities, are sources of strength, ingenuity, and connection.  Some of her most valued identities are a mother, spouse, first-generation Jamaican-American, avid reader, and perpetual globe trotter. Fiona is also an unwavering optimist who believes that collectively, we can end violence and oppression. 

JESS AYDEN LI, Co-Founder & Principal Consultant, she/her

Jess is a social justice activist, certified diversity coach, trainer, community organizer, and consultant. She’s worked for 15+ years in the social sector with non-profits. Her background is in working to end gender-based violence, creating long-lasting social impact, and working with communities of color.

She’s previously served as the Executive Director of San Francisco SafeHouse as one of the few woman leaders of color in non-profits in San Francisco. She was also the Executive Director of the Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project in Washington, D.C. Jess has worked for the United Nations Mission in Sudan and the International Rescue Committee.

Jess has also served as the Director of Impact Initiatives at the LeaderSpring Center in Oakland. CA where she focused on leadership development in the non-profit sector and training on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Asian Women’s Shelter in San Francisco and has been also a facilitator for Women in Management groups at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. She’s a proud New Yorker who spends her free time with her rescue dogs, Hansyn and Kobe.

CASSIE WHITEBREAD, Senior Consultant, she/her

Cassie believes that transformational change will come from action-oriented communities using an intersectional lens. She identifies as a radical educator and community builder. She strives to create safe learning spaces where people can embrace their multitudes and unlearn the norms of white supremacy culture.

Prior to diving into the nonprofit sector, Cassie was a middle school science teacher, master composter program coordinator, and environmental educator. She currently works as the Education Director for Seattle Works where she facilitates a cohort-based program for folks to examine their anti-racist journeys and decolonize the non-profit sector. On a bi-weekly basis, she co-facilitates a BIPOC-only space for people to connect, share resources and heal. She spends her free time cooking with friends and going on runs with her dog, Otis.

STACEY PHENGVATH, MSW Intern, she/her

Stacey is a Master of Social Work student focusing on macro social work policy to alleviate the pain and suffering of vulnerable communities. A daughter of Lao refugees, Stacey grew up caregiving for her immigrant family at a young age, often interpreting and advocating for access to healthcare for her aging elders. She is passionate about health equity and is interested in exploring the impacts of social determinants of health on communities of color. Stacey completed a bachelor's degree in Sociology and has lived in six different countries since 2011.