SheRoars
About SheRoars
SheRoars is an eight-month leadership program that will focus on entrepreneurship education, training, and support for women of color. This program exists for the development, confidence, and economic empowerment of Black and Brown women.
SheRoars is an asset-based approach to community economic development that provides participants coaching, leadership development, and funds to help support their creative and business ventures.
We are excited to welcome our inaugural cohort.
Meet our current SheRoars’ participants:
Allyson Hixson (she/her) lives in Chicago, IL, where she was born and raised! She prides herself and identifies as an African American entrepreneur. She is also well known as a Chef, as she has worked in the industry for many years. Her favorite title of all is TeTe Pebbles, she is called this by 10 little stinkers she loves. Allyson currently works as a personal assistant and as a funeral coordinator for her church. Allyson loves to read, she is a Book Nerd through and through. She also enjoys baking, which she identifies as a true life passion. One of Allyson’s most prideful accomplishments is that she was able to win $26,000 for college through a cooking competition in which she spent a lot of time raising money for other students for college. Allyson is not an ordinary mom, she’s a fur mom. She loves her son, her car Stitch!
Lea Reniva-Cortez(she/her) is a resident of Waukegan, Illinois. She is both Filipina and Latina! Lea takes on many titles such as mother, wife, dog mom, Christian, Certified PEERS Provider, Entrepreneur, social services provider, and ASHA sexual health ambassador. She currently works as an Education Coordinator for A Safe Place at Family Visitation Center. She is also a Sexuality Educator and owner of LRC Sexuality Education! Lea is passionate about serving and helping others and standing in the gap for people with disabilities, especially those who are neurodivergent (ex. Autistic, Down Syndrome) when it comes to sexual health and sexuality education. Her life’s passion has taken her back to social services where she will be helping survivors of domestic abuse and human trafficking. In her free time, Lea watches movies, goes to the museums, goes for walks/hikes, camping, fencing, badminton, tennis, bowling, fishing, swimming, martial arts, working out, cooking, baking, sewing, piano reading and learning. She especially LOVES spending time with her family and friends.
Emma Eitzen (she/her) identifies as Asian, Asian American, and Chinese. Emma currently resides in Goshen, Indiana and is the manager of Ten Thousand Villages in Goshen. Ten Thousand Villages is a fair trade, nonprofit, retail store. Emma has a BA in Sociology and an AA in Psychology. She is interested in learning about how life is the way it is through the people that live in it and why things are the way they are, internally and externally. Emma likes to spend time with her dog and swimming. She just recently moved to the area and she is working on connecting more with the community. She is a part of a board of directors and is just about to begin volunteering with the local food pantry.
Jennetta Thompson (she/her) was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois on the west side of Chicago in a single mother household. She received her High School diploma at Austin (Alternative) Highschool & also received a GED. She graduated from Robert Morris College (Business Management & Accounting); Chicago State University (BA Psychology) & an UIC, Graduate of the Jane Addams School of Social Work (LMSW). Jennetta has been serving the Social Service industry for over 20 years & counting. She is affiliated with a wide range of organizations to help build the people in the community; One affiliation that she is proud of is the Association Chicago Investment Group of which they provide a space for Aspired & Inspired entrepreneurs in the surrounding areas of Illinois. Jennetta takes pride in hosting quarterly networking Galas and Charity events throughout the year for the black & brown community of entrepreneurs.
Emma Vijil (she/her) lives in Chicago, Illinois. She describes herself a Hispanic and Entrepreneur woman. Her current role is of Outreach and Engagement Coordinator at her work place. Emma enjoys cooking and gardening. She describes herself as an amateur gardener. She loves trying different foods and learning about different cultures. She also does clothes reselling during her free time.
Taylor Johnson (she/her) lives in Detroit, Michigan. She identifies as a Black/African American woman.Her current position is of Content Moderator through the social media platform, TikTok. Taylor enjoys listening to music. She is a big fan of kpop. She loves watching movies and reading during her free time. She also loves going to concerts, scrapbooking, and reading manga.
Meet the Entrepreneurs:
Alyssa Cuffie (she/her) is a marketer turned business architect from Milwaukee, WI. In that role, she manages the implementation of technical solutions that improve the employee experience at Cisco Systems. While advocating for equity in tech is a major professional driver for Alyssa, she finds her personal passions in the arts. As a new resident of Durham, NC, Alyssa has doven headfirst into the local arts community. Recent accomplishments include curating an art exhibition at VAE Raleigh about the black family home, self publishing Womanifesto Magazine, and having artwork featured at the Houston Museum of Fine Art. In her free time, Alyssa enjoys being a plant parent with her fiancé, Alex, and trying out new recipes in her air fryer.
Kati Paiz (she/her) is from Guatemala and describes herself as a Latina Entrepreneur! She is the co-owner of Reprise Coffee Roasters along with her husband. Kati currently resides in Chicago, Illinois. She loves being able to support farm to table establishments, cooking, have lunch with her friends and a good yoga class at least once a week. Kati is a mother to her bird Lola and she is her absolute favorite!
Meet the coaches:
Shani E. McIlwain is a ruling elder at Faith Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC where she also serves as Moderator {2022-23) of National Capital Presbytery. Hilarious and transparent are two words that describe Shani as a speaker. Known for her candid personal stories she weaves her “messy” moments of life into practical teaching moments for others. As a bestselling author, executive coach and facilitator her work helps individuals and congregations working to dismantle oppressive systems to create a more equitable community. For more information you can visit www.shanimcilwain.com
As an Authenticity Coach, Betty works with aspiring leaders to expand how they see themselves, so they can become the person they intend to be. Betty’s coaching is a powerful combination of reflection and action. She holds space for her clients to show up authentically as they learn to let go – freeing themselves from expectations that keep them small – and tap into a deeper sense of trust and knowledge of their strengths, so they can confidently decide where they are heading. Her practice is rooted in the belief that lasting change starts from within – the world becomes a better place when we are true to who we are, giving us a greater capacity to work across differences. Betty’s work as a coach and facilitator reflects her commitment to co-create common ground through courage and curiosity.
Rev. Larissa Kwong Abazia (she/her) is the founder of Courageous Spaces, inviting others to co-create spaces for disruption, transformation, and change. She has served congregations and institutions located in Chicago (IL), Queens (NY), Greenwich (CT), and throughout New Jersey. Larissa is dedicated to social justice, seeking ways to equip and empower everyone for the transformation of communities and the whole world: “In spaces made for people of color, we move, interact, and breathe differently. Fostering courageous, brave space allows all of us to thrive. I seek to focus on centering the needs of people of color to transform systems often not created for or with us.” She is excited about the connections SheRoars provides for women of color and the disruptive work we will do together!
Perry Sun (she/her/hers) is a NYC-based personal development coach. She is an Asian-American, a native New Yorker, and a proud Brooklynite. Prior to becoming a coach, Perry previously worked in PR for 11 years handling publicity for brands including Olay skincare, Hennessy cognac, Volkswagen automobiles, and OMEGA watches. She is a graduate of Accomplishment Coaching's NYW 2021-2022 program, one of the oldest and best-known coaching programs in the U.S. In 2023, she received an Associate Certified Coach credential from the International Coaching Federation. In addition to her own private coaching practice, Perry also works with clients on copywriting and PR projects #hustle. She loves dogs and reading books but is itching to get back to traveling when these prices calm down. Fun fact: she does not have a driver’s license because the DMV is out to get her. Please don’t ask her to drive anywhere, cause she legally can’t.
Stacy is the Executive Director of Chicago Lights, a community outreach organization at Fourth Presbyterian Church that builds brighter futures for Chicago’s youth and adults through mentoring, support services, career development, and academic support. With over 25 years of experience in youth development, social services, and volunteer management, she continues to be passionate about bridging communities and coaching staff leaders. Stacy earned a B.A. in Communications (radio/TV/film) from Loyola University of Chicago and an M.A. from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration. She is a licensed clinical social worker and an ICF certified life and leadership coach. Downtown Chicago is home, but Stacy loves to travel and especially enjoys long weekend getaways with friends as we celebrate milestone birthdays. She is fascinated by and continues to want to know more about the law of attraction, the enneagram, and tapping.